Expectations from 5G services and use-cases applicable for cyber

During this pandemic, internet has become an indispensable part of our lives and thus has given birth to an increasing demand for quality internet and network infrastructure. The striking features of 5G networks are attracting all the industries. With the help of 5G, organizations can automate and digitally transform while securing their data and thus will provide the fourth industrial revolution an extra boost. The current pandemic situation created the need for improvement in existing communication system, enabling the use of advanced technologies, and started a new way of working where network accessibility became an absolute necessity.

Work from home has resulted in usage of vast amount of data, thus impacting the resiliency of networks. Many telecom operators reported a significant rise in network utilization, including a significant rise in the number of voice calls in some countries. This pandemic helped organizations to accelerate digital transformation, and many traditional non-digital businesses started using digital platforms for their everyday operations. Small businesses have also adopted social media platforms in order to increase their visibility. This led to a rise in usage of data, thus increasing the demand of network.

Telecom networks are not on time to alternate. The change to every other age mostly happens in some phases and calls for years. For a tremendous duration of time, 5G organiza­tions may be applied one subsequent to the alternative with 4G, and tremendously 3G and 2G technologies. We must likewise understand that various telecoms and diverse countries will move from 4G to 5G at their respective paces. Mobile operators must cope with protection for 5G, but for the exchange and interworking with previous-­generation networks. As we probably are aware, previous-eneration networks are susceptible to weaknesses allowing an attacker to perform exploits like call and SMS inter­ception, geotracking, and denial of service.

Increasing number of customers and migration of businesses on digital platform have impacted telecom service providers and increased the demand significantly. Digital transformation has become the main moto of industries, organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and the society in general. Pandemic forced companies to facilitate work from home for employees amidst countrywide lockdown. This has massively increased the internet and data usage, where to attend a normal hour-long webinar requires 300–450 MB data while a video conferencing takes up to 700 MB. As a result of excess use of internet, network quality degraded, causing unavailability of services.

While 5G adoption has been in great demand, the telecom organizations will have to balance the need for privacy of data and intellectual property along with resilience. Mobile user details are to be secured over the air interface to prevent from attacks, such as IMSI catcher, etc. Subscriber identity-related issues have been known since 4G and earlier generations of mobile systems. In 5G, privacy controls for protection of the user’s subscription permanent identifier against active attacks will be needed.

It has become extremely important to adapt to changing dynamics in customer expectations, market growth, competition, and operational challenges. Hence, a need for inter-operator security and better roaming security is another need of the emerging 5G services.

5G can provide the communication fabric required to manage heavy traffic, throughput, latency, and con­­current use needs. 5G is a next-generation wireless technology to provide faster and efficient network, higher bandwidth, and lower latency. A resilient 5G system is always accessible, dependable, performs as promised, and recovers rapidly in the event of disruptions or attacks. With these advantages, 5G network is capable of handling large amounts of users. It also provides dependability, availabi­lity, robustness, and security while safeguarding privacy. 5G has the ability to not only address fast-speed internet for technological advancement but also change lives of the people across the globe.

Network operators can create and update network roadmaps on a regular basis to understand problem areas and identify ways to overcome them. Telecom operators can add elements, such as strategic redundancy, alternate routes, and segmentation, which will allow them to build a resilient network in an effective manner.