Myth of 5G Network

Myth of 5g Network

By Egbon Shalom

 

5G networks are digital cellular networks, in which the service area covered by providers is divided into small geographical areas called cells. It’s easy to understand why wireless communications technology has become increasingly important over time: By facilitating increased access to information on the go, advances in wireless communications have facilitated improvements in business, education and technology around the world. As mobile communications improve, so too do connections among people.  

Artificial Intelligence Combined with 5G Robotics

One thing that is certain is that this type of technology may enables robotics in a different way and ‘intelligent’ robots to operate within a broader environment. We can immediately consider the extended adverse use of this for defence purposes and monitoring a population. However, on the other hand within hospitals and health technology this may enable a different working environment or follow-up by technological inventions.

Running solutions related to the field of artificial intelligence is done externally already so will you truly notice a difference? If the video, text or other expression/input is transferred to a different place — then what is the difference for users. Using machine learning techniques in 5G network to improve the utility in the radio spectrum which is allocated. Currently it seems like Self-driving autonomous vehicles, Automating or managing public transportation, Time-critical industry automation, Remote healthcare. These are all areas where hardware and software will enable changes in operations. Of course process automations are already influencing working life with data from workers being monitored as well as performance measured. However, the robots that can operate in healthcare, transport and industry will likely be enhanced by these new technologies in Internet of Things (IOT).

Colloquially, the term "artificial intelligence" is often used to describe machines (or computers) that mimic "cognitive" functions that humans associate with the human mind, such as "learning" and "problem solving".

The importance of 5G technology

We often say that 5G will usher in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and change the economy. Because of the speeds and capacity that Verizon’s 5G network promises to bring, it has the potential to be an indispensable technology. It is estimated that by 2035, 5G “will enable $12.3 trillion of global economic output and support 22 million jobs worldwide.”

Reasons 5G is important

5G is not only important because it has the potential to support millions of devices at ultrafast speeds, but also because it has the potential to transform the lives of people around the world.  

Improving accessibility

Improvements in 5G technology can help make life better. For example, significant advances in autonomous vehicle technology are possible with 5G, creating the potential for people to have new levels of personal and professional freedom. Connected appliances can help automate tasks around the house, which can not only improve personal convenience but also help those who need assistance with everyday tasks.

Extending the reach of mobile broadband

5G can power technology well beyond what current mobile technology permits. Thanks to its speed and bandwidth, 5G promises to make significant improvements in 3D holograms, virtual reality and augmented reality, creating opportunities to connect people far beyond what current cellular technology allows.

Improving safety, health and security 

Access to 5G technology promises to improve mission-critical services that affect safety and security of services today. Opportunities include smart cities with 5G in public spaces, the potential for remote surgery, better traffic control and many other applications that depend on nearly instantaneous response time.

While many of the applications for 5G are expected to directly impact how businesses run, the implications for accessibility, the reach of mobile broadband and the improvements in society’s safety, health and security have the potential to be farther reaching. 5G technology is important for consumers as well as businesses as we move into the Fourth Industrial Revolution and explore all that 5G has to offer, including things we likely have not thought of yet.

Advantage:

Increased Bandwidth for All Users

For those who don’t know, the bandwidth is the amount of “space” available for people who are using data to download files, view internet pages, and watch videos. The less bandwidth that is available, the slower everyone’s devices will run. One of the advantages of this new fifth generation of wireless technology is that there will be more bandwidth on the data networks of companies such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Many people have memories of 3G technology as they watched the progress bar load their web pages. On 5G, this will be a worry of the past. This means that people won’t feel like they are fighting for data with all of the other users when they enter crowded spaces such as sports arenas and airports. With more bandwidth available, people will also be able to use this bandwidth to do more with their devices, making them more versatile than ever before.

With more people able to use this increased bandwidth, some people may worry about their speeds on a 5G network. This will be a problem of the past as people using a 5G network will be able to browse the web, download files, and even stream video at blistering speeds. While people on 3G and 4G networks may remember struggling to download files or watching videos buffer for minutes on end, this will not be a problem with 5G networks. Because of the increased bandwidth, people will be able to use more of it without crowding out other users. With more of the network dedicated to each individual smart device, smart devices will be able to run faster than ever before.

Disadvantage:

An Increased Bandwidth will mean Less Coverage

One of the key advantages of 3G cell towers was that they could cover immense territory with relatively few cells. This is because the network did not require as much bandwidth, meaning networks had to deploy fewer cells. When technology progressed to 4G networks, the cells were producing more bandwidth, meaning the coverage radius of each cell was smaller. People may have noticed that their coverage may drop more often than on their 3G network. As the 5G network gets rolled out, this trend will continue. More cell towers will be required to produce this immense bandwidth because the cells are not able to cover as much space as a 3G or 4G cell. Because more cells will need to be rolled out, 5G users should expect that their coverage may not be as widespread at first.

The Radio Frequency May Become a Problem

Radios, cell towers, and even satellites communicate using radio frequencies. Frequency is measured in Hz and the radio frequencies tend to operate in the GHz range. Early reports on the 5G network indicate that this network is going to transmit its data in the range of around 6 GHz. Unfortunately, this radio frequency range is already crowded by other signals, such as satellite links. With numerous types of signals operating in the range of 6 GHz, it is fair to wonder whether or not the overcrowding is going to pose a problem as people try to transmit their data signals at this frequency. Will there be issues sending and receiving signals? Time will tell as this network frequency starts to spread.

Conclusion

5G networks are expanding and they hold potential, however we should not give in to the ‘race’-mentality. Although from a security perspective it is understandable, and it is a dilemma in terms of the environmental consequences. China is ‘leading the race’ in expanding the coverage into several cities, perhaps as a way to show that they are not intimidated by the ongoing trade war. 5G may enable smaller connected devices to work better in terms of their connections. Thus perhaps the move for Google buying heavily into wearables with the purchase of FitBit is a gamble that makes sense. However, the question of AI and 5G is a question as much, or even more, of international security as it is of personal security. There is no doubt in my mind now that these solutions are being rolled out they must be closely followed-up from within the companies, by government and independent researchers.

