5G Unveiled: A Comprehensive Journey from Evolution to Future Implications

Abstract

The manufacturing industry is undergoing a transformative digitization, with 5G technology emerging as a pivotal force in fostering connectivity. This paradigm shift places a premium on technical availability and, consequently, maintenance performance within digitized factories. However, persuading senior decision-makers to invest in maintenance proves challenging, given the delayed and intricate nature of its upstream impacts. To accurately quantify the long-term effects, this study advocates for the integration of discrete event simulation (DES) with established maintenance concepts.

Employing DES alongside established maintenance frameworks allows for a nuanced analysis of real-world industrial 5G pilot deployments. By defining the relevant inputs and outputs of the simulation model through established maintenance concepts, the study focuses on a use case where 5G contributes to optimizing maintenance tasks. This approach not only enables the quantification of maintenance impacts but also facilitates the expansion of digitized manufacturing on a larger scale.

Drawing from a collaborative effort between manufacturing and telecom companies, the research presents proposed scenarios for 5G-enabled manufacturing based on a real-world digitization project. The methodology, following Banks (2010), involves Auto Mod-based model construction, incorporating insights from interviews and production system observations. The specific case explored in this paper concentrates on implementing contemporary maintenance solutions to attain requisite levels of productivity and availability.

The paper contends that the amalgamation of DES with established maintenance concepts enhances validity for decision-makers, addressing current challenges associated with the limited prevalence of DES. This strategic combination not only paves the way for a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of maintenance in digitized manufacturing but also serves as a persuasive tool for senior decision-makers contemplating investments in this critical aspect of industry advancement.

Unraveling the Evolution and Implications of 5G Technology

Introduction

At the close of 2018, the industry consortium 3GPP defined any system employing “5G NR” (5G New Radio) software as “5G,” marking the advent of the fifth generation of cellular network technology.

This paper navigates through various facets of 5G technology, including:

• The evolutionary trajectory of 5G as illustrated in Figure 1.
• Functional intricacies of 5G networks.
• Safety considerations in the 5G ecosystem.
• The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• The proliferation of IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
• The paradigm shift towards Smart Cities.
• The implications of 5G on self-driving cars.

Figure 1: The Evolution of 5G

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) serves as the standards organization spearheading the development of protocols for mobile telephony

Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), referenced in, denotes a spectrum of protocols utilized in second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) wireless communications, providing a channel access method for various radio communication technologies.

The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), detailed in, stands as a standard crafted by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) delineating protocols for second-generation (2G) digital cellular networks. It achieved global ubiquity, operating in over 193 countries and territories by the mid-2010s.

Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA), highlighted in, represents a channel access method facilitating shared-medium networks, enabling multiple users to share the same frequency channel by partitioning the signal into distinct time slots.

The Evolution of 5G

The journey of 5G unfolds against the backdrop of earlier generations:

• 1G, the analog mobile network of 1979, lacked SIM cards and encoded phone numbers directly into devices.
• 2G technologies, encompassing CDMA, GSM, and TDMA, marked the inception of digital mobile technology, with derivations like GPRS and EDGE augmenting its capabilities.
• 3G revolutionized mobile connectivity, elevating Internet speeds and enabling wireless voice communication over the Internet, video calls, and mobile television.
• 4G technologies, epitomized by WiMAX and LTE, heralded higher Internet connection speeds, laying the groundwork for several hundred Mbps and even Gb-level data transfer rates.

With 5G, three new dimensions emerge: heightened speed, reduced latency, and the interconnection of myriad devices, including sensors and IoT devices.

Despite its advancements, the 5G system remains non-stand-alone, necessitating active 4G support for initial connections. It is projected to evolve over several years before achieving standalone functionality.

5G Functioning

5G, akin to its predecessors, operates on a cellular system that partitions territories into sectors and transmits encoded signals between hotspots via radio waves. Each cell necessitates connection to the network spine, either wirelessly or through landlines. Notably, 5G operates on higher frequencies than 4G, typically spanning frequencies both below and above 6 GHz.

Presently, the development of 5G networks is underway in various regions globally. While the USA, with cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, is actively involved in development and testing, Asia emerges as the frontrunner in the deployment of 5G technologies. Nations like South Korea, Japan, and China have made significant strides, with the UAE, Turkey, and Singapore already implementing pilot projects. Furthermore, numerous European countries, including Norway, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Russia, and Finland, have announced plans to test 5G signals.

