IMPACT OF 5G IN COMMUNICATION

Besides causing world-shattering changes to com- munication and networking, 5G will wholly recast the fields comprising IoT and intelligent automation. While past cellular technologies might not have provided such reliability with highly speed-and-low-latency availability for applications—so critical for future enablers like smart cities, autonomous transportation, remote health, and industrial automation—5G does. The article reviews the onset of 5G networks and some of the basic key technologies that have been influencing it, such as network slicing, edge computing, and Software-Defined Networking (SDN). These technologies work toward eliminating the bulk of restrictions that were set for the previous generation networks, with the aim of providing a more agile, scalable and efficient communication network. They also highlight global regulations on the imple- mentation of 5G with a view of ensuring interoperability and security. Furthermore, it describes how 5G facilitates massive device connectivity and serves as a digital transformation enabler across all industries. 5G will forever change how industries conduct business in the digital age, facilitating real-time data exchange as well as supporting new business models such as data-sharing ecosystems.