A remote workforce can present various challenges. Data security is one of them. While many people use existing Wi-Fi for Internet access, “Wi-Fi is not the most secure network out there,” Holzinger says. With 5G fixed wireless access, remote work happens in a more secure environment, adds Holzinger, because “it’s harder to penetrate a cellular, licensed-spectrum network.”
Another potential issue is the occasional need for in-person interaction with coworkers or clients. Here 5G-enabled telepresence may be the answer. Holographic video calls, an emerging technology, provide an intuitive way to communicate using 3D images that approximate physical presence.
For instance, startups like Omnivor, which participated in the 5G Open Innovation Lab, are developing and testing 5G-enabled holographic telepresence for use in next-generation video calls using our T-Mobile 5G network. We demonstrated Omnivor’s technology during an all-hands team meeting in which the 3D avatars of two speakers interacted virtually, even though the speakers were in different cities.
As these examples show, 5G provides many opportunities to empower an on-the-go workforce. Holzinger offers the following advice to managers who are just getting started on this path. “Understand what your requirements and use cases are,” he says. “Then start small and start learning.”
For organizations that may not be sure where to begin with 5G planning and implementation, understanding how to take a crawl-walk-run approach to 5G adoption is the first step. And of course, adds Holzinger, our solutions engineers are available to help.
Given the talent crunch that many businesses face, hiring managers need every advantage they can get. “Today employees expect more,” Holzinger says. “5G helps you give them what they need, when they need it.”