What is 5G and why should lawmakers care?

[Commentary] A decision by the Federal Communications Commission to open large swaths of high-frequency radio spectrum for use in next generation wireless networks marks a turning point in the mobile revolution. A new standard, known as 5G, is coming soon. In addition to blazing fast speeds for tomorrow’s mobile devices, 5G networks will be the platform for new innovations, including the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, ultra high-definition video, remote health care, and augmented reality. Along with many disruptors yet to be imagined. On the networking side, 5G differs from earlier standards by the use of multiple radio access technologies depending on the device and application. These include extremely high or “millimeter wave” frequencies above 24 GHz, considered until recently to be unusable for mobile applications.

Permissionless innovation in 5G design may also run afoul of overbroad “net neutrality” regulations adopted by the FCC earlier in 2015. Much of the new 5G architecture at both the core and the edges of the network will prioritize traffic that demands low latency, for example, and maintain persistent content throughout multiple virtual networks in what might be seen by non-engineers as faster and slower “lanes” of data traffic. While other economies rely heavily on government funding, innovation in the United States follows a decidedly entrepreneurial model. So getting policies right, and from the start, will be crucial to unlocking private investment for 5G technologies, which could cost almost $2 trillion just for network upgrades.

[Larry Downes is a project director at the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy]