

These small cells build network density, which is crucial for 5G capabilities. While some new wireless towers are being erected, most of the additions are small-cell sites that attach to lampposts and utility poles. are busy building out infrastructure to get 5G-ready. While the rollout of 5G will continue over the next several years, and high-profile developments such as driverless cars could take at least a decade to materialize, some analysts have pegged 2020 as the year this technology will start to gain traction.Ĭountries such as China, the U.S., Japan, South Korea and the U.K.

So far, services are available only in select markets, and most devices in use today aren't equipped to connect to the 5G network. Greater efficiencies are expected, thanks to increased speeds and more data, and functions as varied as recruiting, collaboration and remote work likely will be affected.Įxactly when the 5G network will become widely accessible remains to be seen. (Download a feature-length movie to your phone in seconds instead of minutes! Open your trash can through an app!) But there are a range of significant workplace implications as well. Most of the buzz surrounding 5G so far has focused on consumer benefits. "It has the potential to completely disrupt the way we work and live." "It's not simply another 'G,' as it has been in previous generations," says United Kingdom-based Amol Phadke, global network practice lead at Accenture. 5G-the fifth and newest generation of the cellular wireless network-has the power to unlock these and other capabilities in the workplace. Or strapping on an augmented reality headset and receiving real-time, guided instructions on how to repair a piece of machinery, day or night. Or managing a grocery store where smart shelves automatically detect low product inventories and submit replacement orders, eliminating the need for an employee. Imagine participating in a meeting where 3-D holograms contribute ideas in real time on a digital whiteboard, enhancing collaboration among remote teams.
