The need to communicate and share our experiences with others is part of the essence of being human. We need to feel close to our loved ones and tell them about our adventures in life, our doubts, our hopes and dreams. That is why mobile communications are so important in these times of social distancing, to combat this cruel pandemic. Technology is a great help and it will be a lever for the recovery from the present difficulties. First, 5G, a very fruitful revolution that will give a definite boost to the digital transformation of society, will bring us new services and will drive a leap forward in the automation of industry and logistics.
The 5G standard will entail denser communications networks, with micro antennas located in street furniture, enabling the public to access content, applications and value-added services with minimal latency. Applications such as those related to the consumption of goods and services, leisure, tourism and the relations between citizens and government will be significantly improved. The Smart City will begin to emerge as a tangible reality.
But the 5G revolution will not only be an urban phenomenon; it will also help reduce the digital divide between cities and the countryside. The new technology will make it possible to expand high-speed broadband coverage into rural and isolated areas, helping to revitalise farming and local industry, and providing applications and services to the general public. Smart agriculture will have an ally to make production more efficient, reduce water and fertiliser consumption and combat climate change.
Logistics, among the most dynamic sectors, will be another of the major beneficiaries. 5G technology will allow companies to geolocate and monitor all their assets in real time not only in warehouses and factories, but also during shipment on a variety of routes, thereby improving e-commerce and the experience of both logistics operators and end consumers.
Industry 4.0 and sustainable mobility
The so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) will be consolidated by 5G, which will include the roll-out of private communications networks dedicated to specific segments and activities. Industries will enjoy secure and guaranteed communications and improved efficiency, using building blocks such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Together, this will also help to make them cleaner and less polluting.
The company’s priority goals include fostering sustainable mobility to reduce its carbon footprint and mitigate the effects of climate change. 5G is making a groundbreaking contribution in this field. Vehicles permanently connected with their environment (road, traffic lights, other vehicles) will deliver safe and efficient mobility. This will be possible owing, among other factors, to the low latency that 5G brings, reducing the response time to – say – a potential collision to practically zero. The development of self-sustaining communications networks in the road system will be key to the growth of this new mobility.
The very short response times allowed by 5G will also enable security-related services to be developed. The network’s capabilities will serve to detect fires hundreds of kilometres away and monitor them at all times, with the help of drones equipped with thermographic cameras and high-precision geolocation systems. Artificial intelligence applications will enable us to forecast any type of incident, anticipate it and resolve it even before it occurs.
The 5G revolution is here to help us build a world that is more efficient, cleaner and also better serves us humans.
