Re:New 5G protocol vulnerabilities allow location tracking
by hatchershoes on Monday March 29, 2021 @12:40PM
(#26624467)
I don't believe that governments promote massive multi-billion dollar infrastructure-upending projects on optimism and "luck". Your 3-part explanation notably leaves out any effect that 5G might have on mass surveillance, i.e., the annihilation of privacy and private communications. But maybe that's simply implied when we say "IoT".
The first is eMBB: Enhanced Mobile Broadband. In other words faster mobile internet. This is where most operators start.
The second is URLLC: Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications. This is mainly aimed at using 5G for things like self-driving cars. But also things like long distance remote control. This is where people see potential for innovation without being clear what the exact innovation will be.
The third is mMTC: Massive Machine Type Communications. This is meant for IOT but also for factory control. The IOT thing is mostly allowing extra low battery useage, low speed, cheap connnectivity. The factory control thing is about getting the advantages of 5G (and e.g. URLLC) and allowing a factory to quickly set up their own private 5G network.
This is on the consumer facing side. On the operator facing side, infrastructure is moving more towards virtualization and decoupling. Trying to make it easier to use multiple vendors, and stop requiring custom made hardware. And in general, moving towards commodity hardware and something closer to 'infrastructure as code'.
This also helps roaming and virtual operators (for e.g. the factory control). It also helps a bit with the ultra low latency part by decentralizing the routing part and moving it closer to the devices.
So "what is 5G gonna do for me" is mostly the 'faster internet'. But the idea is that it will enable widespread innovation that you can later use. With some luck (governments are thinking) being ahead in deploying 5G might also help boost your economy by boosting innovation.