It’s an exciting time in the world of wireless networking: 5G deployments are expected to take off this year. 5G is the fifth generation of cellular networking technology, and it promises significantly faster speeds and lower latency. For example, 5G will allow users to download a whole movie in mere seconds, according to The New York Times article “What Is 5G? Here’s What You Need to Know About the New Network.”
Widespread 5G capabilities stand to transform mobile device users’ lives both personally and professionally. 5G networks’ speed, extremely low latency, better connectivity, and improved coverage will support new technologies like virtual reality, self-driving cars, and the Internet of Things (IoT), AT&T predicts. In the business world specifically, this development can potentially help organizations across all industries – from healthcare to manufacturing to retail – operate more efficiently and drive innovation.
The era of 5G has already started, if on a limited scale. Verizon’s 5G Home, for instance, is currently available in Indianapolis, Houston, Sacramento and Los Angeles. Additionally, AT&T already offers 5G service in 12 cities.
The introduction of widespread 5G connectivity could potentially have a huge impact on how small to midsize businesses operate in particular. If you’re wondering what 5G will mean for SMBs, here are a few notable predictions and anticipated advantages to note.
1. Higher productivity. With 5G connectivity, businesses will gain the ability to stream high-resolution audio, video and images with essentially no lag, according to the Small Business Trends article “5 Ways 5G Can Benefit Small Business.” That means that staff members will be able to get more done in the same amount of time, which will ultimately increase your organization’s bottom line.
2. Better communication with customers. These days, companies compete increasingly based on customer experience (CX). Slower internet speeds – which can get in the way of unified communications (UC) – can hinder your ability to communicate with and maintain strong relationships with your clients.
5G connectivity will make it much easier to virtually meet with current and potential customers through high-definition videoconferencing, according to the Forbes article “11 Ways to Advent of 5G Will Aid Your Business.” That ability to meet “face-to-face” could dramatically improve CX and help your business gain a competitive edge overall.
3. Remote work and events will be easier than ever. The ability to connect with colleagues from anywhere almost instantly with 5G will make it easier than ever to work from home or on the go. Remote workers can connect with customers and colleagues alike via audio or video with very low latency. Additionally, organizing and hosting remote events will be simpler with 5G streaming capabilities, according to Forbes.
4. New recruitment possibilities. The increased ease of working remotely will get rid of geographic obstacles to recruiting top talent, according to Small Business Trends. Companies can potentially hire people located anywhere around the world to fill skills gaps, and that could make a big difference for smaller organizations that find themselves in need of experts in specific areas that their in-house teams aren’t well-versed in (e.g., cybersecurity).
Overall, 5G will undoubtedly have a significant impact on companies of all sizes and across all industries as it becomes mainstream. To learn more about 5G networks, other tech trends, and IT support and services for SMBs, contact our team of expert techs by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
