5G is not just coming, it is already here. 5G towers and devices have been available for a few years now, and we are rapidly entering the “boom” phase of 5G deployment. Soon, industrial networks will need to have 5G capability to keep up data-intense applications. Unfortunately, incorporating 5G is not as simple as replacing the old 4G radios and routers. 5G is a fundamentally new technology, and it will force you to think about network design in new ways.
One of the significant changes coming from 5G is a massive increase in connection density. A single 5G router can handle a magnitude more simultaneous connections than its 4G counterpart. The capabilities are mind-boggling, and it will take network engineers some time to maximize this benefit. Until then, a few best practices can help you think about utilizing and designing around 5G connection density.
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