5G Going Way Beyond Smartphones

In addition to the obvious benefits of being able to watch ultra-high-definition cat videos while on the move, 5G wireless broadband is vital infrastructure for transformational technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR). Japan is carving out some important niches in the 5G space, and there are expectations that the tech will be a driver of growth both domestically and around the globe.

What makes the fifth generation (5G) of wireless communication a game changer is its exponentially better performance compared to 4G. Downloads are more than 10 times faster, latency (delay in data transmission time) is much lower, more devices can be connected and the antennae use much less power than previous generations. In addition to mobile communications, this opens up possibilities for connected devices in fields including medicine, agriculture, heavy industry and even space exploration.

Making the Earth smaller but not flatter

It was perhaps the powerful potential of 5G combined with the fact that its rollout in many countries occurred during the pandemic that made it the target of multiple outlandish conspiracy theories. These range from its electromagnetic waves causing a variety of illnesses, to lockdowns being a cover to deploy 5G as a surveillance network, and even that 5G itself spread COVID-19. A lack of evidence for any of the claims didn’t stop them spreading almost as fast as the virus.

Forecasts for the impact of new technology are always difficult, particularly when it overlaps with other tech. But consultants PwC estimate that it will add $1.3 trillion to global GDP by 2030, and $76 billion in Japan alone. Coverage reached 97% of Japan last year, with more than 92 million 5G subscriptions by March this year.

NTT Docomo, the biggest domestic mobile carrier, rolled out even faster 5G in August using technology called New Radio-Dual Connectivity, initially in Tokyo and parts of Kanagawa. Transmitting across multiple frequency bands simultaneously and connecting with two 5G base stations, it facilitates download speeds of up to 6.6Gbps (gigabits per second).

Not just high-definition Tik-Tok videos

The rollout of 5G in Japan has already led to an 35% increase in mobile internet use, according to a study by Rina Suzuki of Tohoku University published in July’s International Journal of Technology and Systems. While much of this increase may be accounted for by video streaming and gaming on the train, it also “benefits businesses by facilitating remote work and innovative services such as augmented reality and the Internet of Things,” notes Suzuki.

One of the technologies closely tied to 5G is edge computing, which allows devices on the ‘edge’ of a network to process data, rather than having to transmit it to a server and back again. This is also an essential component of technologies such as autonomous driving, the IoT and AI. Japan’s mobile carriers have edge computing projects already up and running, some in partnership with domestic tech firms.

Another related field is local 5G: small, private networks that can provide ultra-low latency and tighter security because they are separated from the main networks, as well as customisability. Pilot deployment of local 5G has included remote operating of robotic farm machinery in Hokkaido and medical check-ups and diagnoses delivered via 4K cameras to patients on islands off the coast of Kyushu by doctors on the mainland. Local 5G solutions are predicted to be a 55.8-billion-yen ($380 million) market in Japan by 2030.

The final frontier

And 5G is also on its way to some locations further afield. A world-first test of 5G from a small aircraft flying at an altitude of around 4 kilometres was successfully carried out in May by a consortium of SKY Perfect JSAT Corp, NTT Docomo, Panasonic and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. Using the same high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) technology, NTT is planning to build a communication network that will reach out into space, while KDDI says it is aiming to have 5G ready for use on the moon by 2030.

Back on Earth, geopolitical tensions are helping to provide openings for Japanese firms with 5G tech. Japan has been a leading proponent of Open RAN (radio access network, sometimes called O-RAN) for 5G, allowing hardware and software from different vendors to be used together for networks. This stops one company dominating 5G infrastructure but has also been a way for the US and EU to keep Chinese tech out of networks.

In parallel with this, Tokyo has been promoting its 5G tech among the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the US) security group and in other parts of Asia. Japan’s government is to support the Philippines in building a 5G network, with the US also expected to provide funding, and is looking at providing similar assistance to Indonesia and Vietnam.

As well as jobs directly related to 5G networks, such as engineers, developers and project managers, there will also be increased demand for people able to integrate the technology into the wide range of fields it is going to impact.

By: Gavin Blair

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