5G (Fifth Generation) and IoT (Internet of Things) are expected to dramatically impact every aspect of our lives. As commercial 5G networks are progressively being rolled out this year, these technologies are changing the smart + connected workplace and our work lives.
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year, Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm said North America and Asia are leading the world with 5G. As one of the world’s leading providers of information and communication technology to service providers, Ericsson works closely with Sprint. In May 2019, Sprint announced the launch of its True Mobile 5G service. Sprint’s initial 5G launch will cover areas of nine cities. Sprint 5G is ready to power new experiences for wireless customers, including IoT and business applications in covered areas.
As Steelcase continues to study how IoT, big data and cloud computing enhances the ways people work, it’s collaborating with Sprint and Ericsson to discover how 5G will impact the office by deploying Sprint’s 5G service in its Atlanta WorkLife Center. Steelcase is also in the early stages of exploring with Sprint and Ericsson how digital transformation efforts can advance aspects of manufacturing including safety and predictive maintenance.
“We have a long history of experimenting on ourselves before deploying solutions to our customers. Our work with 5G in Atlanta will give us an opportunity to uncover how this advancement will change behaviors at work,” says Steve Miller, Steelcase CIO. “By working with industry leaders like Ericsson and Sprint, we can develop and test prototypes of future solutions for the office and our factories that have the potential to change the way we support our customers.”
WHAT IS 5G?
5G is the latest generation of cellular mobile communications. Certain to be a disrupter, changing the rules around how things work, it will be a leap forward in how fast networks operate. There will be larger bandwidths, lower latency and unlimited amounts of data that can move across these networks. 5G brings with it a whole new way for devices to connect to one another, fueling the rise of IoT.
When it comes to manufacturing, operations and logistics, 5G is a game changer. “5G is going to rewrite the rules to help us improve accuracy, streamline delivery and allow us to be more agile,” says Miller. “It’s also going to change the way people work. 5G and IoT will have a tremendous impact on how AI, VR and AR are adopted within the workplace, and that’s just the beginning. We want to be the early adopters and add to how we’re exploring the ways place and technology work together to improve people’s future work experience.”
5G + IOT: A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH
Today, the Steelcase WorkLife facilities in Atlanta are the testing ground as the three companies explore a 5G-enabled office environment. Bluetooth and WiFi connections have the potential to be unreliable or intermittent. Ethernet cables are costly to install and cumbersome. 5G and IoT have the potential to dramatically lower the barrier to connectivity and innovation.