The Promise of 5G Telecommunication
In July, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated 11 gigahertz of frequency to 5G telecommunication, bringing it a huge step closer to reality. 5G will not only provide faster communication speeds than existing 4G connections but provide a variety of service types for different applications.
5G will make it easier to connect many devices on a local wireless network at a very high speed. This is what's called a small-cell network. Small cells are tailored for "Internet of Things" (IoT) devices working together in a home or office. They're possible with existing technology, but 5G will give them significantly better support.
Upgrading to IPv6
Another technology already exists — in fact, it has for a long time — which helps small cells to work at their best. It's the system of IP addresses called IPv6. The older system of IP addresses, called IPv4, has been inadequate for a long time. It's based on 32-bit addresses (e.g., 127.0.0.1), and they're just aren't enough of them to go around. We're still stuck with them because the whole Internet understands IPv4 and not everyone supports IPv6.
IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, providing enough for any purpose we can imagine today. When small devices are everywhere, IPv4 isn't even close to adequate. The translation tricks that stretch the number of available addresses is under more of a strain than ever. IoT devices need to be simple. When small cells can use IPv6, they work more simply and efficiently, without any need for address translation.
Neighbor Discovery Protocol
Besides just offering more addresses, IPv6 offers the Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP), which simplifies connecting devices into local networks. The growth of small-cell networks under 5G is certain to accelerate the adoption of IPv6, eventually bringing an end to the work-around everyone has to use today.
For more information about 5G and IPv6 technology, simply contact TelWare at 1-800-637-3148 or sales@telware.com. TelWare is a national leader in the installation of voice, video, data, and unified communication solutions. TelWare is an authorized Avaya, Star2Star, and SimpleWAN dealer.