When it comes to the next generation of mobile networks, 5G promises a more Internet of Things-friendly ecosystem with vast improvements over the current capabilities of 4G – however, its intersection with IoT will also raise the stakes on cybersecurity.
The benefits of 5G are myriad: Not only will it allow extremely fast data feeds of 1Gbps and better (equivalent to top-tier home broadband speeds), but 5G also offers ultra-low latency (less than one millisecond according to the standard). It also supports greater density (up to 100 times more connected devices per unit area, all of them getting the same speed and latency) and better network energy usage.
To that latter point, the 5G standard calls for a 90 percent reduction in energy consumption, which translates into low-power IoT devices in industrial environments boasting 10 years’ worth of battery life.
