The Promise and Peril of 5G

Richard M. Harrison

Security, Americas

Washington cannot afford to cede dominance over this important technology to Beijing.

With increasing frequency, we are hearing about a revolution that is taking place in technological connectivity—one being spearheaded by the development of 5G (fifth generation) networks. But what can 5G do, really? Faster movie downloads and near instantaneous access to information on phones and computers is just the tip of the iceberg. Buoyed by greater bandwidth, faster speeds, and lower latency (the ability to transmit more data, faster, and with a quicker response time), 5G has far-reaching commercial and military applications. But G5 also presents serious national-security concerns that U.S. policymakers need to better understand and address.

The potential commercial implications of 5G are sweeping. They include revolutionized medicine through augmented and virtual reality, networked sensors in constant communication (paving the way for smart cities and smart roads for driverless vehicles), and a universal connection to the Internet of Things. The impact is expected to be nothing short of seismic; according to one market study, by the year 2035 5G-supported technology may generate as much as $12.3 trillion in economic value and help to create 22 million new jobs.

For the U.S. military, meanwhile, such improved connectivity will translate into enhanced situational awareness, artificial intelligence that will help fly swarms of drones, and near real-time information sharing that will enable faster decision-making. However, 5G is also a shaping up to be a clear challenge to American primacy.

While America led the world in the creation of 4G networks, China is surging forward today in the development of its successor. Beijing has implemented a five-year plan that invests $400 billion in 5G technology and has already built ten times more 5G domestic infrastructure than the United States.

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