Artificial Intelligence and 5G

Why is 5G Relevant to the Field of AI?

My focus this week has been exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and 5G. When looking at the potential risk and possibilities with this combination and perhaps talking to industry experts about their thoughts. Who is studying the effects or changes that this is leading to? There is a big investment by telecommunication companies into these areas, and there is an expressed fear by many in regards to the possible adverse consequences. It may change the way that we use applications within the field of artificial intelligence, that you can do more with a small device because your connections allow for data to move more swiftly. Thus on an interface many applications will be decentralized with cloud (on a server). It is clear that if good things can be extended then less good aspects can too.

I will explain and go through:

How 5G works, Spectrum allocation, Robotics and 5G. EU’s Security Policy relating to 5G.China’s 5G expansion. Google’s purchase of Fitbit for $2.1 Billion.

1. How Does 5G Work?

5G networks are digital cellular networks, in which the service area covered by providers is divided into small geographical areas called cells.

A good explanation has been attempted in Digital Trends.

The article explains spectrums: low-band, mid-band and high-band.

“Low-band spectrum can also be described as sub 1GHz spectrum. It is primarily the spectrum band used by carriers in the U.S. for LTE, and is quickly becoming depleted. While low-band spectrum offers great coverage area and penetration, there is a big drawback: Peak data speeds will top out around 100Mbps.

Mid-band spectrum provides faster coverage and lower latency than you’ll find on low-band. It does, however, fail to penetrate buildings as well as low-band spectrum. Expect peak speeds up to 1Gbps on mid-band spectrum.

High-band spectrum is what most people think of when they think of 5G. It is often referred to as mmWave. High-band spectrum can offer peak speeds up to 10Gbps and has very low latency. The major drawback of high-band is that it has low coverage area and building penetration is poor.”

There are a lot of hairy displays of 5G in fancy connective points.

This has additionally been displayed in a manner of evolutionary progression, as is often done within technology.

This becoming the first city with tech coverage of 5G becomes a goal in and of itself. In one sense an enabler of technology.

2. Artificial Intelligence, 5G and Spectrum Allocation

On the 25th of October Karen Hao from MIT Technology Review wrote an article called: “DARPA is betting on AI to bring the next generation of wireless devices online.” This article placed its focus on an important aspect of wireless communication. Because there is a planning of how the bandwidth is supposed to work via the radio spectrum. The electromagnetic waves in the frequency range of the radio spectrum is called radio waves — and these are widely used in modern technology, especially within telecommunication. To hinder interference between different user’s radio waves is strictly regulated by national laws, coordinated by an international body, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Karen Hao’s article discussed a recent hackathon organized by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In the article she writes:

“The challenge was prompted by the concern that the growing use of wireless technologies risks overcrowding the airwaves our devices use to talk to one another.”

Since the frequencies are divided up between different commercial and government entities those who owns rights to a bit of spectrum rarely uses all of it 100% of the time. The new 5G networks that are emerging makes this more urgent as it is projected to grow enormously over time

Graph displayed in MIT Technology Review retrieved the 28th of October 2019

The challenge that were to be tackled in the competition issued by DARPA was to design a new type of communication device that doesn’t broadcast on the same frequency every time. The suggested proposal was to use machine-learning algorithms to find the frequencies available. They are wanting to move from a system managed through ‘pen and paper’ to a system managed by ‘machines autonomously’.

Karen Hao describes the final where 10 finalists competed against each other. This included scenarios in supporting communications in a military mission, an emergency response and concert venue. A team from the University of Florida took home the $2 million grand prize.

2.1 IoT and AI Revolution

To see the most accentuated possibilities that lie within 5G it may be interesting to look at a few of the actors that have much to gain from its expansion such as Samsung. In a news article written by Samsung on the 28th of October 2019 there is a description of the IoT and AI Revolution.

This article claims that 5G connectivity will allow different solutions to access more data real-time which will make solutions very different. 5G uses ‘far less power’, leveraging IoT sensors that can last for year. Within farming adjusting irrigation levels and in manufacturing within factories placed to detect when the condition of equipment changes.

There is in addition to this the possibility to carve out multiple uses for doctors to secure handling of patient data. The article states:

“5G is up to 20 times faster than 4G. But this latest generation of networks is hardly just ‘faster 4G.’ Coupled with record-setting low latency, 5G’s speeds will allow developers to create applications that make the most of improved reaction times, such as near real-time video transmission for sporting events or security purposes.”

2.2 But is it a Race?

As pointed out earlier this year there has been a great effort by the companies wanting to expand 5G connection to frame the competition as a race. Here is an entire microsite from industry lobbying group CTIA titled “The Race to 5G.” There are serious trade-offs in the spectrum and they are being neglected due to the speed the deployment is being made.

“And once the ‘race’ to build out 5G in big cities is ‘won,’ the pressure to expand access to other places in the country will vanish, making that divide even worse. It is worth carefully considering all of these things before giving in to haste.”

Therefore we should not get too carried away with this ‘race’ and be blind to possible adverse consequences that this expansion may bring.

3. Artificial Intelligence and 5G Robotics

3.1 The Speed that May Enable Further Usage of Robotics and AI

If we disregard the environmental damage that AI and Robotics could cause considering the heavy resource requirement it has, let us think about what it actually could do. Phone companies and telecommunications tout the amazing new things you can do with your phone should you be able to ‘up your speed’ or bring it to the next level. However, truth be told what would you do? Not much more than before. Streaming is already working rather well, and you can play candy crush etc. Yet we did not imagine what we would be doing with this type of speed or connectivity before it arrived. Everyone, or most people, sitting with their eyes glued to a phone on public transportation. The public spaces filled with people that are somehow cluelessly walking with their phone stretched out in front of them to navigate, read, play or socialize on the go. Beyond your immediate use there are several use cases in industry we should be aware of.

