Prepare for the 5G revolution

By Sashidhar Thothadri, SVP, Mobile Services & IoT of Gemalto

Sashidhar Thothadri, SVP, Mobile Services & IoT of Gemalto

Are you prepared for 5G—the next big thing in mobile network standards?

• Increased bandwidth? Check!

• Faster download speeds? Check!

• Instant response? Check!

• Shaping the future of connectivity? Yes indeed!

Set to launch in 2020, 5G is rewriting the rules on how mobile connectivity will be delivered. 5G will create the foundation for a truly IoT-enabled world: smart cities, autonomous vehicles, automated appliances, and a plethora of similarly groundbreaking concepts. The perception of speed, instantaneous response time and performance for IoT will become a reality thanks to 5G. We’re talking about a revolution, not an evolution.

However, with opportunity comes risk. The advent of 5G raises profound security questions. According to a recent Ericsson report, 8 out of 10 respondents mentioned “concerns around data security and privacy” as a barrier to 5G adoption. Therefore, to unleash its potential, stakeholders must put in place new strategies to protect us from the increasingly sophisticated threats posed by cybercrimes.

In June 2018, the 3GPP has approved the first standalone 5G network standard after 34 months of work and discussions with stakeholders, including operators, device manufacturers, chipset vendors and Internet companies. Beyond that, 2019 will see the release of the first 5G-compatible smartphones, along with 5G mobile network deployments. By late 2019 or early 2020, operator adoption of the new standard is predicted to be on a steep upward curve.

Redesigning the mobile network

GSMA’s latest Mobile Economy report estimates that Asia Pacific will hit 675 million 5G connections in seven years, putting it on track to be the world’s largest 5G region by 2025. But this rapid deployment will be driven not just by 5G’s eye-catching performance figures, but by how they are achieved.

In contrast to earlier generations, 5G is very much an open platform. It fuses together an array of different wireless technologies. It also dispenses with the traditional centralized approach, where a mass of data is stored in servers that are far removed from the end user. In its place, 5G employs a highly decentralized, distributed model. Moreover, it leverages so-called virtualized networks, enabling distributed, cloud-based software to do the job currently performed by hardware.

So whilst enthusiasm for 5G’s new network DNA is perfectly understandable, stakeholders must bear in mind that this creates a radically different security landscape

Overall, 5G allows both data and apps to be hosted far closer to end users—at the very edge of the network rather than buried at its heart.

More flexible, more scalable, more efficient

But what does this mean in practice? In addition to boosting the sheer speed and responsiveness of our everyday connectivity experience, 5G serves up dramatic improvements in the flexibility, scalability, and efficiency available to service providers. This is an important asset for mobile operators faced with falling revenues on one hand, and seemingly inexorable growth in demand for bandwidth on the other. By virtualizing, decentralizing and diversifying their approach to network provision, operators can realize both reduced overheads and enhanced customer service.

From data hungry consumers to IoT pioneers

When seeking a rapid return on their 5G investments, most mobile operators will initially concentrate on satisfying and improving the user experience for data hungry subscribers. However, in the longer term, the most exciting commercial opportunities will come from ‘enterprise verticals’—progressive companies operating within sectors as diverse as automotive, transport, the utilities and healthcare—which are already turning the IoT from a hard-to-define concept into day-to-day reality for millions of citizens.

More potential for weak links

5G is a genuinely thrilling prospect, and also one which poses some serious questions. Realizing the vision will require complex collaboration between a diverse array of stakeholders, including telcos, cloud and infrastructure vendors, network software vendors, and industry verticals. There could also be a price to pay for the advent of truly ubiquitous connectivity.

By distributing data, apps and functionality throughout the network, 5G will also increase the so-called attack surface available to the malevolent forces that reside throughout the cyberspace. Every single device, connection, and application within the IoT environment represents a potential entry point for hackers. All it takes is one weak link to endanger an entire system. What’s more, we’re already seeing plenty of evidence of the risks involved—not least in the Mirai botnet attacks of 2016, which targeted the multitude of IoT devices that still retained their vulnerable default, non-unique security settings.

Get ready for a new security landscape

With breaches making headlines with increasing regularity, it is apparent just how important trust is for any sustainable digital ecosystem. So whilst enthusiasm for 5G’s new network DNA is perfectly understandable, stakeholders must bear in mind that this creates a radically different security landscape. Consequently, they must ensure that robust protection is built in from the outset of every project, not bolted on at a later stage—or even ignored completely. What’s more, a ground-up approach is essential, starting with the processor and maintained at every level beyond that.

However, for all those committed to creating a safe, stable, and trusted 5G future, the good news is that the tools necessary to achieving it are readily available. Stakeholders from different regions and countries are working together to finalize the standard for strong mutual authentication for 5G networks. In Asia, mobile operators are planning to launch their 5G services in the next few years. Notable markets like Australia, China, Japan and South Korea are even looking to kickstart their 5G deployment plans starting this year.