5G is a mixed bag to say the least. Originally 5G was marketed as a host of services and new device capabilities that would skyrocket humanity to the future. Well time has certainly passed, and most users, even in modern cities, are still not experiencing faster mobile data rates, let alone the future technoscape humanity is supposed to be living in. Though a global pandemic has certainly impacted the expansion and development of 5G technologies, it is likely that the hype around 5G was hyperbolic regardless.
Possibly one of the biggest constraints to 5G, or really the future of the Wireless Revolution and the explosion of the Internet-of-Things, has been the infrastructure for wireless network base stations. Though the hype would imply otherwise, that is all 5G really is, a wireless network based on the cellular communications network with some upgrades/modifications. As the legacy cellular infrastructure isn’t capable of the throughput, latency, and complexities of handling a wide variety of data traffic itself, new infrastructure is needed. This new cellular infrastructure is being redrawn and is being built on a fiber optic cabling infrastructure from the fronthaul to the backhaul of the network.
Having fiber optic cabling in span the entire network is a necessity to accommodate the throughput and latency requirement of 5G networks, as well as Wi-Fi/internet networks that are currently, and will likely continue, be assisting 5G networks. Due to this, there have even been advancing arguments to enable the convergence of Wi-Fi and 5G, which will likely only increase the demand for internet services to business, public spaces, transportation, and homes that can handle massive data transfer rates at extremely low latencies.
This type of last mile performance is likely only possible with fiber cabling delivered to the home or business, and if not viable, a wireless service that can accommodate many 5G/internet customer-premise-equipment (CPE) units operating simultaneously. Hence, a high speed and robust fiber optic cabling infrastructure throughout cities, suburban, and even rural areas. The result of this is greater use of fiber optics for both cellular network infrastructure and internet infrastructure with a greater mix of offerings to support the particularly use case requirements.