3.2 Artificial Intelligence Combined with 5G Robotics

One thing that is certain is that this type of technology may enables robotics in a different way and ‘intelligent’ robots to operate within a broader environment. We can immediately consider the extended adverse use of this for defence purposes and monitoring a population. However, on the other hand within hospitals and health technology this may enable a different working environment or follow-up by technological inventions.

Running solutions related to the field of artificial intelligence is done externally already so will you truly notice a difference? If the video, text or other expression/input is transferred to a different place — then what is the difference for users. Using machine learning techniques in 5G network to improve the utility in the radio spectrum which is allocated. Currently it seems like Self-driving autonomous vehicles, Automating or managing public transportation, Time-critical industry automation, Remote healthcare. These are all areas where hardware and software will enable changes in operations. Of course process automations are already influencing working life with data from workers being monitored as well as performance measured. However, the robots that can operate in healthcare, transport and industry will likely be enhanced by these new technologies in Internet of Things (IOT).

3.3 Blockchain, 5G Robotics and AI

However much this title looks like a buzzword bingo there is something to be said for the security need required by these new type of solutions. Considering the question of who works in this IoT area we can argue that actors such as IOTA will see a great deal of growth going ahead.

“Our vision is to enable all connected devices through verification of truth and transactional settlements which incentivize devices to make available its properties and data in real time. This gives birth to entirely new general purpose applications and value chains.”

The Next Generation of Distributed Ledger Technology.

The IOTA protocol is a Distributed Ledger Technology developed by the IOTA Foundation. It is a next-generation…

www.iota.org

Therefore I think with the required security in these advancements company actors such as IOTA will be necessary to make it mesh or at least able to work.

3.4 A Looming Question — Sustaining 5G Robotics and AI

As mentioned in the introduction we must seriously question this advancement, we cannot continue running into ‘modernity’ and ‘advancement’ while putting both hands up to our ears. If we ignore the potentially adverse consequences of the aforementioned buzzword bingo we are in serious trouble. Energy and resource requirements by streaming AI to heavily encrypted 5G networks sounds absolutely ridiculous, is it even defensible to do so?

4. EU’s International Security Policy, Artificial Intelligence and 5G

4.1 Increased Connectivity and Emerging Risks

On the 9th of October 2019 Techcrunch wrote an article about a new joint risk assessment report into 5G technology. So far the European Union has resisted pressure to boycott Huawei as a 5G supplier on national security grounds. In March 2019 US suggested that EU should block Huawei from accessing its market. The report identifies “security challenges” more likely to appear in 5G networks.

“An increased exposure to attacks and more potential entry points for attackers: With 5G networks increasingly based on software, risks related to major security flaws, such as those deriving from poor software development processes within suppliers are gaining in importance.”

Certain equipment are becoming more sensitive such as base stations or management functions in networks. Reliance of mobile network operators on suppliers may lead to a higher number of ‘attack paths’. These can be exploited by threat actors. Non-EU States or State-backed are considered as the most serious ones and the most likely to target 5G networks. Risk profile of individual suppliers will become important. There is a risk of major dependencies on suppliers. Dependency can present a high degree of risk. Threat to availability and integrity as well as privacy and confidentiality.

According to TechCrunch the next step will be: “…the development, by December 31, of a toolbox of mitigating measures, agreed by the Network and Information Systems Cooperation Group, which will be aimed at addressing identified risks at national and Union level.”

“The implication is that the business of 5G security will need to get commensurately large to scale to meet the multi-dimensional security challenge that goes hand in glove with the next-gen tech. Just banning a single supplier isn’t going to cut it.”

4.2 Best British Tech Startups in 5G

KPMG hosts a competition for startups and within this I have seen advancements (I work with KPMG). I will list two of the startups mentioned in this competition:

Garrison Technology have pioneered an innovative security platform to counter the threat of persistent and targeted attacks, which exploit corporate internet connectivity. David Garfield, CEO at Garrison Technology, tells us more in his interview below. SenSat Technology uses simulated realities of major urban areas to extract actionable insights using machine learning techniques. This reduces the rollout cost for telecommunications companies for 5G and ultimately, the cost of 5G for consumers.

Security platforms is becoming important especially when the rollout of 5G handles sensitive data. Using AI to enhance these communications will be essential for robotics to be working well.

According to the security report: “…consideration should also be given to the development of the European industrial capacity in terms of software development, equipment manufacturing, laboratory testing, conformity evaluation, etc” Therefore we can expect more investment either into the industrial expansion in EU regarding 5G or a great deal of investment into 5G security over the coming years.

5. China and 5G in 2019

5.1 Racing Past Global Competition as a Leader in 5G Technology

China is said to be leading the charge on implementation of 5G, and I will explore an outline of the current situation towards the end of 2019. For this article I have read up on writing by Jeremy Goldkorn; a report by EY on China and 5G; recent articles in Bloomberg; and in Fortune. The official state-run press agency of the People’s Republic of China Xinhua reported earlier in 2019 about the current plans in China to expand the 5G network. It stated that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially issued 5G commercial licenses to China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Radio and Television.

Infographic from Xihuan news agency retrieved the 31st of October 2019

“中国信息通信研究院《5G产业经济贡献》认为，预计2020至2025年，我国5G商用直接带动的经济总产出达10.6万亿元，5G将直接创造超过300万个就业岗位。”

China Information and Communication Research Institute “5G Industry Economic Contribution” believes that from 2020 to 2025, China’s 5G commercial direct economic output will reach 10.6 trillion yuan, 5G will directly create more than 3 million jobs.

In this regard China also states that it welcomes foreign companies to work in China.

The ministries of Commerce and of Ecology and Environment released a short-term plan 2019–2020 to work on this issue together by promoting consumption of electronics and vehicles that depend on 5G. Commercially companies such as Huawei has begun moving fast towards developing their own technology to pull away from America with their ongoing trade war after being blacklisted by Trump.

