INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology
5G – Are we there yet?
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5G, or Fifth Generation
networks, are being
lauded as the vehicle that
will launch technologies
such as the Internet of
Things (IoT). Eckart Zollner,
Head of New Business
Development at the Jasco
Group, looks at how ready
South Africa is for the next
generation network.
users and organisations that can afford
fibre. 5G mobile connectivity will enable
small business owners and people in rural
communities to leverage applications and
sites that they have previously been unable
to. Of course, this means that the pricing of
5G will need to be carefully evaluated. Data
prices in South Africa have a reputation for
being too high; these will need to reduce for
5G to fully cater to the market. Government
will play a large role in controlling data
prices, especially as it will seek to use 5G for
its own community connectivity projects.
It will fall to ICASA to work closely with
government and stakeholders to ensure that
5G data prices are affordable.
Eckart Zollner, Head of New Business
Development at the Jasco Group
5G still a way off
As demonstrated by recent trials, 5G is still in
the process of having its technical standards
ratified and adopted by the industry.
Hardware OEMs, such as Ericsson, Nokia and
Huawei, are forging ahead with early stage
trial releases, while operators are conducting
their own trials and laboratory testing.
However, we are still a long way from 5G
becoming commercially available in South
Africa, with estimated timelines of two to
three years before we start seeing real uptake.
5G investments make financial sense, such
as remote locations or areas with a high
concentration of IoT interest and investment.
Frequency spectrum allocation is another
potential impedance to 5G delivery. There
is already a shortage of spectrum available
for 4G network operators and South Africa’s
spectrum regulator, ICASA, will need to work
closely with government and stakeholders to
ensure that similar shortages and allocation
delays do not occur. For the time being, there
is little clarity on 5G spectrum allocation and
it is likely that until a clear framework is in
place, 5G rollouts will be hampered.
A question of cost and
spectrum availability Why 5G?
5G networks are expensive to deploy. With
many operators only in the middle to final
stages of their 4G rollout, investing in the
infrastructure required to facilitate 5G is a
costly task. However, there are many gaps
in both mobile and fibre networks where 5G could answer many of Africa’s current
connectivity concerns. Particularly in
areas where fibre is unable to reach or
too costly to invest in, 5G uptake will be
massive. Currently, the speeds and quality
of service that 5G promises are limited to
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5G is also expected to spur South Africa’s
digital evolution through support of
technologies such as IoT and advanced
mobile applications. To date, the uptake
of these technologies has been relatively
slow when compared with the rest of the
globe. A lack of affordable, quality mobile
connectivity has been the main hurdle
to realising their potential, especially in
industries like critical service delivery and
healthcare, who stand to benefit massively
from IoT devices. The demand for IoT and
mobility will put pressure on operators and
ICASA to formalise 5G plans and stick to
rollout schedules where possible.
Get ready
Despite potential delays and hurdles to
overcome, Africa should get ready for 5G.
Operators and device manufacturers are
pushing for 5G to become a reality. Another
driver is the score of technologies that stand
to benefit businesses across all industries.
Businesses investigating IoT, blockchain
technology, cryptocurrency and mobile
applications should be preparing to run these
off 5G as soon as it becomes available. n
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