Jun 12 | By Lauren Chapman
Imagine having the ability to use augmented reality to entice customers into your brick and mortar. Think about the time and resources saved when you can stream 4K video in real-time to inspect assembly line production happening nations away.
It’s not sci-fi, it’s not even the future: 5G is right here, right now. 5G network connection is ready to change how you do business. Are you and your business ready to move even faster?
What is 5G?
“5G” is short for “fifth generation,” that is, the fifth generation of network technology. But even that definition is a bit of a misnomer. 5G represents a collection of technologies working cooperatively to advance the capabilities of wireless networks.
To understand the power of Verizon 5G for business, it gets a bit more technical. Verizon 5G is known as 5G New Radio (5G NR), which is a network built upon a specific frequency range. All 5G technology uses frequencies that hover around 6GHz.
Within Verizon 5G NR, Verizon frequencies operate at a higher millimeter wave, known as 5G Ultra Wideband. These frequencies are higher on the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing for network speeds to operate extremely quickly.
The issue with operating at extremely high frequencies is that tower-to-tower communication becomes shorter. If a network boasts too high a frequency, network towers begin to choke the countryside. Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband hits the proverbial sweet spot: frequencies are high enough for lightning-fast speeds but low enough to allow for tower separation.
Verizon 5G will change your small business. Here’s how.
What does Verizon 5G really mean for your day-to-day?
5G Ultra Wideband is 25x faster than today’s 4G networks. While a 4G network might take up to ten minutes to download a file, 5G speeds can be as quick as ten seconds for the same file. Faster speeds and lower latency can create 4K-compatible video conferencing and seamless online collaboration tools, so you can work remotely and reliably.
5G has the potential to exponentially grow the Internet of Things (IoT). There are currently 14.2 billion connected devices that make up IoT. By 2025, IoT will consist of 55 billion connected devices.
The rapid expansion of IoT will likely lead to macro-level advancements in both production and consumer experience. Smart factories might become increasingly autonomous, while board meetings might become a bit more interesting with augmented reality slideshows.
Consumers might interact with a VR-capable store window as they digitally “try on” a new outfit, while market strategy could be able to track consumer foot traffic using connected in-store sensory devices. Business owners will only be restricted by their imagination.
Verizon 5G: past, present, and future.
Verizon has been at the nexus of 5G technologies since the start. The Verizon team attended the 5G Technical Forum back in 2015. From there, Verizon engineers began installing mmWave networks nationwide, a trend that has continued for the past several years.
Fast forward to 2020, and Verizon 5G Wideband is currently offered in 36 major cities across the United States. Want to check Verizon 5G availability near you? Take a look at our interactive coverage maps.
Going forward, Verizon plans to invest over $1 billion to further extend the 5G network. That’s more coverage, more connection, and more radical, positive change for your business.
Prepare your business for Verizon 5G.
Pairing 5G with inadequate tech is a waste of momentum. Double-check that your devices can sustain 5G speeds so your business can optimize its benefits.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to shift your operations to the cloud. With virtually no lag, 5G makes cloud computing feasible for businesses that didn’t previously have the bandwidth.
Are you still unsure if your small business is 5G ready? Use the Verizon 5G business assessment tool to gain insights on the essential technology you will need, as well as to ideate production and marketing changes for the 5G future.