A report by EY outlines that China is poised to win the ‘5G race’. They have made an apt infographic to illustrate this showing that China has a large share of the current 5G connections; revenue and a large degree of local connections.

Infographics by EY retrieved on the 31st of October.

Although trust in certain countries has dropped for China, there has still been an expressed interest to develop 5G together and there is an outline expenditure on 5G solutions.

The 30th of October the publication Bloomberg released an article titled China Rolls Out World’s Largest 5G Mobile Phone Network. The news related to China’s three state-owned wireless carriers debuted 5G mobile phone service. The article states:

“China Mobile Ltd., the country’s largest carrier, unveiled its network in 50 cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, with packages priced as low as 128 yuan ($18) a month”

This comes in a way against the backdrop of the rejection of US by Huawei and its 5G technologies. It was planned a year later, but is now rolled out earlier than planned. This means China has the largest commercial 5G network in the world.

Retrieved from Bloomberg on the 31st of October

Further Bloomberg writes that dominance in China is an important strategic move for Huawei:

“Dominance in the world’s largest market can blunt the effects of a U.S. campaign against other countries installing Huawei gear, which it accuses of posing a security threat. Despite the U.S. pressure, Huawei said in July that it had signed more than 60 commercial contracts to supply 5G networks around the world, including at least 28 in Europe.”

The consulting firm EY previously outlined a pathway to commercial launch, but it seems China is speeding ahead of these expectations.

Infographics by EY retrieved on the 31st of October

There is additionally a series of use cases to considered. I have mentioned some previously, however we can see that there is a larger amount of possibilities to be considered in personal and business use-cases.

In Fortune online Alan Segal, director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations argued on the 31st of October 2019 that:

“A lot of it is also driven by the realization that (the U.S.) doesn’t have a manufacturer in this space, so, let’s try to slow the Chinese down,”

Combining this with one of the most ambitious policies for artificial intelligence in the world seems an interesting way to take technological leadership.

It seems at least that China has achieved 5G leadership, at least from a surface look at the issue.

In saying so we have to add with some moderation that knowledge about 5G and relating to these technologies and distributed. Size is not everything, and we may not know who is currently advancing 5G technologies beyond the current scope and large scale of the Chinese investment.

6. Fitbit + Google AI + 5G = ?

6.1 Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1 billion

An article in the Verge published the 1st of November 2019 announced the purchase of FitBit by Google:

Google has just announced that its buying wearable company Fitbit for $2.1 billion. In a blog post announcing the news, Google SVP of devices and services Rick Osterloh said that the Fitbit purchase is “an opportunity to invest even more in Wear OS as well as introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market.”

This can be a complex investment, yet I have seen a few different arguments in terms of why this acquisition was made:

Google wants to invest in wearables and did not manage to develop solutions viable enough on its own. It is therefore buying FitBit to allow for this offering. Google is buying FitBit for proprietary technology. Google has bought FitBit for its data — not to increase ads, but to assist in its investment in health technology (which makes up large parts of the Alphabet portfolio).

There are likely more reasons, however there appears to be a strong awareness by the scare towards consumer in terms of protecting their health data. The statement directly from FitBit on the 1st of November said the following:

“Consumer trust is paramount to Fitbit. Strong privacy and security guidelines have been part of Fitbit’s DNA since day one, and this will not change. Fitbit will continue to put users in control of their data and will remain transparent about the data it collects and why. The company never sells personal information, and Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.”

Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President, Devices & Services at Google. Said they would be bringing together the talent from FitBit in hardware together with software and artificial intelligence to build better wearables.

This happens simultaneously as Alphabet which owns Google is expanding its investments in Verily and Calico. These are two companies which are repeatedly mentioned in Alphabet Inc’s quarterly statements. Health data is a hot topic.

Although Google may not use FitBit data for ads it could very well use that aggregated data for drug development or insights for health in Verily and Calico. What stops Google/Alphabet from doing so?

I have fetched a description from the third quarterly (Q3) for 2019 page of Alphabet’s investor relations page. The following two sections are excerpts from Q3.

6.2 Calico

Calico is a life science company with a mission to harness advanced technologies to increase our understanding of the biology that controls lifespan.

In September 2014, AbbVie Inc. (AbbVie) and Calico entered into a research and development collaboration agreement intended to help both companies discover, develop, and bring to market new therapies for patients with age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer. In the second quarter of 2018, AbbVie and Calico amended the collaboration agreement resulting in an increase in total commitments. As of September 30, 2019, AbbVie has contributed $750 million to fund the collaboration pursuant to the agreement and is committed to an additional $500 million which will be paid by the fourth quarter of 2019. As of September 30, 2019, Calico has contributed $500 million and has committed up to an additional $750 million.

Calico has used its scientific expertise to establish a world-class research and development facility, with a focus on drug discovery and early drug development; and AbbVie provides scientific and clinical development support and its commercial expertise to bring new discoveries to market. Both companies share costs and profits for projects covered under this agreement equally. AbbVie’s contribution has been recorded as a liability on Calico’s financial statements, which is reduced and reflected as a reduction to research and development expense as eligible research and development costs are incurred by Calico.

As of September 30, 2019, we have contributed $480 million to Calico in exchange for Calico convertible preferred units and are committed to fund up to an additional $750 million on an as-needed basis and subject to certain conditions.

6.3 Verily

Verily is a life science company with a mission to make the world’s health data useful so that people enjoy healthier lives. In December 2018, Verily received $900 million in cash from a $1.0 billion investment round. The remaining $100 million was received in the first quarter of 2019. As of September 30, 2019, Verily has received an aggregate amount of $1.8 billion from sales of equity securities to external investors. These transactions were accounted for as equity transactions and no gain or loss was recognized.

6.4 What Do you Expect from $2.1 Billion?

When you buy a company for unimaginable sums of money (for most) it is not inconceivable that a return on investment is expected.