5G Safety

Amidst the proliferation of 5G, concerns regarding public and health safety have been amplified. The necessity for specific standards addressing the multitude of threats and benefits posed by 5G is evident.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) assumes paramount importance within the realm of 5G networks, offering novel concepts and opportunities for communication in both industrial and academic spheres. AI serves to tackle three primary technical challenges of 5G: optimization (allocation problem), detection (minimized error rate), and estimation (channel estimation problem).

The integration of AI technology holds immense potential for robotics, enabling intelligent robots to operate within an expansive ‘smart’ environment. While apprehensions exist regarding potential military applications and population monitoring, the transformative benefits it offers to healthcare technology cannot be overlooked.

5G connectivity facilitates the access of various automated solutions to real-time data while consuming significantly less power. Leveraging IoT sensors with lifespans spanning several years, 5G paves the way for unprecedented advancements in automated systems.

Figure 2: 5G and Internet of Things

5G and Multi-Access Edge Computing: Catalysts for Smart City Evolution

With a burgeoning wave of smart applications revolutionizing everyday activities and personal assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home fostering comfortable living, the concept of Smart Cities emerges as the future of urbanism. These cities aim to transcend traditional urban landscapes by seamlessly integrating infrastructure and technology, thereby enhancing the quality of life for citizens and revolutionizing their interaction with the environment.

Nine pivotal characteristics delineate the level of “smartness” in a city:

• Infrastructure built on technological foundations.
• Eco-friendly initiatives fostering sustainability.
• A seamless public transportation system for efficient mobility.
• Responsible urban planning ensuring harmonious development.
• A smart government leveraging technology for citizen services.
• Intelligent grids and energy utilities optimizing resource usage.
• Integration of machine learning for data-driven decision-making.
• Telemedicine and smart healthcare services enhancing public well-being.
• Personal data privacy measures safeguarding individual rights.

As a cornerstone enabling technology for the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G assumes paramount importance in realizing the smart city vision. It serves as the backbone for information gathering through sensors, facilitating real-time transmission to centralized monitoring locations.

Additionally, Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) emerges as a pivotal 5G-based technology reshaping smart city developments. MEC introduces an architecture empowering computing and storage capabilities for applications at the edge of the internal network. In contrast to traditional centralized network architectures, MEC reduces latencies by enabling data processing closer to end-user hardware, thereby optimizing efficiency and responsiveness within smart city ecosystems.

 Figure 3: Smart City

                                                         Figure 4: Self-driving car technology

Pioneering the Future: 5G’s Impact on Self-Driving Cars, IoT, and Smart Cities

• Self-Driving Cars: A Revolution Powered by 5G

The advent of 5G is poised to revolutionize the development of self-driving cars, rendering them faster, smarter, and safer. While Tesla and Toyota have already conducted tests on autonomous vehicles, concerns persist regarding their safety for occupants, other drivers, and pedestrians.

With fast sensors ensuring minimal reaction times (Figure 4), self-driving cars are anticipated to outperform human-controlled vehicles in terms of safety. The technology is not only expected to address parking challenges but also enhance traffic safety, making it faster, more controlled, and efficient. Intel and Qualcomm are at the forefront, developing microchips that transform self-driving cars into mobile data centers, capable of making complex real-time decisions.

Potential communication avenues are expanding, encompassing vehicle-to-infrastructure, vehicle-to-network, vehicle-to-pedestrian, and even vehicle-to-vehicle interactions. The intricate array of technologies, including radar, cameras, ultrasound, and radio antennas, will facilitate communication through cloud data transfer.

• Internet of Things (IoT): A Connected Lifestyle

The fifth-generation wireless technology serves as the linchpin connecting a myriad of IoT devices, creating an ultra-fast, highly reliable, and fully responsive network. Devices such as baby monitors, smart security systems, thermostats, and motion sensors, all linked through mobile apps, empower individuals with unprecedented control over their surroundings. This connectivity aims to simplify and enhance daily living, providing people with more time for family, friends, leisure, and travel.

• Conclusion: Unlocking a New Era

The finalization of 5G standards heralds numerous benefits for everyday life, ushering in significant improvements in artificial intelligence (AI), self-driving cars, IoT devices, and security. The advancements outlined in this paper promise a more comfortable and efficient existence.

Smart cities, characterized by efficient traffic, reduced accidents, lower pollution, diminished criminal opportunities, and safer living, represent the future. Although potential health concerns with 5G networks persist, hopes are high that thorough addressing will minimize risks, allowing the full implementation of fifth-generation mobile technology benefits.

Smart cities are already a reality, with Budapest standing among one hundred such cities globally. The aspiration is for more countries, including Serbia, to embrace and understand smart city initiatives in the future.

South-South Research Initiative 

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Photo Credit – https://blog.seeburger.com/5g-in-iiot-the-future-of-data-integration/