How 5G and Edge Computing is transforming Remote and Hybrid Work?

The world is preparing to transition back to the physical office.  However, the remote work is not completely out of the picture. Currently,  16% of companies globally are working fully remote¹ and 76% of workers would be more willing to stay with their current employer if they could work flexible hours.²

While companies are looking to embrace this trend, they are roadblocks to implementing it properly. The slow internet and digital distractions due to heavy buffering and inefficient communication make it difficult to keep teams connected.

Free Infographic: Advanced Communications – The next most pertinent technology for the telecom Industry.

With the rapid adoption of 5G, delivering up to 20 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) as peak data rates and 100+ Megabits-per-second (Mbps) as average data rates, remote work capabilities have chances to improve like never before.³ 5G will ultimately provide better connectivity and much better audio/ video quality, enabling a business to have more control over its remote work.

Let’s dig deeper to understand what major changes the 5G network will bring.

Also Check: Application of Private 5G and MEC across Industries and their Benefits

How 5G Edge is fueling remote and hybrid workforce?

5G connectivity and mobile edge computing are two very powerful combinations of technologies. While 5G provides 10x more speed than that of 4G, mobile edge computing reduces latency by bringing data analysis and computing capabilities closer to sites where data are processed.

This significantly improves the performance of applications and enables a huge amount of data to be processed in real-time. Meaning, faster connections, and improved productivity among remote workers. Below, let’s explore how 5G edge will revolutionize remote and hybrid working to achieve things that are not possible with today’s networks.

1. 5G’s network slicing capability –

5G’s network slicing is anticipated to be the game-changer for the hybrid and remote workforce. It is the ability to dedicate a piece of bandwidth to a specific application without affecting overall network performance.

It segments or slices the 5G architecture into independent, tailored, end-to-end networks and prioritizes them to run critical, data-sensitive functions in real-time. For example, if you set your video calling app as a priority, your connection will not be interrupted no matter what else is stressing your network.

2. Secured Endpoints 

When employees work remotely each one of them is completely on different networks posing security challenges for their organizations. Moreover, they are using unrecognized devices to access these networks making the security model more difficult. Statistics state that remote work has caused a security breach in 20% of organizations and has increased the average cost of a data breach by USD137,000.⁴

While Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are critical in maintaining a strong security posture, they’ve been found to have flaws. With 5G’s unique architecture organizations can design better security models for their remote work environments. It provides them visibility and control into various layers of security along with regular firewalling capabilities, built-in encryption, and security controls.

Other than these, network slicing capability segments systems into multiple virtual networks, providing customized security to each network and decreasing the risk of the entire network being compromised.

3. Improved Employee Training

With 5G, employers can better train their remote workers with AR and VR as these technologies solely rely on network connectivity. 5G Edge reduces latency by 10x providing a smooth and efficient user experience to the employees. The training can become highly visual and interactive allowing employees to comprehend tools better and realize how they will work in real life.

Remote teams can even directly scan the products they will work with and receive direct training in a highly immersive environment. They can better collaborate using 3-D holograms, and contribute ideas on digital whiteboards just like in an in-person meeting. This will not only increase remote work productivity but also reduce time and offer better work flexibility to remote employees.

Embracing 5G Edge with the iLink Team

We all know that remote work is here to stay as it helps organizations attract and retain the best talent. Providing a reliable, high-speed connection is no more a luxury but a necessity. It enables your organizations to innovate, compete and evolve business operations as we step into a digitally connected world.

If your business is looking to include remote working as an option, it’s time to invest in 5G and intelligent Edge. Talk to our experts for more details.

Also check: Top 8 Technological Trends Shaping The Telecom Industry In 2022

Endnotes:

1. https://www.apollotechnical.com/statistics-on-remote-workers/#:~:text=Globally%2C%2016%25%20of%20companies%20are,remote%20work%20of%20any%20kind.
2. https://www.upwork.com/press/releases/third-annual-future-workforce-report
3. https://www.qualcomm.com/5g/what-is-5g#:~:text=5G%20can%20be%20significantly%20faster,has%20lower%20latency%20than%204G.
4. https://www.dbxuk.com/statistics/cyber-security-risks-wfh