5G for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

5G’s overarching impact beyond voice and data has made it a must-have tool to keep Bangladesh relevant in the 4th Industrial Revolution. Bangladesh has already launched 5G network services in a few publicly important places such as Bangabhaban, Ganobhaban, Sangsad Bhaban, Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Dhanmondi 32. The authorities concerned are also trying to launch the technology in the two nationally important places, such as Tungipara of Gopalganj and Shaheed Minar in the capital. Gradually the authorities will roll out 5G all over the country. And the special economic zones and the hi-tech parks are likely to be the first beneficiaries of this technology.

Easy and affordable access to infrastructure, particularly optical fibre, is critically important to ensure 5G capacity and coverage. In order to ensure the maximum advantage of 5G technology to provide the fastest internet services across the country, the government will expand the optical fibre network. According to a report– quoting a senior official of the planning ministry– published in this newspaper on Friday, the Posts and Telecommunications Division had sent a project proposal titled “Development of BTCL’s Optical Fibre Transmission Network for 5G Utilisation” to the Planning Commission seeking the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council’s approval. The report says that the cost of the public-funded project is estimated at Tk 1,059.10 crore. Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) plans to execute the project by December 2024. BTCL’s current optical fibre network has a significant impact on the country’s overall economic growth. BTCL has installed optical fibre networks in 1,217 unions of 482 Upazilas of 64 districts. An addition of 2.6 or 3.5 GHz to existing frequencies will fit the next steps. 5G has increased speed and higher bandwidth, so the transmission fibre bandwidth capacity needs to be expanded. There is also a requirement for more spectrums.

5G is not only important for communication technology, but is more important for innovative application of technology. It is at least 20 times faster than 4G, processing 1 GB of bandwidth within a few seconds. 5G technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to the users. Not just Bangladesh, the whole world is gearing up to embrace fifth-generation data service. Over a third of the world’s countries currently have at least one live 5G network. Market mavens have been talking about the benefits of 5G for long. Business leaders and telecom experts feel that tapping into the potentials of 5G is a prerequisite for the economies that are keen to cash in on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 5G is the highway for automation.

In order to unleash the full potential of this technology, companies need sophisticated tools. 5G has the potential to benefit everything from entertainment, gaming, education, and public safety. 5G enables very large numbers of IoT devices to communicate with one another and with central decision-makers. The technology is designed to extend the scope of mobile technology beyond the capacities of 4G. Experts believe that 5G will be transformative, fueling innovation across every industry and every aspect of our lives. As Bangladesh is entering the 5G era, it is crucial to understand the significance of this advanced technology and the implications 5G is likely to have for agriculture, industries, and businesses. Bangladesh has to tap the opportunities provided by the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Intelligent connectivity, enabled by 5G, will be the catalyst for the socio-economic growth that the 4IR could bring. 5G is the fundamental platform for the 4IR. High data rates, ultra-reliable transmission, and extremely low latencies will allow significant increases in efficiency and flexibility in industrial added value. According to international media reports, early adopters of 5G in industrial settings are singing praises about their transition.