In the span of human existence and evolution, there always comes a time when we bring about major leaps forward in terms of how our species lives, thrives, and interacts with both its surroundings and itself. 

The agricultural revolutions first allowed our nomadic ancestors to become settled and helped our populations grow due to reliable food sources, then enhanced farming techniques spurred our numbers further and helped us more efficiently cultivate our Earth. Then there are the industrial revolutions, which helped us increase our productivity and carved our map of urban centers where populations were highest. These also helped streamline our methods of living, offering humankind greater ease while shifting us into new economies of massive, mechanized, factory-based industry. 

Now, we are well and truly situated in a new type of revolution: the digital revolution. For us, this is often described as a move away from analog and mechanical existence toward a more abstract age of electronics and online existence. When we peer into this new reality, we see the foundational infrastructure like data centers and networks as the epicenter of innovation, and we see their influence steadily creeping into everything: into factories, homes, schools, hospitals — everywhere. 

5G is one of the technologies whose prospective reach has the potential to completely redefine our existence on a day-to-day level, bringing about speeds and capacities that open up new worlds through artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual realities, and beyond. 

Let’s dig into 5G and how it can take everything it touches into a new era.

Why 5G Is Innovation that Wears Every Hat

When we think of technology, we normally think of individual capabilities that have applications across a selection of opportunities. 5G is different though — it has implications across the entire spectrum of industry and home life. This is because 5G is set to become the new foundational technology that a host of other innovations run on. 

5G is the next generation of connectivity that will be architected as part of all IT infrastructure once fully rolled out. 5G refers to a new method of infrastructure deployment and network function, where nodes are at the very edge of the network and connections between them (and back to data centers) are more robust than ever before. This will allow for the lowest ever latencies, the fastest speeds, the highest capacities, and the greatest geographic coverage — all of which is exactly what innovative applications require. It will take time before this next-level network is fully fleshed out and all the necessary investment has been made and deployments completed, but we’re well on our way. In addition, reports note that the small cell networks market, valued at $3.34 billion in 2020, is projected to reach upwards of $10 billion by 2026. 

What awaits us on the other side of this 5G deployment (and what’s already being experienced across the world today) is a wealth of quality-of-life and quality-of-service improvements that we previously could only dream of. Just think: with 5G and the technologies that will run across it, surgeons could get data-based augmented reality views into the body for more effective, less invasive procedures. Industry can effectively monitor and adjust functions and operations across entire factory floors with intelligent IoT sensors, increasing safety and avoiding machinery malfunctions to increase productivity. Local governments can complete smart city initiatives to improve the lives of their citizens in a multitude of ways. This is only scratching the surface of the opportunities at hand. 

What it Takes to Get in on the Action

Businesses that wish to keep up and keep ahead of growing 5G demand, regardless of their industry, need to get their foot in the door of this next-level IT infrastructure as soon as possible. Early movers will reap the most advantage, and there’s no time to waste — this revolution is already underway and gaining steam. 

Edge data centers like 1623 Farnam are at the forefront of this 5G shift, serving as hubs where forward-thinking companies gather, deploy, and extend their network to ensure they’re right on pace with 5G innovation. The world is becoming more connected and more unfettered by the limits of a non-digital world by the day, so it’s time to join the revolution. 

To learn more about how 1623 Farnam can empower your 5G and edge journey, click here.

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