The new generation of mobile technologies known as 5G has been designed as prerequisite for the next level of technological revolution known as Industry 4.0. The main parameters of the fifth generation technology are as follows: drastically reduced latency, connecting a large number of devices (especially smart and autonomous ones), using micro-services and Cloud technologies, as well as providing safe and reliable private networks via “network slicing”.

Even though the possibilities of 4G have not been exhausted yet, still, the development of the industry and the needs for an adequate communication which meets the increased capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, the number of smart devices and the need for automation and autonomy, have imposed the introduction of 5G. As any new technology, this one will also be upgraded, it will mature and progress with the course of time, and options will also appear which we have not even foreseen as of yet in this stage.

What does all of this mean through specific examples? In the industry, the production and logistic process will become increasingly automated. The factory halls will involve more and more autonomous robots that will be able to react in real time to any unforeseen event both in the production and quality control process, and in the logistics segment. The complete automation and autonomy of these processes will lead to an increased production, greater competitiveness and enhanced efficiency in every respect.

On the other hand, we are witnessing the rise of electrical and semi-autonomous vehicles, which aim to become fully autonomous. The best known example of this is Tesla with their autopilot, and it will not be long before the vehicles and the entire infrastructure shift onto an autonomous operation regime. With the 5G technology, all vehicles (both commercial and passenger) will be networked and they be able to exchange data, which will drastically reduce the number of traffic accidents, there will be a faster traffic flow and the air pollution will be reduced. Furthermore, sooner rather than later the road signalization and infrastructure will be modernized, thus becoming interactive and capable of managing the traffic in line with the situation and the conditions on the roads.

The low latency and the higher speeds brought by 5G will lead us to yet another sphere which is widely talked about and that is Virtual and Augmented Reality. This technology with 5G connectivity will enable unimaginable possibilities in all spheres of life. In addition to the revolution in the gaming industry, where the trend has already been noted in all leading gaming consoles, these technologies will also revolutionize medicine by means of enabling remote surgeries, remote diagnostics, etc... The possibilities are endless.

5G – our ally in the fight against climate change

The fifth generation technology, together with the new technologies – Internet of Things, Smart Sensors and Artificial Intelligence, will play an important role in the overcoming of the modern challenges, such as the fight against climate change and the eradication of hunger. By applying these technologies, through the control of networked smart devices, the air pollution and the energy consumption will undergo a drastic reduction. The use or renewable energy sources will obtain a new dimension, through systems that will be able to adapt in real time with a view to the most efficient utilization of the capacities. In agriculture, it will be possible to use drones for real-time monitoring and watering of the crops, while sensors will measure and dose the nutritional substances in the soil, which will contribute for increasing the food production with less energy and lower costs.

Challenges, preparations and investments

The introduction of every new technology brings about its own challenges, both from a technical-technological perspective and from an organizational and social perspective. The introduction of 5G requires new network elements in the core network, new antennas on the existing base stations and fibre optic to each of them, increasing the number of base stations at the places where it is necessary to provide ultra high gigabyte speeds, use of the edge cloud technology in order to ensure ultra low latency, etc. All of this requires greater investments, on-site work and a trial period, whereby all prerequisites for the introduction of this technology will be ensured. Telekom started this journey back in 2018, when it performed the first of the series of tests and worked on site relentlessly for building the network of the future.

Another important factor is the regulatory framework. In order to have an optimal and satisfactory introduction and use of the 5G technology, it is necessary also for the regulatory framework which applies to the installation of telecommunications equipment to be significantly facilitated, certainly by fully observing all prescribed legal and technical norms.

One of the challenges is also the dealing with the increased surge of fake news and disinformation which additionally intensified during the pandemic. This cannot be addressed by a single measure and, thence, the active involvement of all social stakeholders can limit the adverse impact and help in the preparation of the economy and society for the new technology because it will be beneficial for all.

5G in Macedonia

We are no exception from the European and worldwide trends and we are not far behind them. As a part of Deutsche Telekom, the most valuable telecommunications brand in Europe, we are always on top of the new technological and innovation trends and we implement them at a local level.
Telekom is already expanding its network on the entire territory of the country, wherein, by the end of the year, 13 cities will be covered with a 5G network, while the plans for the future have already been defined. However, the use of all the advanced functionalities of this network will take place gradually in the course of the several forthcoming years. Even though at the moment it may seem as a futuristic story, very soon the world as we know it will change entirely.

Miroslav Jovanovik
Chief Technical and IT Officer

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