5G stole the show at Mobile World Congress Americas

Global mobile network peak usage timeline

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5G — the networking standard that will succeed 4G LTE — took center stage at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Americas in San Francisco last week. Over the course of three days, various telecommunications industry leaders discussed the latest advancements in the space.

Here are some of the innovative ways US wireless carriers plan to deploy and use the new standard, as highlighted at MWC:

Verizon is breaking barriers in the 5G space. The largest carrier in the US revealed that it's capable of transmitting 28 GHz signals through windows that block UV rays. Enabling millimeter-wave signals to travel, especially through windows that reflect UV light, is a hurdle for carriers that aim to use 5G, as opposed to fiber-optics or broadband, to deliver fast internet to homes and business.
AT&T is doubling down on new IoT initiatives. In partnership with Microsoft, the company unveiled AT&T Asset Management – Operations Center, a new IoT platform that lets businesses track and monitor their connected devices. The platform can run data storage and analytics tools that are based in Microsoft Azure, such as Azure Cosmos DB and Microsoft Power BI, and it supports LTE Cat-M1 and traditional LTE connectivity.
Philips Lighting and American Tower are making strides in street light technology. The two companies plan on developing a smart pole that would improve wireless network coverage in urban areas using wirelessly connected LED lighting. The connected pole, which could be revealed as soon as 2018, would enable wireless carriers to swiftly densify their networks, and eventually support 5G services.

North America is expected to lead in 5G technology. North America’s mobile consumers are highly engaged, and often among the first markets to adopt new technology, which will likely drive adoption of next-generation devices and networks. By 2025, about 50% of North America’s connections will run on 5G.

Nevertheless, 4G networks will continue to drive mobile subscribers in the near future.Although 5G is generating hype in the mobile ecosystem, 4G will lead in terms of volume for the next decade. Between 2016 and 2025, an estimated 3.6 billion subscribers will be on 4G networks, compared with 1.2 billion on 5G networks.

Peter Newman, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has conducted an exclusive study with in-depth research into the field and created a detailed report on the IoT that:

Provides a primer on the basics of the IoT ecosystem
Offers forecasts for the IoT moving forward and highlights areas of interest in the coming years
Looks at who is and is not adopting the IoT, and why
Highlights drivers and challenges facing companies implementing IoT solutions

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