Then again according to Quartz: “Alphabet reported $32.6 billion in revenue from Google’s advertising business, a jump of about 16% over the same period last year.”

Still despite the large earnings that Alphabet has this is a rather sizeable bet. Fitbit which had seen its stock decline by ~80% since its IPO in 2015.

FitBit seems to have been declining for a few years prior to the purchase in terms of sales and revenue.

Google is buying its way into the wearables market and could increase drastically the expansion of FitBit as well as the possibilities of the platform.

Retrieved from IDC on the 2nd of November

6.5 The Bets Are On

Will this bet pay off? Does it matter?

This gives more power to understanding humans, which certainly has been part of Google’s success.

Amazon Alexa might speak to you, but with the developments in 5G getting a device on your body that can do so while consistently streaming the results may be possible to a higher degree.

Earlier this year it was predicted that 5G would boost the stock of FitBit:

“By enabling wearables to do so much more, and making them so much more indispensable, 5G will make wearables much more popular and valuable, boosting these companies’ financials.”

The advent of 5G will also enable wearables to more precisely monitor the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of individuals.

This investment by Google in other words is expected to pay off.

Another reason for the investment could be due to a realization that ‘search’ is changing. More people are asking Alexa and will be asking their own devices. The ‘battle’ or competition for devices is therefore possibly influencing Google’s current strategic investment.

Conclusion

5G networks are expanding and they hold potential, however we should not give in to the ‘race’-mentality. Although from a security perspective it is understandable, and it is a dilemma in terms of the environmental consequences. China is ‘leading the race’ in expanding the coverage into several cities, perhaps as a way to show that they are not intimidated by the ongoing trade war. 5G may enable smaller connected devices to work better in terms of their connections. Thus perhaps the move for Google buying heavily into wearables with the purchase of FitBit is a gamble that makes sense. However, the question of AI and 5G is a question as much, or even more, of international security as it is of personal security. There is no doubt in my mind now that these solutions are being rolled out they must be closely followed-up from within the companies, by government and independent researchers.

Niniola receives Grammy nod as composer and nominee

Singer Niniola has received a Grammy nod as a composer and nominee for her participation in Beyonce’s The Lion King: The Gift album.

The 33-year-old singer got a certificate from the recording academy for her efforts on the album which was also nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

The certificate reads, “The recording academy presents this certificate to Niniola Apata in recognition of your participation as a composer on the Grammy award-nominated recording, “The Lion King: The Gift (Beyonce). Best Pop Vocal Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards 2019.”

The 27-track album which drew inspiration from Disney’s animation, ‘Lion King’ features several music artists from a wide range of regions across the universe and most importantly from Africa.

Also featured on the album are Burna Boy, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Tekno, Shatta Wale, Tiwa Savage, and Mr Eazi.

The album also has contributions from Jay-Z, Pharrell, Beyonce’s daughter; Blue Ivy Carter, Kendric Lamar, Childish Gambino, and Niniola.

Why Auction Export?

Nigeria Culture

Nigeria Culture

By Shalom Shalom

Child Rearing and Education

　　When children reach the age of about four or five, they often are expected to start performing a share of the household duties. As the children get older, their responsibilities grow. Young men are expected to help their fathers in the fields or tend the livestock. Young women help with the cooking, fetch water, or do laundry. These tasks help the children learn how to become productive members of their family and community. As children, many Nigerians learn that laziness is not acceptable; everyone is expected to contribute.

　　While children in most Nigerian societies have responsibilities, they also are allowed enough leeway to be children. Youngsters playing with homemade wooden dolls and trucks, or groups of boys playing soccer are common sights in any Nigerian village.

　　In many Nigerian ethnic groups, the education of children is a community responsibility. For example, in the Igbo culture the training of children is the work of both men and women, within the family and outside it. Neighbors often look after youngsters while parents may be busy with other chores. It is not strange to see a man disciplining a child who is not his own.

　　All Nigerian children are supposed to have access to a local elementary school. While the government aims to provide universal education for both boys and girls, the number of girls in class is usually much lower than the number of boys. Sending every child in a family to school can often put a lot of strain on a family. The family will lose the child's help around the house during school hours and will have to pay for uniforms and supplies. If parents are forced to send one child to school over another, many will choose to educate boys before girls.

Higher Education

　　Historically, Nigerians have been very interested in higher education. The lack of universities providing quality education equal to that in Britain was a major component of the social reforms that led to Nigeria's independence. Today there are forty-three universities in Nigeria. The majority of these are government-run, but the government has recently approved the creation of three private universities.

　　While Nigeria's system of higher education is the largest in Africa, the demand for higher education far exceeds the capacity of the facilities. There simply are not enough institutions to accommodate the demand. In 1998 only thirty-five thousand students were accepted to Nigerian universities out of a pool of more than four hundred thousand applicants.

　　Nigeria also has 125 technical training schools. The majority of these focus on polytechnic and agricultural training, with a few specializing in areas such as petroleum sciences and health.

Religion

　It is estimated that 50 percent of Nigerians are Muslim, 40 percent are Christian, and that the remaining 10 percent practice various indigenous religions.

　　While Muslims can be found in all parts of Nigeria, their strongest footholds are among the Hausa and the Yoruba. Islam in Nigeria is similar to Islam throughout the world. It is based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, which are outlined in the Qur'an.

　　Christianity is most prevalent in the south of Nigeria. The vast majority of Igbo are Christians, as are many Yorubas. The most popular forms of Christianity in Nigeria include Anglican, Presbyterian, American Southern Baptist, and Methodist. Also, there are large pockets of Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses.

        Conflict with the way some missionaries administered the churches during colonial times also created several breakaway African-Christian churches. Most of these adhere to the doctrines of Western churches but have introduced African music and tradition to their Masses. Some have even eased Christian restrictions on polygamy.

　　Relations between Christians and Muslims are tense in many areas. Since late 1999, numerous clashes between the two have led to thousands of deaths. The northern city of Kaduna has been the flash point for many of these riots, as local leaders discussed whether to institute Shari'a law in the region. Demonstrations by Christians against the idea soon led to violent confrontations with Muslims. The debate over Shari'a law and the violence accompanying it continue in many of the northern states.

