5G technology ready for dramatic 2019 gains

Construction companies nationally may be on the verge of embracing the latest generation of cellular mobile communications known as 5G.
Industry analysts are predicting that this will be the year when the new technology really takes off:  “5G connectivity is what is going to power everything that the different engineering branches are going to be working with starting in 2019 and onward,” says the Interesting Engineering website.
The new technology, which is said to be twenty times faster than current wireless technology, is poised to be used for everything from lighting smart cities, to machine-to-machine connectivity, and city infrastructure.
“It’s a once-in-a-decade upgrade to our wireless systems that will start reaching mobile users in a matter of months,” predicts the New York Times.
5G technology will also see increased use with industrial robots, drones, and security cameras, in a move that will see it “leap ahead of current wireless technology.”
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has said that his agency is determined to facilitate a comprehensive 5G adaptation strategy based on the creation of more spectrum into the marketplace, updating infrastructure policy, and modernizing outdated regulations.
Last month Verizon Wireless reaffirmed its commitment to making the new technology more available throughout the country, with Ronan Dunne, the executive vice-president of the company, predicting:  “By 2035, 5G will enable $12.3 trillion of global economic output and support 22 million jobs worldwide.”
In a statement, Dunne added: “Much of that growth will come from the digitization of transportation, agriculture, and other physical industries.”
And as more companies adapt 5G technology, more companies will sign on just to remain competitive.
“Companies now need the fastest and most reliable networks to keep up with this demand,” says Machine Design magazine, “whether that is for streaming services, mobile applications, or connected machines.”
For the construction industry, continues Machine Design, 5G-powered self-driving machines will be able to “recognize signals, map an area more accurately, and communicate with each other far more easily than ever before.”
“All of this,” predicts the magazine, “will make construction sites run more efficiently and safely.”
Despite the enthusiasm for the new technology, many experts are predicting that 5G’s nationwide availability will not be a reality until late 2022 or early 2023.

By Garry Boulard

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