5G implications for security – video surveillance & safe cities
5G networks will bring a whole new array of opportunities to the security industry. The faster and more robust network would mean more connected and autonomous devices and systems, as well as better quality images and faster streaming. Video surveillance and ‘Internet of Things’ are tied together, as products such as cameras and recorders have predominantly moved to IP and are connected together on the Internet. Gathering information through analytics will become more main stream, as the data produced will provide more information and more knowledge. This will also help organizations evolve better business strategy plans.
5G Wireless Networks – City Surveillance
Deployment of fibre optic cable is sometimes not an option, either due to budget constraints or due to the difficulty in excavation especially in downtown areas. In such cases a wireless network is the only option. Besides, this can be installed quickly and with minimal disturbance.
However, wireless security networks that are presently being used to protect our cities are over burdened and congested. More often than not, consumers and security devices are often relying on the same wireless frequencies despite having very different needs and consequences. A security network requires the highest level of connectivity, speed and reliability. This network cannot afford to be slowed down because consumers are downloading the latest movies! Further the deployment of high definition cameras and network-based management platforms with safe/smart city security applications are adding to the congestion. This adds more traffic to an already over taxed network.
5G networks will bring a whole new array of opportunities to the security industry. The faster and more robust network would mean more connected and autonomous devices and systems, as well as better quality images and faster streaming. Gathering information through analytics will become more main stream, as the data produced will provide more information, more knowledge.
Recently, a City required multi-gigabit connectivity to support over 45 high definition, multi-sensor and PTZ cameras that were being deployed throughout the downtown area. It was possible to deploy, over 50 mm Wave radios in less than a month to provide huge amounts of uninterrupted bandwidth for its wireless surveillance network.
5G Smart City
The full potential of Smart Cities will be unlocked by 5G networks and small cells. The Smart City applications currently leveraging today’s wireless networks are already showing significant benefits to communities. Building on the foundation of 4G LTE, 5G will accelerate these Smart City benefits.
The next generation of wireless network infrastructure will be built using small-cell networks employing 5G wireless technology. The connectivity and computing capacity unleashed by these high-speed wireless networks will bring the power of Smart City solutions to municipalities across the country. This can transform local economies. Research has suggested that Smart City solutions applied to the management of vehicle traffic and electrical grids could produce $160 billion in benefits and savings through reductions in energy usage, traffic congestion and fuel costs. These 5G attributes will enable cities to reduce commute times, improve public safety and generate significant smart grid efficiencies.
The concept of a Smart City is gaining momentum. It is growing extensively in the Asia Pacific region, and it will spearhead the next cycle of e-Government evolution. Singapore is a lead example of this phenomenon, wherein IoT deployments are being implemented through its Smart Nation program, and we will see this happen throughout Asia as massive urbanization makes the continent a hotspot for smart city deployments.
In India, which is on the brink of an urban revolution, one in every two Indians is expected to live in urban areas by 2050. This migration is creating an increasing need for basic services such as sanitation, waste management, street lighting, surveillance, and even Wi-Fi access, presenting a huge opportunity for the government to urbanise India. It is believed that better, smarter urban growth could be an economic opportunity for India worth up to 6% of GDP by the middle of this century.
Most Governments face budget constraints. The solution therefore lies in enabling multiple solutions on a single platform that provides optimal urban coverage. The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) is planning to install ‘smart poles’ across the city. This integrated lamp post will be equipped with CCTV cameras, LED lights, and Wi-Fi routers, and occupy marginal physical space. Installing the country’s public transportation system with sensors can also enable the government to improve connectivity in urban areas. Madhya Pradesh, the state with the highest amount of funds allocated for Smart Cities among other states, is looking at an intelligent public transportation system that not only ensures optimised bus routes, but also provides a better sense of resource management to the administration.
Challenges – for the Security Industry
• Storage issues to manage data.
• Hardware compatibility for 5G.
Future
The launch of 5G may be a big motivator for more advanced equipment to appear in security.
It is believed, that if the correct infrastructure is put in place, unlike when 1G, 2G and 3G were devised, it will be based on a flexible platform that can be upgraded. It will not require replacement. In years past, mobile data technologies were built around hardware, while 5G will be software driven.
Software can be updated easily, hardware less so.
Article by Kiron Kunte
Kiron Kunte has over 35 years of design and solutions experience, in Security, Telephony and Networking infrastructure. He is a graduate of IIT Bombay, a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers and has a post-graduate diploma, from Bombay University, in Systems Management. He is professionally certified in the design and engineering of Data Centres, IP Telephony, Video surveillance and Structured Cabling solutions. He heads Norik Konsult, a practice that offers advisory, design and system planning help to upgrade or build a new Telephony, Security and Networking infrastructure.
For more information contact:
www.norikkonsult.com