The package of capabilities that 5G connectivity offers brings together speed of more than 1Gbps, sub-1ms latency and unprecedented device density per cell. Combined, these make the technology seem like a complete no-brainer for designers and developers. As they specify cellular connectivity for the next generation of IoT and other devices, it’s understandable that the thinking goes that the option with the highest performance is best.

When 5G connectivity might not be needed

As technologists, we would agree, and our eagerness to push the envelope of innovation by accessing the latest technologies is a knee-jerk reaction but, with our business heads on, there is an enormous market to address that is composed of use cases that will never need 5G attributes. These use cases do not need to pay the additional cost of 5G in terms of network access and components, nor to deal with potential issues such as increased power consumption and the need for alternative networks for locations in which 5G infrastructure does not yet exist.

Instead, these use cases can be perfectly well-served by 4G/LTE, low power wide area (LPWA) technologies or other connectivity variants that closely match their requirements. For example, a water tank monitor on a farm that sends in data about the remaining level in the tank each day has no need for high performance variants of 4G, let alone 5G. Similarly, streetlights, safety cameras and point of sale equipment can all be supported by 4G cellular options.

It’s a case of horses for courses. Narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT), for example, is a technology designed for lighter weight communication needs and it fills a gap in the market left by the sunsetting of 2G and 3G networks. Applications that utilize this technology simply don’t need the low latency of full 5G. In contrast, mission-critical services such as remote surgery or assisted and automated driving will depend completely on the low latency and resilience of 5G, so the additional costs are well-spent here.

Today, the good news for developers is that there is more choice than ever before. LTE variants, such as LTE Cat 1 bis, offer heightened performance and near-ubiquitous connectivity at the lower 4G price point. LTE-Advanced connectivity meanwhile offers speeds approaching low-end 5G so there is an overlap on the 4G vs 5G Venn diagram that demands careful exploration by developers. High-end 4G benefits and costs may outweigh low-end 5G benefits for some.

When 5G could be the right choice

As IoT matures and connected use cases develop, it is clear 5G is a compelling technology with enormous enabling capabilities. It is the most future-proof of the technologies in the cellular stack and this makes it ideal for upcoming new offerings and addressing the communications needs for services such as assisted driving, delivery robots, smart cities and smart roads. Where it shines is in the massive IoT market for low latency, high-speed connectivity. Here, it enables exciting new services with high-end monetization potential.

As an innovation platform, 5G takes wireless connectivity to the next level and more accessible variants, such as 5G RedCap, bring 5G-like capabilities to market for lower end use cases for the first time. 5G RedCap offers the possibility of 5G techniques such as network slicing without having to invest in the full, ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) capabilities of 5G.

Put simply, if your use case needs exclusively-5G attributes, 5G is the best option for you. However, you may find that higher latency, lower speed, reduced power consumption, network ubiquity and cost efficiency offered by 4G or other alternatives more closely matches your needs and therefore presents your best choice. It may seem like evading the question but, in this case, the only accurate answer we can give is: “It depends…”