5 Ways 5G and IoT Could Help Change the World
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ew advances in technology are generally targeted at making our lives better, but any improvement will fall short if it fails to help us preserve and improve the world. Even before the pandemic hit, the clock was already ticking on our ability to avert an impending climate crisis. The pandemic has given us some additional challenges in terms of balancing economic recovery with environmental sustainability, but it could also be viewed as offering an unprecedented opportunity. Fortunately 5G has been designed from the outset as a more energyefficient technology than its predecessors, and it also has the potential to unlock broader environmental stewardship by means of a number of forward-looking use cases. By enabling behavioral changes, such as allowing larger numbers of people to work from home or almost anywhere else (WFX) and by improving fleet management for efficient transport, 5G could both directly and indirectly support 28
Automate Sept-Nov 2021
measures that improve the quality and management of water, air and soil, and also nurture other key parts of the environment like forests. Here are just five ways 5G can make a difference to the world and its inhabitants: 1. Better-Managed Energy and Smarter Government Services Smart energy management has long been recognized as one of the key benefits of smart cities. For example, commercial landlords can use the 5G-powered Internet of Things (IoT) to conserve energy when areas of buildings are unoccupied. Connecting devices that monitor and map usage allows energy companies to balance the consumption needs of businesses and consumers with the outputs of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Utilities can thus minimize the need to draw power from fossil-fueled power stations and ultimately plan for a virtually carbon-free future energy model.
Governments, meanwhile, are planning to use 5G IoT to efficiently and costeffectively deliver core services like monitoring critical infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, managing road traffic and enhancing public safety. According to a report published last year by the Deloitte Center for Government Insights, carriers are working with port authorities and governments to test the ability of 5G-enabled networks to automate cargo handling, direct ship traffic and manage energy use at ports. 2. Less Pollution from Vehicles While some government plans call for electric-powered vehicles to gradually replace those running on petroleumbased fuels, much can be done now to reduce emissions. 5G-connected vehicles can stream data back to their manufacturers from the vehicles’ sensors on maintenance status—for example, identifying when brake pads are wearing thin and need replacing. Combining this data with data on usage patterns could
