Comprising technologies specifically designed to maximize capacity for machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and enshrining reliability and low latency, 5G could make cellular the preferred connection for IoT devices. Using 5G will enable many promised services and innovations to transition from research fantasies to become commercial success stories. These include vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication, self-driving cars, and autonomous smart factories as the foundation of Industry 4.0 - the fourth industrial revolution.
The 5G standards embody current M2M communication technologies such as NB-IoT and LTE-M LPWA from the 4G-LTE specifications. They will further enhance IoT connectivity by adding massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC) in the future. By also engineering-in ultra-reliable, low-latency communications, 5G enables ordinary cellular networks to support mission-critical applications. With this, organizations such as manufacturing businesses and logistics companies can leverage the flexibility and reach of cellular while at the same time benefiting from reliable connections and deterministic real-time responses.