5G and IoT: Towards a New Era of Communications and Measurements
Zhong, M.
; Yang, Y.
; Yao, H.
; Fu, X.
; Dobre, O.
;
Postolache, O.
IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Magazine Vol. 22, Nº 6, pp. 18 - 26, December, 2019.
ISSN (print): 1094-6969
ISSN (online):
Scimago Journal Ranking: 0,33 (in 2019)
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/MIM.2019.8917899
Abstract
The tremendous increase in the demand for data rates
due to bandwidth-hungry applications, the explosive growth in the number of devices and the advent
of new services have led to intensive efforts of researchers to
develop 5G wireless networks and beyond. The quality of its
service is very important, and measurements have already
started to be performed around the world for different 5G
associated frequency bands using new methods of instrumentation and measurement. 5G networks have a large coverage,
presenting a perfect match for supporting IoT communications that will revolutionize the way of many everyday life
activities. Application examples are in fields of transportation,
manufacturing, and healthcare. In these applications, the characterization of IoT components including quality of RF signals
or coverage is carried out using virtual and traditional instrumentation. Additionally, energy efficiency measurements are
needed for 5G and IoT implementation and originate the development of specific automatic power measurement systems.
5G and IoT will improve the service quality and experience of
users in various industries, with fundamental impact on people's lives. An overview of the upcoming 5G wireless systems
is described, including a glimpse into the timeline, technical
requirements, and enabling technologies. Other IoT solutions
are presented, with a focus on applications to industrial settings, smart ports, and healthcare. Specific instrumentation
setup and measurement methods associated with 5G and IoT
implementations are discussed.