Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1315957
21 | networks at the edge, LPWAN connectivity is a more viable option. Personal Area Network (PAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) For local connectivity in homes and enterprises, Wi-Fi ® and Bluetooth ® technologies (based on IEEE 802.11 standards) and Bluetooth Low Energy are common options. 802.15.4- based technologies (including Zigbee ® , ISA100.11a, 6LoWPAN, WirelessHART ® , and Z-Wave ® ) support enterprise IoT applications such as asset and resource tracking. Just like cable and fiber-optic broadband solutions, 5G fixed broadband and cellular networks should complement Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 3GPP's Release 16 will include the 5G New Radio (NR)– Unlicensed standard, which supports existing 5 and 6GHz ("greenfield") unlicensed frequency bands. One of the promising use cases of the 5G unlicensed spectrum will be "Wi-Fi- like" private networks in enterprises, large stadiums, and malls. Satellite In the connectivity ecosystem, while satellite technologies offer high bandwidth and reliability, they are expensive. As such, satellite serves only niche use cases. Onboard connectivity in aircraft, on freights, and on fleets using Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking across oceans, remote locations, underserved areas, and disaster zones, where mobile networks can fail, are some of the scenarios in which satellites are useful. Satellite connectivity can augment 5G wireless to offer ubiquitous connectivity, by extending the coverage of 5G networks in areas where cellular connectivity is not feasible because of economic and other locational constraints. Cellular: 4G-LTE 4G-LTE started rolling out in 2009, and in pre-5G days, it is the most advanced cellular technology available, with a peak rate of up to 1Gbps and latencies of 30 to 70 milliseconds (ms). With its 10Gbps data rates and less than a 1ms latency, 5G wireless is poised to evolve cellular networks into super- fast, responsive, power-efficient sources of connectivity. Deployment of 4G networks is still in progress around the globe. It will take some time before 5G networks reach ubiquity and for 5G chipsets and devices to reach the market on a commercial scale. Use cases that do not require an ultra-high throughput and ultra-low latencies can continue to use 4G even after 5G has been rolled out. The 5G NR standard is designed to overlap and coexist with the 4G core network. So, at least from a technical design standpoint, compatibility has been built into 4G and 5G wireless-based cellular services. Final Thoughts 2019 is the year of 5G connectivity. Mobile carriers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are gearing up to roll out 5G networks commercially within a year. Nonetheless, the reality is that certain 5G standards are still in development, and testing is still in progress to certify 5G capabilities. With its bold promises, 5G also introduces unprecedented challenges to achieving its ambitious performance goals in real-world scenarios. To adopt and create 5G-capable applications and electronics in the future, it is important to stay current with the ongoing 5G tests and developments. The 5G community also needs to think in innovative ways to overcome technical challenges and assess the applicability of 5G wireless networks in a quickly evolving connectivity ecosystem.