With a significant number of infrastructural and operational challenges to be overcome before 5G can become a business reality for telecom companies, Some expert says it is time to set the ‘glass half empty’ promises of 5G to one side and leverage the proven quality, consistency and reliability of existing wireless networks, especially 4G, to support business communications infrastructure and growth

5G has arrived – or has it? The new services are surprisingly limited in geographic coverage, performance and features, focusing on broadband-only applications. The massive IoT connectivity application of the services has been delayed to 2023. The current incarnation in all carriers except Three UK does not offer the promised alternative to replace leased lines (‘millimetre wave’).

Even the much-hyped mobile broadband speeds have been downgraded from gigabits to burst rates in the hundreds of Mbps at best. Add in the lack of reliability, spotty coverage and inconsistency in commercial approach, and 5G is no more than a work in progress.

The reality today is that 5G – where it is available – is providing enhanced mobile broadband and no more. For those with compatible devices – an issue in itself given the lack of available devices and the Huawei situation – 5G will enable voice calls and broadband internet access. Even then, the promised speeds are not being delivered – customers can expect 150-200 Mbps at best, and on the Vodafone commercial plans we see “guarantees” of 2 Mbps, 10 Mbps or “the fastest available” – this falls short of the gigabit speeds promised.

PUSMAI professionally dedicated to serving operators and providing bandwidth expansion solutions. DWDM and OTN solutions can effectively increase network bandwidth. And equipped with optical modules with different speeds such as 10G, 40G, 100G, etc. Overall, it can increase the speed efficiently and at the least cost, and enhance the market competitiveness of network operators.