Read an exclusive interview with Dr Jens Jakobson on the significance of 5G technologies in factory settings.

The promise of 5G technologies in factory settings, as well as other industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) environments, is significant.

For some at the front line of the industry, 5G is the missing piece of the jigsaw which unlocks Industry 4.0. From the original industrial revolution, to mass production, to automation, the next step requires something stronger. As a 2019 Gartner report puts it, 5G ‘will transform the manufacturing industry through CSPs’ advanced network-based capabilities, such as low latency and highly reliable communications.’

This has a name of its own: ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). IEEE describes it as ‘one of the three key application scenarios in 5G communication systems’ in a 2019 paper, although outlining practical difficulties with implementation.

Nevertheless, this is what the future looks like, according to Dr Jens Jakobsen (left), HMS Labs development manager at connectivity provider HMS Networks.

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