5G is the newest mobile network and is scheduled to officially roll out in 2020 (but no doubt you’ll see a few deployments in 2019). One main characteristic that sets this network apart from 3G and 4G is the fact that it will use different radio frequencies than the older models and therefore will require a different antennae. Additionally, the 5G network will be substantially faster and will allow users to handle data-intensive tasks such as downloading full-length movies in seconds. The network’s greater bandwidth will cater to more users as well. That said. The 5G network could be very instrumental in developing data-dependent technologies that must handle data without delays.
The 5G network will support up to 1,000 times higher data volumes than its predecessors. Its widespread availability could make people more eager to use the Internet than ever. Furthermore, 5G could bring better Internet coverage to rural areas. Accommodating the people who want to use 5G may mean the massive data centers that are so common today will become increasingly less prominent. The data centers necessary for processing edge data, however, won’t be able to keep up with the demands of 5G.
So although construction of mega data centers may slow, the edge data centers will likely become more substantial owning to the demand that comes with 5G. There is also the possibility that edge computing and micro data centers could substantially reduce the cost of smartphones that work with the 5G network because people may not need gadgets with such intensive processing power and the expensive requisite components.
Many experts also believe that 5G will generate more data than any earlier network generations. That change is primarily because 5G will be able to handle amounts of types of data that were not as feasible for less advanced networks. For example, Internet-connected devices with sensors are compatible with 5G’s capabilities, and 5G’s availability could increase overall adoption.
A recent Gartner report found that 57 percent of the people who responded to a survey about businesses planning to use 5G said their organization’s primary aim was to enhance communication between Internet of Things (IoT) devices. That same survey found that respondents were willing to pay more for 5G connectivity. Plus, most expected widespread 5G availability by 2020. But such availability may have to wait a couple of years after that.
Intel has been discussing potential real-life cases concerning how 5G will affect data centers. It wants to focus on interoperability in future data centers to help operators avoid vendor lock-in. It would be possible with an Intel chipset that’s compatible with numerous vendors and supports data centers’ need to scale as demand fluctuates.
On the software side, 5G will probably lead to more data centers using software-defined power (SDP). In short, SDP divides the application load across data centers to optimize performance and reduce the possibility of outages. The shifting of power allocations as needs change happens autonomously and continuously. SDP could also let data centers operate with more efficiency by ensuring that power usage is at its lowest during times of peak demand. Then, those establishments could receive rewards from utility companies that offer perks for cutting usage in those time frames.