2020 was a year of events that nobody could predict, including a global pandemic that altered the way people work, how students learn and the way everybody lives. These dramatic shifts impacted the wireless infrastructure industry as well, with capacity and coverage needs disseminating out from urban centers and applications like telemedicine taking on unprecedented importance.
5G is poised to bring innovation to supply chains through massive IoT capabilities, enable advanced artificial intelligence applications as well as augmented and virtual reality experiences at scale to improve operational efficiencies and reinvent workflows.
The race to fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology is on, with governments around the globe scrambling to support it. If they don’t, many industry experts believe, they risk losing out on the futuristic opportunities that 5G could make possible, from self-driving cars to smart cities that can point vehicles to the clearest roads. These advances also promise significant economic incentives: A 2019 study from IHS Markit predicts that by 2035, 5G will create 22 million jobs and generate $3.5 trillion in economic activity globally.
You have no doubt heard a lot of the buzz about 5G in the past year or two and, as a professional in the logistics industry, you might wonder what exactly it means for the supply chain — and the world at large. Obviously there is still a lot that's up in the air about a widespread 5G rollout and what it will mean for people and organizations at every single step of the supply chain, but there is considerable promise in the technology.
Building owners are increasingly reliant on new connectivity services for luxury residential buildings to attract the modern millennial renter. Whether for working at home or for leisure, tenants want smart technology solutions that automate and ease their daily routines. This leaves the hospitality and multifamily sectors to emerge as early adopters of smart living technology as a way to justify their price points to young renters seeking apartments within a city. These amenities have evolved from modern roof-top lounges, dog washing stations, and package lockers to robotic butlers and other digital amenities necessary to improve the “resident/tenant experience” - all of which need robust wireless coverage to operate.
As mobile carriers continue consumer 5G network rollouts across the United States, they are looking for ways to approach the enterprise and showcase the value it delivers.
ADRF’s Dennis Burns points to the proliferation of new building and safety codes and regulations as a boon for integrators because it should lead to “new revenue and new business.” There are 6.2 million commercial buildings across the U.S. and that number grows about 5 percent every year, he said. “These new codes help the first responders, they help the inhabitants of the building and they help integrators,” said Burns. “It’s a nice add-on to the business they have today.”
“The safety of staff and guests will always be our highest priority at Indianapolis International Airport,” said Andrew Burnett, airport operations center manager at Indianapolis Airport Authority. “We were very pleased with the smooth installation of the public safety system from beginning-to-end and are confident it will support first responders in their mission to protect the millions of people frequenting the Indy airport each year.”
The public safety in-building wireless communication space has been driven by codes and standards since they were first introduced in 2009. These systems ensure first responders can communicate in every building area, including critical coverage areas like fire command rooms, exit stairwells, elevator lobbies, basements and exit passageways.
As our society moves further toward a completely digital future, building owners are acknowledging the necessity of indoor wireless connectivity to power digital services and better tenant expectations.