　　While Islam and Christianity are the dominant religions in Nigeria, neither is completely free of influence from indigenous religions. Most people who consider themselves good Muslims or good Christians often also follow local religious practices. This makes up for perceived shortcomings in their religion.

         Most indigenous religions are based on a form of ancestor worship in which family members who have passed into the spirit world can influence things in the world of the living. This mixing of traditional ways with Islam has led to groups such as the Bori cult, who use spirit possession as a way to understand why people are suffering in this life. The mixing of traditional ways with Christianity has led to the development of the Aladura Church. Aladura priests follow basic Christian doctrine but also use prophecy, healing, and charms to ward off witchcraft.

　　Many Nigerians follow the teachings of purely indigenous religions. Most of these religions share the idea that one supreme god created the earth and its people, but has left people to decide their own paths in life. Followers of the traditional Yoruban religion believe that hundreds of spirits or minor gods have taken the place of the supreme god in influencing the daily lives of individuals. Many Yoruban slaves who were taken to the Caribbean and the Americas brought this religion with them. There it was used as the basis of Santeria and voodoo.

　　Because the vast majority of Igbos converted to Christianity during colonialism, few practice the traditional Igbo religion, which is based on hundreds of gods, not a single creator.

The Arts and Humanities

Support for the Arts

　　Nigerian art traditionally served a social or religious purpose and did not exist for the sake of art per se. For example, dance was used to teach or to fulfill some ritualistic goal. Sculpture was used in blessings, in healing rituals, or to ward off bad luck.
With increasing modernization, however, Nigerian art is becoming less oriented to a particular purpose. In some cases, Nigerians have abandoned whole forms of art because they no longer served a purpose.
For example, the elaborate tombstones once widely produced by the Ibibio are becoming increasingly rare as Western-style cemeteries are replacing traditional burial grounds.

　　The government has recognized this decline in Nigerian art. In an attempt to promote Nigerian nationalism through art, it has launched some programs, such as the All-Nigeria Festival of Arts, to revitalize the Nigerian art world. Many wealthy Nigerians looking to recapture their roots, as well as Western tourists and collectors looking for an African art experience, are willing to spend money on Nigerian art. This has led to a slight revival of the art industry.

Literature

　　Nigeria has a long and incredibly rich literary history. Nigerians are traditionally storytellers. Much of precolonial history in Nigeria is the result of stories handed down from generation to generation.
With colonization and the introduction of reading, writing, and the English language, Nigerian storytellers soon began sharing their talents with a worldwide audience. Perhaps Nigeria's most famous writer is Wole Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for literature.
His most famous works include A Dance of the Forests, The Swamp Dwellers, and The Lion and the Jewel. Other famous Nigerian authors include Chinua Achebe, whose Things Fall Apart is a favorite among Western schools as an example of the problems inflicted on African societies during colonization, and Ben Okri, whose novel The Famished Road won Britain's 1991 Booker Prize.

Graphic Arts

　　Nigeria is famous for its sculpture. The bronzework of the ancient cities of Ife and Benin can be found in museums all over the world. These areas in southern Nigeria still produce large amounts of bronze castings. Woodcarvings and terra-cotta sculptures also are popular.

　　Nigerians are expert dyers, weavers, and tailors. They produce massive quantities of beautiful, rich, and colorful textiles. However, the majority of these are sold primarily for everyday wear and not as examples of art.

Performance Arts

　　Dance and music are perhaps the two most vibrant forms of Nigerian art. Nigerian music is dependent on strong rhythms supplied by countless drums and percussion instruments. Highlife is a type of music heavily influenced by Western culture. It sounds like an Africanized version of American big band or ballroom music.
        Afro-beat combines African rhythms and melodies with jazz and soul. One of Nigeria's best-known Afro-beat artists, Fela Kuti, was heavily influenced by American artists such as James Brown. Palm wine music gets its name from the palm wine saloons where it is traditionally heard. Its fast-paced, frenzied rhythms reflect the rambunctious nature of many palm wine bars.

　　Perhaps Nigeria's most popular form of music is juju, which uses traditional drums and percussion instruments to back up vocals and complicated guitar work. Popular juju artists include King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, and Shina Peters.

EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://ng.china-embassy.org/

What is 5g?

The Advantages and Disadvantages of a 5G Network

As smartphone technology has advanced, customers have seen multiple generations of data technology emerge in the past few years. It started with 3G, then progressed to 4G LTE, and now people are starting to hear whispers of a 5G version on the horizon. While it may still be a while away from becoming mainstream, it is important for people to start learning about 5G technology now so that they can decide if the features are right for them. With this goal in mind, what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of 5G technology when it comes to smartphones and other smart devices?

Advantage: Increased Bandwidth for All Users

For those who don’t know, the bandwidth is the amount of “space” available for people who are using data to download files, view internet pages, and watch videos. The less bandwidth that is available, the slower everyone’s devices will run. One of the advantages of this new fifth generation of wireless technology is that there will be more bandwidth on the data networks of companies such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Many people have memories of 3G technology as they watched the progress bar load their web pages. On 5G, this will be a worry of the past. This means that people won’t feel like they are fighting for data with all of the other users when they enter crowded spaces such as sports arenas and airports. With more bandwidth available, people will also be able to use this bandwidth to do more with their devices, making them more versatile than ever before.

Advantage: More Bandwidth Means Faster Speed

With more people able to use this increased bandwidth, some people may worry about their speeds on a 5G network. This will be a problem of the past as people using a 5G network will be able to browse the web, download files, and even stream video at blistering speeds. While people on 3G and 4G networks may remember struggling to download files or watching videos buffer for minutes on end, this will not be a problem with 5G networks. Because of the increased bandwidth, people will be able to use more of it without crowding out other users. With more of the network dedicated to each individual smart device, smart devices will be able to run faster than ever before.

