About two decades ago, the tech world was captivated by 3G. About a decade ago, 4G had the same effect. Closer to home, Malaysians have been enjoying the benefits of 4G since it first arrived in 2013 [3]. In that span of time, the internet as we know it became faster and the world began exploring the various things one could do with high-speed internet.
"Advancements in all spheres of life are all around us and there are endless examples across varied industries to draw from," says Robert Lye, Managing Director at Hewlett Packard Enterprise Malaysia. Apps like Facebook, Grab and Lazada took off and became a norm of life. Businesses worked with more machines, applications and devices to deliver faster solutions for global connectivity. And on a national level, we've unlocked the potential of Malaysia's digital economy.
And here's what's interesting: if a technological revolution 20 years ago was like that, what does the future look like? Probably a whole lot different than what we could've imagined.
Today, our devices are talking to each other, machines are becoming more intelligent, and we're gathering an unsurmountable amount of data. In this world of Internet of Things (IoT), we need everything to be faster - processes, applications, solutions, and above all, connectivity and network.
"The last part is crucial. With the momentum we've gained, this is no time for stagnancy," says Mohan Krishnan, Vice President for Pointnext Services in Hewlett Packard Enterprise Asia Pacific. "We are in desperate need for revamping networks that we got 20 years ago."
For HPE, where the goal is to pave technological advancement for a more efficient future, the answer is clear: it's time for businesses to prepare for 5G and Wi-Fi 6.
Future innovations are needed today more than ever
Let's take 5G first.
The previous generations of 3G and 4G were created to match the speed with which the devices and machines were getting adopted. The case with 5G is quite different. Its core idea lies in being a wide-area network (WAN) technology that can run applications that haven't even been created yet.
It is designed in a way to work with the scalability needed for cellular data, edge computing, IoT applications, and other non-interior connections.
Think of it as a network that can allow superfast internet, consistently for multiple devices, at the same time. How fast? Well, at its peak, it can transfer data at the rate of about 20Gpbs, which is 20 times faster than the LTE-Advanced networks we currently get [1].
The second part is about its latency, or the time it takes to respond to a request or query. While our current networks give us a latency of about 9 milliseconds, 5G is pegged to bring it down to 1ms [2]. It's made for connected cars to react and find solutions within seconds. In other words, it can react faster than humans [3].
While there are countries that have deployed 5G for specific applications, MCMC chairman Al-Ishsal Ishak said that the technology is still in its infancy stage in Malaysia. However, we may be one of the first in the region to bring this technology to life. In fact, top telcos like Maxis, Celcom and Digi have already gotten the ball rolling on 5G.
The implementation of 5G can do wonders. Earlier this year, HPE showcased the possibilities of 5G at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona with a demo which explains how businesses can effectively perform network functions (e.g. multi-access edge computing (MEC), virtual RAN (vRAN), evolved packed core (ePC)) while executing data-intensive applications such as video analytics and streaming at the edge.
In the demo, HPE showcased its 5G solution (HPE Edgeline) in a retail store setting. Through 5G, stores could make inventory management and loss-prevention a lot more effective. They could also evaluate traffic and perform heat mapping analytics, all of which would provide them with the insights and data needed to better the business.
Customers on the other hand could get a tailored shopping experience through virtual dressing rooms. In other words, it's redefining customer experiences… and you can only imagine just how powerful this tool can be when applied on a larger scale [7].
Mobile technology aside, let's shift our focus to Wi-Fi 6.
If you're wondering, yes, Wi-Fi 6 is a thing, and fret not if you're unfamiliar with this.
It was coined at a convention by the Wi-Fi Alliance to simplify the 802.11ax wireless standard. For context, most Wi-Fi connections (in Malaysia, at least) currently use the Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 4 generations [4]. Wi-Fi 6 is meant to denote the next generation of the wireless local area network (WLAN) technology and is a huge uplift from what we have now.
It's estimated to be about 30% faster than our current Wi-Fi 5 with better power efficiency. It also has Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), which can broadcast multiple signals simultaneously.
In simpler words, it cuts down the latency we spoke about earlier, and increases the network efficiency in crowded, public spaces. We're talking about a faster, easily accessible and more reliable outdoor network for stadiums, airports, offices, and of course, homes. So if you - along with 50 other businesspeople - are trying to connect to the same Wi-Fi at a café, you will likely be able to enjoy a smoother, faster and way more stable connection on your devices.
There are currently not many options for Wi-Fi 6 routers in Malaysia, so we'll just have to wait for brands to roll them in [4].
Amazing things can happen when 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are implemented together
"There is a myth is that 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are contenders, but for businesses, leveraging them together holds more promise than an either-or situation," Mohan says. "It can hasten the digital transformation for companies, thereby helping them stay ahead."
With a faster network in place, innovation and product development also becomes faster as processes take lesser time and global connectivity improves. Employees can work on-the-go and productivity finally stops being a challenge.
It will also keep the customers happy as businesses can get a digital experience, thanks to the high-speed service applications that can work with Wi-Fi 6 on-site and remotely on 5G.
It's understandable if you think you can wait a few years till 5G kicks-off in order to craft business strategies around it. We believe otherwise.
We believe that if businesses are to make full use of these technologies, then they need to look at a two-pronged approach - one based on Wi-Fi 6, which could be a short-term strategy, and another for 5G, which could be long-term.
While MCMC plans to have 5G rolled out for everyday Malaysians by 2021/2022 [3] businesses should already start doing their part to create basic network architecture that can manage 5G and Wi-Fi 6 technologies as a single resource. They need to start developing applications and services already, in order to utilize the full potential of Wi-Fi 6. When 5G is rolled out, they can save on time by keeping them readily deployable.
The most crucial part of the transition is ensuring seamlessness between 5G and Wi-Fi 6. The network needs to be redesigned in a way that when users move from one part to another, they face no interruptions. In minimising network disruptions and maximising stability, telco providers will also have to develop and deploy various relay systems and techniques, such as multiple antennas and channel estimation [6].
The task may seem gruelling, but the result is almost guaranteed to be worth it. It paves the way for businesses to stay a step ahead and lay the foundation of what's coming, a lot earlier.
"It's going to be a massive edge to gain, in a world where being first is on everybody's minds," Mohan concludes. And with HPE's innovative solutions, businesses would have all the support they need to ramp up their 5G rollouts.
To learn more about how Hewlett Packard Enterprise is focusing on accelerating innovation, join us at the Digital Transformation Innovation Summit 2019 on September 25th, 2019, from 9:00am - 5:00pm, at Sheraton Hotel Petaling Jaya.