Page 13 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020
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SAMENA TRENDS


                                                       ARTICLE








        5G, IoT and Bahrain’s Sea of Opportunities





        Not far from today, the citizen of the future   possibilities that  the Internet of Things   The  fact  is,  the
        will wake up to their smart home assistant,   bring within reach.
        giving  them  weather  and  traffic  updates                                convergeance  of 5G and
        for the day ahead while reading the latest   We  first  have  to  grasp  that  5G  is  so   IoT will be central to life in
        news aloud. Their car  will  start  instantly   much more than an increase of speed on   every aspect, and  through
        as they approach, the destination to work   smartphones. 2G was about calls and texts,
        already preset, as  the car  automatically   3G was the introduction of mobile data, and   cross collaboration,  there
        drives itself out of the garage. Out on the   4G brought the arrival of applications. 5G   is a strong  business  case
        road, hundreds of self driving cars join the   is a combination of vastly increased speed,
        commute,  driving in perfect  syncronisity,   ultra  reliable low  latency and  massive   for all parties to prosper.
        each car  with a  preset destination, each   machine to machine communications. It’s
        carefully monitored by  a  sophisticated   a combination that creates fertile ground   to a new platue of interconnectivity.
        smart   traffic   management   system.   for new economic growth and diversity. It
        Augmented reality glasses use informative   makes IoT possible.  Smart robotics  will    While the investment in 5G infrastructure
        overlays  to  keep  employees  efficient  and   work collaboratively alongside human   and IoT  systems  and machinery  are a
        train new staff in the workplace. In schools,   personnel.  Tomorrow’s smart factories   significant consideration, it is a necessity
        through  Big Data, education  becomes   will  streamline production  capacity  and   for Bahrain’s  prosperity that  encourages
        a  personalized  experience,  modified  to   reduce  errors  significantly.  Smart  robots   revisiting old business models and value-
        address each student’s  unique learning   and drones will revolutionize warehousing   chains to make it worth while for all parties
        challenges. This is only a glimpse of what   and automated deliveries. This is only the   involved. Mobile network operators, in
        we have to look forward to.          tip of the iceberg as  the internet  comes   particular,  have  the opportunity  to  evolve
                                             to life in the physical world, materializing   beyond their current revenue streams that
        We’re in  a  time between  two distinct   in  everyday  consumer  technology,  are largely dependent on conventional data
        epochs.  The  world is racing  to cross   machinery that serve industry, and smart   connectivity, voice calls  and broadband
        over into the future  through 5G, and the   infrastructure that bring cities and nations   services. Profitability in 5G and IoT means
                                                                                 that  mobile network  operators  can offer
                                                                                 holistic solutions  and partnerships with
                                                                                 businesses in every sector. They become
                                                                                 the conduit between a telehealth equipment
                                                                                 supplier and hospitals,  banks and enabling
                                                                                 fintech  services  to  customers,  or  smart
                                                                                 factory equipment and manufacturers.
                                                                                 The  fact is, the convergeance  of 5G and
                                                                                 IoT will be central to life in every aspect,
                                                                                 and through cross  collaboration,  there  is
                                                                                 a  strong business  case for all  parties  to
                                                                                 prosper.
                                                                                 There’s a  veritable ocean  of use cases
                                                                                 being  explored at  the moment, which
                                                                                 impact  sustainability, lifestyle and
                                                                                 productivity, to name only a few. We have
                                                                                 an  opportunity to  lead by  exploring use
                                                                                 cases that are unique  to Bahrain, and
                                                                                 launching services from Bahrain that can
                                                                                 serve customers  beyond  its  borders,  into


                                                                                                    13    JANUARY 2020
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