Whether you are imminently bringing out a new Internet of Things (IoT) product or have heard the rumours about 3G switch-off, it is a pivotal time in wireless networks. With 5G on the horizon and 2G beginning to close down, choosing the right technology to future-proof devices is a real challenge, says Dunstan Power, director at ByteSnap Design.

About ten years ago, the phrase “Beyond 4G” (B4G) was coined to refer to the need to move beyond what was currently envisioned as part of the evolution for 4G via the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard.

5G went live across six cities in the UK at the end of May, with a limited area roll-out by network operator EE. 5G-supported devices so far include the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, Samsung Galaxy Fold, the Oppo Reno 5G and the LG V50 ThinQ.

Idemia, the provider of expanded identity verification technology, will exhibit the latest features of DIM Low Power in Barcelona.

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, announced its second-generation RF front-end (RFFE) solutions for 5G multi-mode mobile devices. The new products represent a comprehensive RF solution designed to work with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G modem,

Skyworks Solutions, Inc., an innovator of high performance analog semiconductors connecting people, places and things, announced that MediaTek, a global fabless semiconductor company that enables 1.5 billion connected devices a year, is utilising its Sky5 suite for their new 5G reference platforms.

Ericsson unveiled the next steps in the evolution of cellular IoT . The company has also launched new solutions that it says will enable service providers to address a larger part of the Internet of Things market with diverse use cases across verticals including automotive, manufacturing, and utilities.

The SIM card is a technology that most of us are familiar with, present in mobile phones since the early nineties. A SIM card is a piece of hardware which contains data that authenticates us with our mobile operator, enabling us to connect to a network and receive a mobile connection.

Just four years on from the deployment of its 4G network, JT is again partnering with ZTE to create a new 5G mobile network for the Channel Islands. The deal was signed by JT executives on Tuesday in Shenzhen, China.

There may be a vast number of opportunities for mobile fronthaul and backhaul on the horizon but improvements in protocols, standards and technology will also need to be made.