The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the fastest networking speeds is 5G technology. This isn’t without reason, since the wireless industry has been transitioning from 4GLTE to the new 5G standard for the past year or so.The fifth-generation mobile communication network (5G) is a heterogeneous network with a competitive edge in the field of wireless networking. The 5G network will provide users with an uninterrupted connection.
With so much progress being made in the field of wireless internet, it won’t sound good if you’re still relying on a slow connection. So, while this high-speed, low-latency transition is happening, you may as well up your speed game by checking out the fantastic offers by AT&T wireless internet which promises to bring an amazing 5G browsing experience to its users.
Challenges,however, are an unavoidable component of every new development, and 5G, like other technology, also faces significant obstacles. Keep reading as we present some of the major challenges for the 5G Networking.
1. Security Concerns for 5G
As with any new technology, there will always be weaknesses associated with networking advancements. When people hear of 5G, they generally think of faster internet rates, but that isn’t the only benefit or use-case it offers. It brings up a lot of opportunities for IoT devices to be linked on a scale that we have never seen before because of its low latency, low power consumption, and large bandwidths. It opens up possibilities for smart homes and cities.
For these applications, 5G networking will be governed by software, which will primarily rely on AI and machine learning models.Because 5G is designed to carry extremely high volumes of data of various sorts, specialized software will be required for auto-scaling and effective load handling. Threat actors will attempt to gain control of the software to manipulate the network, and they may also poison data to target ML and AI models to create blind spots to avoid detection.
Low-Cost Higher Security Concerns
High-band 5G frequencies have the most bandwidth, but they also come at a cost in terms of coverage. This implies that, in comparison to its predecessors, the data may travel a substantially shorter distance. Network providers are attempting to address this problem by placing smaller cells in various locations across a region, such as lampposts, however, this exposes a large attack surface to threat actors.
For example, if one of these tiny cells is compromised, they may use man-in-the-middle attacks to listen in on network traffic and change data. This creates a new difficulty in that we now have more points to secure, and it only takes one of these tiny cells to be compromised for the entire network to be compromised.
2. Challenges for Aviation
Although the issues posed by 5G technology for aviation are still being investigated, and there hasn’t been a significant event to demonstrate the devastation that may be caused, several major airlines, including Boeing and Airbus, have called for 5G networking to be delayed owing to aviation concerns.
Cellphones have had a tumultuous relationship with airlines since their inception. There’s a reason why airplane mode exists, after all. Since the introduction of 5G technology, there have been reports that the new technology may interfere with flights. The problem with 5G isn’t the phones; it’s the towers near airports. 5G relies on C band frequencies, which are similar to those used by aviation altimeters (devices that inform pilots how high their plane is flying). According to research conducted by the RTCA, there is a significant danger that 5G communications networks would cause damaging interference to radar altimeters on all types of civil aircraft, which the FAA further states may not be detectable by the pilot in time to ensure continued safe flight and landing. Some aviation regulators have prohibited 5G towers from utilizing the C-band frequency near their airports as a precaution.
3. Infrastructure Challenges with 5G
The network of small-cell base stations with edge computing capabilities necessary for the fifth generation technology standard for cellular networks is referred to as 5G infrastructure. Low latency coverage is provided by 5G infrastructure for massive data volumes that drive applications such as IoT devices.
Millimeter waves (mmWave) are used in 5G networks to transfer more data quicker, but only within a very small, unobstructed connection range. Smaller cells, such as lampposts, are being placed around an area by network operators in an attempt to alleviate this problem. Small cell base stations, which are a key aspect of 5G networks, are meant to fit in with the existing environment, take up minimum land, and are placed in clusters in densely populated regions to offer continuous connectivity and support the mega network’s wide-area coverage.
4. Cost
The above-mentioned requirements also imply that additional hardware and associated software are required for adding 5G network infrastructure components. The cost of setting up a macrocell is roughly $200,000, whereas small cells cost about $10,000 each.Installing 60 small cells per square mile is the plan for 5G to deliver on its promise. Additionally, there are associated costs with purchasing spectrum, configuring, testing, and managing networks — not to mention the ongoing maintenance and updating of such networks.
To conclude
5G is a fantastic advancement in wireless communication technology that will undoubtedly offer a lot of convenience to every aspect of life. However, 5G networking, like any other technology, comes with its own set of risks. Some of the areas of major challenges for 5G networking to date are described above. Threat mitigations are now being researched, and we may soon expect to discover a good solution to the current problems.
