The Next Frontier: How 5G is Revolutionising Business Connectivity

Mobile technology has come a long way from the early days of basic communication. Today, the typical smartphone is more than just a device for receiving texts and calls – it’s effectively a portable, personal computer, where users do everything from browsing and shopping to banking and administration.

The business world is no exception to this shift. With deskless work the norm for many industries, the mobile device has become a versatile alternative to the laptop, allowing workers to perform their roles out in the field and realise the freedom of flexible working.

This evolution is far from over. In 2025, 5G networks will cover one-third of the world’s population, and deliver unprecedented speed, reliability and potential for growth.

5G presents a clear opportunity for businesses to transform their operations, but how can they position themselves to capitalise on it in the long term?

The transformative power of 5G

Here are several ways 5G networks are revolutionising business productivity and efficiency:

Faster data speeds

5G is around 20 times faster than 4G. Compared to 3G, with speeds from 200 kbps to 2 mbps, 5G can achieve up to 10 gbps (and potentially even more in the future).

The potential this offers for improvement in business is boundless. Everything from video conferencing and streaming to cloud computing, virtual reality and data transfer can be made faster, more reliable and more responsive.

This can streamline a range of crucial processes and operations in an organisation, including responding to customers, sharing crucial data, and communicating with colleagues.

Ultra-low latency

High latency is a common network challenge. In a business context, this issue hinders employee productivity, slows down customer-facing applications, and increases the time it takes to transfer data files between servers.

5G addresses these challenges by offering latency as low as one millisecond, helping businesses facilitate real-time communication and reducing operational delays for time-consuming processes reliant on networks.

Improved reliability

Along with being faster than its predecessors, 5G is designed to be stronger, more reliable and have a greater capacity for devices, with in-built redundancy and failover mechanisms allowing for continuous operation – even in the event of network failure.

The challenges and opportunities

5G has boundless potential to improve how organisations function. However, realising this isn’t without its challenges:

The cost of upgrading infrastructure

With the sunset of 3G approaching, you’ll likely need to invest in updating much of your existing infrastructure to make it compatible for 5G.

A trusted technology provider can help you through the process of auditing and creating an inventory of this equipment, freeing up valuable time for your teams and helping you keep these costs under control.

The need for new devices

Along with having to upgrade existing infrastructure, you’ll likely have to replace much of your equipment altogether.

Virgin Media O₂ Business, in partnership with Samsung, offer flexible finance, payment and leasing options for mobile devices, which can help you stagger the cost of upgrading and make it more manageable for your budget – all whilst ensuring business continuity.

Cybersecurity concerns

While 5G networks benefit from improved encryption and security, they’re not without vulnerabilities. For instance, their ability to handle a higher number of connected devices creates a larger attack surface for cybercriminals to target.

This is another area where partnering with an experienced technology provider in the setup of 5G infrastructure and technologies can be beneficial.

Future-proofing your business

The benefits of 5G are clear, but there are undoubtedly some major challenges that can stop you from realising them and increase the complexity of your transition.

To fully capitalise on 5G, you need to do more than just upgrade to compatible devices – you need to devise a comprehensive, future-proof strategy that sets out how you’ll integrate this technology into your existing operations.

In the long term, you’ll also need to consider scalability; how easily can your services and equipment be adjusted in line with the evolving needs of your business?

Then there’s the question of expertise. Does your organisation have the existing knowledge to embed this technology effectively across its operations?

These are just some of the many factors you’ll need to consider if you want your adoption of 5G to be successful.

How Virgin Media O₂ Business and Samsung can help

Virgin Media O₂ Business, in partnership with Samsung, are well-placed to help you on your 5G journey.

With robust 5G infrastructure, nationwide coverage, enhanced security measures and comprehensive support, we can help you every step of the way in your journey to realising the exciting potential of 5G.

Alongside Samsung’s suite of 5G-compatible mobile devices, we have the combined knowledge, network capabilities and technology to not only make your transition to 5G seamless and successful, but also specifically tailored to the goals and ambitions of your business.