The 5G network is the new generation of mobile internet connection networks that is beginning to develop in the world and whose first real applications in the field of communications will be the month next during the celebration of the Olympic Winter Games, to be held in the city of Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Osvaldo Di Campli, Nokia vice president for Latin America, explained that the 5G is characterized by three major differentials: guarantees connection speeds up to 10 times faster than those achieved with 4G technology, allows massive amounts of simultaneous connections in a more efficient way efficient and significantly reduces latency.
The latter is the time it takes for any device to receive and execute an order that is given from a remote control.
"The lower the latency, the faster the reaction of that device, so reducing latency is a critical factor for the world to progress in things such as autonomous driving vehicles or surgical interventions performed remotely by a surgeon, "Di Campli said.
At the industrial level, he added, the 5G network opens the door to a considerable increase in productivity levels, since companies will be able to automate in a more efficient way many of their current processes, digitize operations that are now manual and develop new services for the companies. consumers".
Therefore, he said, "the 5G network is much more than speed. It is the crucial element for the world to enter the fourth industrial revolution in history. And it is a huge opportunity to boost the economic growth of countries, generate wealth and achieve greater democratization of digital services. "
For his part Carlos Zenteno, president of Claro Colombia, said that "this first demonstration of the impact of the 5G is a first step to advance its installation and development in Colombia," but warned that "there is still a long way to go in the that the State should take crucial decisions for the country. "
The first ones, he said, will have to do with the need to offer a greater availability of electromagnetic spectrum for operators in the telecommunications market. Although in 2018 it is expected to open the tender for the 700 Megahertz frequency auction, it is a fact that new frequencies will be required for the development of 5G networks.
On the other hand, he said, to start up that extended electromagnetic spectrum, the mobile phone industry will have to develop new and substantial investments, which will require a legal framework that offers operators security on these investments. "
"Colombia is one of the most regulated markets in the world, and it has been shown in other countries that the way forward should be the opposite. It must ensure that all actors participate in a transparent and equal manner, and above all that operators have visibility and future security on their investments, "he said.
Nokia and Claro carried out two practical demonstrations with 5G connection. The first, with robots, reflected the contrast of latencies (response speed) between the generation of 5G networks, versus that of 4G (see video). In the second, applications of extreme virtual reality were evident for the day to day of the people.
In them, speeds of 10 Gbps and latencies of less than 1 millisecond were reached.
Considering that 5G technology is still in the refining phase of its development standards, it is foreseen that it would only begin to develop in Colombia in the year 2020, and its practical applications would be in the following years.