Disadvantage: An Increased Bandwidth will mean Less Coverage.

One of the key advantages of 3G cell towers was that they could cover immense territory with relatively few cells. This is because the network did not require as much bandwidth, meaning networks had to deploy fewer cells. When technology progressed to 4G networks, the cells were producing more bandwidth, meaning the coverage radius of each cell was smaller. People may have noticed that their coverage may drop more often than on their 3G network. As the 5G network gets rolled out, this trend will continue. More cell towers will be required to produce this immense bandwidth because the cells are not able to cover as much space as a 3G or 4G cell. Because more cells will need to be rolled out, 5G users should expect that their coverage may not be as widespread at first.

Disadvantage: The Radio Frequency May Become a Problem

Radios, cell towers, and even satellites communicate using radio frequencies. Frequency is measured in Hz and the radio frequencies tend to operate in the GHz range. Early reports on the 5G network indicate that this network is going to transmit its data in the range of around 6 GHz. Unfortunately, this radio frequency range is already crowded by other signals, such as satellite links. With numerous types of signals operating in the range of 6 GHz, it is fair to wonder whether or not the overcrowding is going to pose a problem as people try to transmit their data signals at this frequency. Will there be issues sending and receiving signals? Time will tell as this network frequency starts to spread.

Advantages: New Technology Options May Become Available on a 5G Network

Early research and reports on 5G technology indicate that smart devices operating on a 5G network may be able to operate at speeds that are thousands of times faster than on a 4G network. With the initial development of smart devices, tasks that could only be performed on a desktop or laptop computer in the past could suddenly be performed on a smart device, such as email and web browsing. As network speeds have increased, more and more tasks are being transitioned from the world of computers to the world of smart devices. With the increasing network speeds, this could open new doors for smart device technology that may not have been available. What kind of exciting new applications will be developed for smart devices running on a 5G network? What kind of doors will this increased speed open?

While the 5G network may still be under development, there’s no doubt that exciting information is coming from the researchers and reports. There is already a race going on to see who will release the new wireless technology first. With every new generation of data network, there are always advantages and disadvantages to discuss. The question is how the network intends on capitalizing on its advantages while shielding its users from its deficiencies that will ultimately determine its success. This information is important because users will want to know what impact a 5G network is going to have on their usage of smart devices.

5G In Healthcare: 7 Advantages & Disadvantages For Providers To Know

5G In Healthcare: 7 Advantages & Disadvantages For Providers To Know

D'Arcy Gue, Director Of Industry Relations At Medsphere Systems Corporation



It’s a fact. The more bandwidth-intensive connected medical devices and mobile devices our hospitals deploy, the more we are straining our health IT infrastructures. Something has to give. Many communications leaders see 5G technology’s real-time high bandwidth and lower latency access as powerful new technology features that are needed to expand healthcare applications’ capabilities and the functioning of medical devices, robotics, and mobile devices. Some say 5G will be transformative. Others say it won’t be sufficiently transportable geographically to achieve the high goals promised by carrier companies. And… rumbling in the background are the outlier worries that 5G itself could be a health risk that matters more than technology advances.

Here’s what you should know.

What is 5G? Here are the positives and the downsides for healthcare:

This is a quick summary description of a complex subject, but for a more detailed understanding check out this excellent article at PC Magazine or at Verizon’s 5G page.

5G the next (fifth) generation of cellular technology, will greatly increase the speed, coverage and responsiveness of wireless networks. Verizon’s network will enable speeds exceeding 1 gigabit per second, which is up to100 times faster than the typical cellular connection. Just as important: 5G’s low “latency” (the response time between sending a data request to the network, and receiving the data) will reduce lag time from 4G’s current 20 milliseconds to as little as one millisecond.  It may not seem dramatic, but this responsiveness will be critical to the success of many new healthcare technologies. At least one more benefit: 5G networks will connect to a much greater number of devices than current cellular networks can handle, thus expanding the Internet of Things (IoT) from dog collars to dishwashers to dental bitewings to real-time remote surgeries.

Downsides of 5G in Healthcare:

1. First, let’s clarify the rumble about alleged health risks due to 5G’s higher radio frequencies (RF). Carriers have fought this battle with cellular naysayers for at least 20 years starting with Gen 1, but the FDA continues to report that there is no validity to the worries. A recent National Toxicology Program study linked high levels of cell phone radiation on the whole bodies of rats to some evidence of carcinogenic activity in 6% of the males. Radiation from networks was not part of the study.  Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health said “The totality of the available scientific evidence continues to not support adverse health effects in humans caused by exposures at or under the current radiofrequency energy exposure limits.” The NIH, National Cancer Society, World Health Organization, FCC and many other sources agree.

2. A genuine drawback is that 5G’s range isn’t great, especially when obstructions such as trees or buildings exist. As a result, telecom carriers will deploy many more small cellular radios or antennas, called small cells and sized like a backpack, in areas that get a 5G signal — as close to each other as hundreds of feet apart. They are typically installed on existing utility poles or streetlights. The telecom industry already uses small cells to extend 3G, 4G, and LTE, but over 2 million are expected by 2021.

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3. Some residents of urban areas like Oakland, California are already resisting these installations, many of which will be near homes, expressing esthetic concerns and worries that the small-cell antennas could emit harmful electromagnetic waves, despite reports to the contrary mentioned above.  But the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits local governments from blocking their installation as long as the emissions fall below the levels the FCC deems safe. A 2018 order by the Federal Communications Commission restricts the ability of cities to regulate 5G even more.

4. Rollout costs of 5G and related infrastructure improvements, plus increased maintenance costs are also a big concern, especially since it is logical to expect that customers will bear at least part of those costs. McKinsey & Company reports that mobile operators are looking to develop strategies to cope with this growth in network costs. “Standard measures will involve cost-saving efforts, but they will also need to explore more alternative approaches, such as network sharing (the joint building of new 5G networks) and new revenue models.”

