5G Product Design Considerations for 2020

Judging from the ads on TV and other media sources, one would think that in 2020 the world will be transformed by the magical leap that 5G technology represents. Because we deal in the world of science and facts—not hype—let’s have a gut check on 5G as it affects the solutions we’re developing in 2020.

One may be developing products for which incorporating 5G may or may not make sense. Here are a few questions you should be asking:

What benefit are you getting from 5G?

Many products deploy particular technologies as a differentiator, even if it provides little benefit—do we really need better phone cameras or faster phone processors? In some cases, the market for products is so tight that 5G provides a competitive advantage or merely a means of maintaining technological parity with competitors.

Today, there are many ways to design in wireless communications. As product developers, we’re familiar with common technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and yes, 4G cellular, which isn’t going away any time soon. The vision of 5G is one of increased communications speed and bandwidth. The question remains: For the specific problem being solved, are both characteristics essential?

When do you need those benefits?

Despite all of the hype, 5G isn’t ubiquitous today nor will it become so in the next 12 months. By some estimates, it will be several years before it becomes as widespread as the current 4G network.

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