Overcome Wireless Networking Challenges with Next-Level 5G Connectivity

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, organizations constantly seek innovative solutions to address their wireless networking challenges. The demand for high-speed internet has skyrocketed with more organizations placing an increasing importance on improving the end-user experience. With the challenge of supporting a multitude of end users in high-density environments, maintaining consistent performance and reliable connectivity is crucial.

With the birth of 5G technology, the game is about to change. Let’s examine how 5G addresses the wireless networking challenges faced by organizations and empowers them to enhance productivity, facilitate remote work and learning, and drive innovation.

Organizations look for fast networking technology they can implement securely and easily, but one of the main obstacles is finding a solution that meets the business requirements for both indoor and outdoor environments.

Businesses rely on wireless endpoint devices — Internet of Things (IoT), laptops, phones or any other kind of wireless communication devices — and they look to Wi-Fi as a primary means of connection. However, Wi-Fi has a limitation of distance and performance based on the technology that’s implemented. So, organizations often find it difficult to fill coverage gaps in such locations while ensuring seamless connectivity.

Furthermore, traditional wireless networks do not deliver the low latency required for real-time communication and collaboration. Low latency is crucial in today’s fast-paced world, especially for enabling emerging technologies that require high performance and speed.

While Wi-Fi has a limitation of distance and performance based on the technology that’s implemented, 5G assists by acting as a runway for indoor endpoint devices equipped with 5G technology. Moreover, it provides a wider coverage range for outdoor endpoint devices like phones. Compared to its predecessors, 5G can operate on higher frequency bands and fill in the gap with higher speeds and improved connectivity.

Organizations look to use 5G to do business in different ways. For example, because of its high speed and capacity capabilities, 5G can enable emerging technologies, such as powering autonomous vehicles or anything that has IoT capabilities.

Due to its low latency, 5G enables higher performance in devices across many industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, education and more. This means that organizations can enjoy real-time communication and collaboration, enabling faster decision-making and improved productivity.

As the need to be connected anywhere and everywhere securely and easily grows, 5G will not only be critical to supporting emerging technologies, but it also will benefit the education industry significantly.

We’re going to see more and more government investment in 5G technology to create opportunities for students to access information in a fast and reliable way. With its lightning-quick connectivity and minimal latency, 5G empowers educators and students with an array of innovative learning experiences. This transformation is not merely confined to faster downloads; it's about creating immersive virtual classrooms, enabling remote learning on a global scale and facilitating real-time collaboration like never before.

As educational institutions adapt to the new normal of hybrid learning, 5G's impact is becoming increasingly apparent, offering seamless access to diverse educational resources and enhancing the overall learning experience. Furthermore, this technology is poised to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all students, regardless of their location, have equal access to quality education. 

This was evident during the pandemic, when CDW solution architects used 5G technology to create giant hot spots in underserved areas, such as apartment complexes and trailer park communities. These locations didn’t have the sufficient broadband connectivity for remote learning, and 5G helped to fill the gaps and give students the access needed to learn without interruption.

When selecting 5G networking solutions for your organization, it is important to consider several factors. To start, evaluate the coverage and availability of 5G networks in your area. While 5G is rapidly expanding its coverage, it may not be available in all locations. Assessing the network coverage will help determine the feasibility and benefits of implementing 5G in your organization.

Then consider the scalability and flexibility of 5G networking solutions. As your organization grows and evolves, the networking infrastructure needs to accommodate changing requirements and future technology advancements. Look for solutions that offer scalability options, such as modular and cloud-based architectures.

A trusted IT partner can help you assess the readiness of your existing infrastructure and evaluate your current network performance and capacity requirements. CDW can provide 5G indoor assessments for all major carriers and private LTE assessments to help you support 5G connectivity effectively.