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Anyone with even a minor interest in the military world will have been fascinated by the recent reports which have emerged regarding China’s future plans.
The news that the country is working on the creation of an almost-zero latency 6G mobile network which will support its armed forces is, without doubt, an intriguing development. However, perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of it is the fact that the country is looking at 6G technology before many of us have even got to grips with 5G.
The fifth generation of mobile technology has been rolling out across the globe in the past year, with reports stating Pakistan was the first country in South East Asia to test the technology last summer. All of the signs are that it could revolutionize many areas – including the work of military organizations and armed forces.
A new level of performance
While many of us have enjoyed access to 4G networks on our smartphones and tablets for some time, 5G is expected to offer a whole new level of performance.
Faster download speeds will be a big benefit, and CNBC.com provided a good idea of what we can expect in tests undertaken in London last November. It took their reporter just 90 seconds to download a full season of a TV show when using 5G, with the same process taking around 20 minutes on a 4G-enabled device. However, 5G is set to offer many more advantages than just allowing us to download entertainment from services like Netflix quicker.
For example, the general consensus is that it could be the technology that truly kickstarts the arrival of self-driving cars on our roads, as it will allow such vehicles to quickly engage and communicate with various traffic signals and information. Last year, Ford confirmed it would start to add its C-V2X technology, which would operate with 5G, to its cars in China from 2021.
The online casino industry is another area that could also get a boost from 5G. The sector has always been quick to embrace innovations, with sites like Betway offering immersive live casino games via a video link, and also making its services available via a mobile-friendly site and app. 5G may not only improve the speed of such games, but even potentially open up the opportunity for brands to provide new experiences to their members.
In addition, research by Vodafone last year suggested that the technology would have a big impact on the sports industry too, helping to boost player performance and also giving clubs the chance to offer innovative new fan experiences. The healthcare sector is also expected to get a boost from 5G, with AT&T Business outlining how the technology could help doctors to transport key medical imagery quicker. The organization adds that it may also boost the use of telemedicine and provide more reliable remote monitoring of patients.
The impact on military operations
However, while 5G is set to affect many areas, how could it impact on the activities of military organizations such as the Pakistan Army in the future?
It is expected to have a vital role to play in the activities of many countries, with a major report published at the start of April describing access to a powerful 5G network as a “national security imperative” for the US. According to VentureBeat, experts in the National Security Council on AI (NSCAI) specifically state that 5G would enable capabilities for artificial intelligence – an issue set to have a big impact on defenses on both a national and international scale.
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A paper compiled by the Congressional Research Service in the US, and published by the Federation of American Scientists, also provides further thoughts on the potential of applications of 5G in the military. The document suggests an array of areas could be affected by the technology, with data for autonomous vehicles, for example, being stored in the cloud. From a command and control perspective, it is also thought the low latency of 5G could reduce delays in the execution of military operations. Finally, the paper adds that the technology could ensure officers have access to timely information which, therefore, boosts decision-making.
Plenty to think about
The emergence of 5G has certainly given military organizations and armed forces across the globe plenty to think about. It is also intriguing that it has come at a time when global military expenditure has reached its highest level since the late-1980s, with SIPRI estimating that the total worldwide figure stood at $1917 billion in 2019.
Pakistan’s own expenditure is thought to have risen by 70 percent across the past decade to reach just over $10 billion, and it seems more than likely that the country will already be hard at work assessing how 5G could transform its systems. The technology offers huge potential and clearly looks set to have a big impact on many military functions in the months and years ahead.
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I think PA can contract with Nokia etc to make customised phones.
