The Risks, Opportunities And Impacts Of 5G Technology

In China, doctors perform ultrasounds on COVID patients in Wuhan using an ultrasonic robot they control from 435 miles (700 km) away.

In South Korea, manufacturers adjust their maintenance schedule according to data gathered from sensors enabled by a subscription-based smart factory service. At an American football stadium, fans stream game action to their smartphones, discussing team stats transmitted almost instantly in augmented reality.

These are just a few use cases illustrating the potential of 5G-enabled technologies, which is rolling out at different speeds across numerous regions including China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.

By the end of 2022, the number of 5G global connections reached one billion, according to the mobile network operators organization GSMA. By 2025, two in five people around the world could be living within reach of a 5G network.

In our increasingly connected world, the proliferation of smart devices and data-hungry apps is putting pressure on existing 4G networks. The 5G -- or fifth generation -- network promises to be up to 100 times faster than 4G, with lower latency, greatly increased capacity and hyper-connectivity that could power the world through the Fourth Industrial Revolution.