Personal devices are increasingly present in our daily lives: at work, at school and at home. Smartphones, tablets, PCs, and wearables are just some of the devices that simplify our day-to-day activities. for 2020 estimate that there will be 5.5 billion mobile devices globally, and according to Cisco’s VNI Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast for 2015 to 2020, 70 percent of the world´s population will be using a mobile device.
With the growing demand for Internet-connected digital devices, fourth generation (4G) technology cannot meet these devices’ greater bandwidth and faster data transfer requirements. For this reason, fifth generation (5G) technology is being developed to achieve a higher quality digital connection. But what is the impact on existing infrastructure? What technological requirements are needed to achieve a good experience in the digital world?
Various international bodies and entities are working on identifying and agreeing on new radio spectrum frequencies to assign to 5G services. This development work is focused on identifying new spectrum bands for use with network equipment and devices (phones, tablets, etc.), delivering faster connection speeds, lower latency, and better overall implementation.
The radio spectrum is a limited resource regulated by each country; therefore, establishing international criteria for its use is no easy job. Furthermore, since this resource is used by multiple communications technologies, frequency availability is scarce. The agenda for the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU), 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference includes the study of 11 potential spectrum bands for use by 5G technologies.
Note that 5G technology will provide the connectivity necessary to develop any kind of business or industry, which will open up big opportunities. Operators will be responsible for building a ubiquitous and invisible network, which will allow for optimal adaptation of 5G to the business models and use cases that companies require.
Summing up, 5G deployment calls for connectivity, next-generation networks, and interoperability, i.e., agreements among different industry stakeholders, operators, device and processor manufacturers, and software developers, among others.
The acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications’ (C&W) operations by Liberty Global will have a significant impact in this context, since the merger will allow both companies to serve 10 million mobile, video, broadband, and voice service subscribers. “Together we will establish ourselves as the leading consumer and B2B communications provider in Latin American and the Caribbean,” said C&W representatives. This merger will improve C&W Networks’ ability to invest in its networks and infrastructure, as well as in innovation and products that will truly meet their customers’ demands.
