Network expert lauds 5G industrial promise

In an interview with MWC Daily News ahead of the 5G at the Heart of Industry session (Thursday at 11am, Hall 6, Stage A), Smith explained that while 5G is applicable across a broad range of industry verticals the technology “has some very interesting and impactful use cases within an industrial setting”.

This, he noted, was especially true in scenarios where high throughput, low-latency connectivity is crucial.

“Factories and industrial processes cannot afford downtime, while industrial machines and robotics are costly to both repair and replace,” he said.

Elements of security and “high reliability” in 5G enable the segment to drive industrial automation, in turn increasing levels of productivity, reducing downtime, providing insights to aid decision-making and improving overall safety on the work floor.

Smith added private 5G also “enables manufacturers to secure wireless networks which offer increased capacity and low-latency connectivity, eliminate dead zones, and ensure that service levels are being met”.

“This all supports the wide range of industrial IoT sensors and other technology, which is becoming increasingly integral to their business processes.”