5. But the biggest issue may be rural access: how will carriers bring 5G to northern Arizona or southern New Mexico, for example, where no G’s are still often the reality? The FCC plans to cover 90% of the population with millions of small cells in the next five years, but that 90% only covers 36% of our geography — mostly urban areas. This map provided by PC Magazine illustrates some of the deployments in cities that the various carriers have already promised. CNN Business reports that at least 25 cities have been designated as early recipients, but analysts don’t expect widespread coverage before 2020.

6. What are the prospects for rural and small-town America and the population that remains the most underserved by healthcare institutions? So far, it appears that 5G’s multi-gigabit speeds and massive capacity will mostly be an urban phenomenon.  Rural areas will get a form of 5G called “low-band” or “sub-6” 5G, which will have less capacity but still have lower latency and be able to work with large networks of industrial sensors. Low-band 5G can use existing towers and existing coverage areas, but its increased capacity probably won’t even equal speeds that the average home gets today with 4G.

7. Many rural areas such as northern Arizona, southern Utah, much of Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Maine, and probably many others still get little or no cellular coverage, based on my own experience over the last year. In a 2016 paper, scientists from nine countries including the US concluded that only government subsidies would turn 5G into a real solution for rural broadband issues.

8. Getting massive bandwidth to rural America using the current 5G infrastructure technology that relies on small cell antennas is essentially impossible. Hopefully, we will see technological advances that will close the gap in availability. For example, perhaps creatively distributed networks could enable one or more 5G access points to serve a broader area via smaller base stations spread over several miles and somewhat balance coverage and speed at least for hospitals and other critical services.

Projected positives for 5G in Healthcare:

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AT&T, Verizon, and many downstream healthcare hardware and application vendors are touting 5G as potentially transformational for our industry. The benefits may be enormous:

1. Adding a high-speed 5G network to existing architectures will help quickly and reliably transport huge data files of medical imagery like MRIs and PET scans. The PET scanner at the Austin Cancer Center generates huge files — up to 1 gigabyte of information per patient per study. With low bandwidth networks, transmission can take a long time or even abort. This means the patient waits even longer for treatment and providers can see fewer patients in the same amount of time.

2. 5G will finally bring telemedicine into the healthcare Internet of Things forefront because it will enable real-time high-quality mobile-based video. Carriers tout projections that patients will be treated sooner and have access to specialists outside of their areas, and doctors will be able to collaborate more efficiently. A study by Market Research Future reported that the telemedicine market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 16.5% from 2017 to 2023, but 5G in both urban and rural areas will be needed. Greater network speeds mean that the demand by patients of “anytime, anywhere” medicine will continue to grow.  As discussed above, the currently low practicality of rural 5G is the rub, but hopefully temporary.

3. Fast and accurate remote health monitoring: Revisiting the IoT sphere, healthcare providers will be able to monitor patients and gather essential data real-time, which will improve personalized and preventive care. According to Anthem, 86% of doctors say wearables already increase patient engagement with their own health, and they are predicted to decrease hospital costs by 16% in the next five years. 42 percent of cross-industry decision makers expect 5G to enable devices to consume less power,  which is key in remote monitoring situations.

4. Artificial intelligence (AI) has enormous potential to improve diagnoses, determine best treatment plans for specific patients, and predict post-operative complications to enable early interventions when necessary. The large amounts of data needed for real-time rapid learning require ultra-reliable and high-bandwidth networks and 5G can make them happen.

5. Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and spatial computing already provide limited applications in healthcare. 5G is expected to enhance a doctor’s ability to deliver innovative, less invasive treatments. AT&T reports that it is “already collaborating with VITAS® Healthcare to study the effects of eventual 5G-enabled AR and VR on patient engagement. The goal is to reduce pain and anxiety for terminally ill patients in hospice by providing calming, distracting content via 5G-enabled AR and VR.”

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6. Remote robotic surgery: Robotic surgery is already a reality,  but the surgeon still stands next to the robot. Nearly half of consumers feel that remote robotic surgery would be okay with them, yet sixty-one percent believe such procedures are risky with our current internet speeds, according to Ericsson, a major communications provider. 5G networks will provide 1-millisecond response latency, key to connecting surgeons to a remote robot conducting remote surgeries.

7. And more… “We strongly believe 5G is a game-changing technology that when fully implemented will help us support better hospital operations as well as provide the highest quality patient and staff experience,” said Dr. Shafiq Rab, senior vice president, and chief information officer, Rush University Medical Center. “High-speed, low-latency 5G technology will help enable care to be delivered virtually anywhere at any time. The technology will enhance access to care, even from long distances, while also helping to decrease costs and improve efficiency. Imagine sometime in the not too distant future, for example, a doctor performing a virtual visit with a patient while downloading an entire MRI scan within seconds.”

5G and healthcare security caveats

Yes, 5G capabilities will help with faster transfer of large patient files, remote surgeries, telemedicine, remote patient monitoring via IoT devices, and undoubtedly other advances. Still, security analysts are already recognizing the inherent increases in data security risk that 5G-based advances in data storage and exchange, including greater IoT device usage, will create.  Medical identity theft, invasion of health privacy, and medical data management will become more challenging as massively increased numbers of devices and greater usage of virtualization and the cloud will mean a broader, more varied cyberattack surface. To realize the benefits of 5G that healthcare industry providers will seek, their leaders and security staff will have to put more attention, technical sophistication and investment into their security programs than ever before.

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The 5G evolution is extraordinary. It is also emblematic of the speed of technology change overall in the U.S. in the 21st century, including (to a lesser degree) healthcare.  Nine years after the launch of 4G, we’re readying our industry for the next cellular generation, which is likely to produce technology advances in healthcare that we couldn’t have imagined at the beginning of the century. We may not achieve as much with 5G by 2020 as carriers predict — and rural healthcare benefits may take longer than we would wish for — but the cellular infrastructural trajectory has begun. There can be little doubt that it will speed forward.