Verizon Wireless revels in 5G spotlight

“We need to make sure we create the conditions – work with civil societies, governments and local authorities. Democratising access to 5G is an essential ingredient in that … It’s about ensuring all boats rise on a 5G tide.”

The operator stole the headlines this week by announcing plans to launch the first 5G network in the US, due for activation in four cities on 1 October. The service will be a fixed wireless access product for residential broadband, not mobile, and based on Verizon’s own proprietary 5G standard.

Customer were able to register from yesterday morning (13 September), and Dunne noted that the service’s website had already experienced a hundred thousand hits in the first couple of hours.

Dunne cited the home as one area where consumers will enjoy wireless connectivity “at a level they’ve never experienced,” adding 5G’s impact on healthcare could similarly be “pervasive”. But the key to success, he warned, will be ensuring that the mobile sector works with all manner of industries.

“5G is an enabler,” Dunne said. “It will enable artificial intelligence; deep, deep analytics; the ability to have ubiquitous connectivity. Every schoolchild in the country can have access to the best teaching.”

Despite concern that automation and the rise of intelligent machines could threaten jobs, Dunne expressed confidence 5G will have the opposite effect.

“5G will increase employment, it will offer new opportunities. Think of this as another renaissance …. The new jobs will be created by access to new information. It’s liberating the creative in every single one of us. There’s going to be a new set of creative garages driven and powered by 5G.”