5G networks: The future of mobile communications is here
This Q&A was originally published on Sept. 1, 2020 by Blavatnik Awards/New York Academy of Sciences. The original piece can be found here.
5G mobile technologies are being deployed at a rapid pace in major cities around the globe — from Shanghai (China) to New York City, and techies, worldwide, excitedly agree that 5G will not only transform the way we communicate, but will fundamentally alter the way the manufacturing industry runs its factory floors. To help us understand what all the excitement around 5G really means to the average mobile user, we asked Elza Erkip, PhD, Institute Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at New York University and a 2010 Blavatnik Regional Awards Faculty Finalist, to share her thoughts on the new 5G technology being developed here in the United States, her research, and the future of mobile communications. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
What is 5G technology and what can 5G technology enable in our everyday lives?