OPPO Reno8 Series upgrades to the MediaTek Dimensity

 OPPO Reno8 Series upgrades to the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 MAX
and the Dimensity 1300 SoCs for flagship-grade performance

 

• OPPO Reno8 Series comes with 80W SUPERVOOC^TM that delivers a 50% recharge with just 11 minutes of charging
• Proprietary cooling systems deliver peak performances for longer periods, while enabling higher charging efficiency with improved battery health

 

New Delhi, 11 July 2022: The soon-to-be-launched OPPO Reno8 Series bears testament to OPPO’s continuous efforts in R&D. Both smartphones—the Reno8 Pro and the Reno8—pack powerful MediaTek SoCs along with proprietary technologies in battery charging, device cooling and hardware-software optimisation. All these work in sync to extend device life while ensuring peak performance for years to come.

OPPO Reno8 Series upgrades to the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 MAX and the Dimensity 1300 SoCs for flagship-grade performance

 

• OPPO Reno8 Series comes with 80W SUPERVOOC^TM that delivers a 50% recharge with just 11 minutes of charging
• Proprietary cooling systems deliver peak performances for longer periods, while enabling higher charging efficiency with improved battery health

 The soon-to-be-launched OPPO Reno8 Series bears testament to OPPO’s continuous efforts in R&D. Both smartphones—the Reno8 Pro and the Reno8—pack powerful MediaTek SoCs along with proprietary technologies in battery charging, device cooling and hardware-software optimisation. All these work in sync to extend device life while ensuring peak performance for years to come. 

 

Faster, feature rich SoCs 

The OPPO Reno8 Pro packs the 5nm MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX that delivers a 25% improvement in CPU power efficiency when compared to 6nm-class Dimensity chips. 

 

This octa-core SoC comprises four 2.85GHz Arm Cortex-A78 super cores along with the powerful Arm Mali-G610 MC6 graphics core for an extra 20% speed boost over the Dimensity 8000. 

 

Additionally, MediaTek’s HyperEngine 5.0 gaming technologies provide optimisations in the form of the latest AI-VRS graphics enhancement, second-generation Wi-Fi/Bluetooth coexistence technology, and Bluetooth LE Audio technology with Dual-Link True Wireless Stereo Audio that lowers the connection latency for wireless earbuds.

 

When it comes to imaging, the SoC borrows from Dimensity 9000’s technology arsenal: Its Imagiq ISP is clocked at 5Gpixel/s to allow for best-in-class photo and video capture. It can snatch three exposures per frame for accurate results in HDR, and it even supports two cameras recording simultaneously, which means you can shoot from the smartphone’s front and rear cameras together.

 

For AI, the Dimensity 8100-MAX houses the fifth generation MediaTek APU 580 that offers class-leading power-effective performance in tasks such as AI-multimedia, AI-camera, and social video experiences. This upgrade produces an impressive 2.75X speed boost over previous generation Dimensity chips with APU 3.0.

 

The OPPO Reno8 also sees a huge upgrade over the previous generation. This device houses the latest MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC over the MediaTek Dimesity 900 in the Reno7. The new ‘6nm’ octa-core CPU boasts a 3GHz Arm Cortex-A78 ‘ultra-core’ that kicks in to provide peak responsiveness in apps and games when it is needed the most.

 

In addition, it comprises three premium Cortex-A78 cores, four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, as well as the same HyperEngine 5.0 gaming technologies that are found on the Dimensity 8100-MAX. With the Dimensity 1300, AI tasks are boosted by up to 10% as displayed in AI benchmarking results.

 

The SoC promises photography enthusiasts excellent low-light performance and fast captures, ideal for shooting pictures in all conditions. Its unique AI-camera capabilities include AI noise reduction (AI-NR) in panoramic captures at night and with HDR. 4K HDR videos are captured with a 40% greater dynamic range when compared to standard HDR.

 

For entertainment, the Dimesity 1300’s AV1 video decoding hardware provides new levels of visual detail, crisper sound, and higher resolutions, without the hit on battery life when it comes to video-streaming entertainment

 

Both SoCs—the Dimensity 8100-MAX and the Dimesity 1300—support 5G connectivity along with MediaTek MiraVision that comes with enhanced HDR10+ video playback and even upgrades video streams on the fly to convert SDR content to HDR using AI Video with dynamic per-frame picture tuning for precise image quality.

 

 

 

In Picture: MediaTek Dimensity 1300 and 4500 mAh Battery

 

Safer, improved battery 

Both smartphones—the Reno8 Pro and the Reno8—are powered by a 4500mAh battery. OPPO’s 80W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge technology—tested and certified by TÜV Rheinland as a safe and quick charging system—allows for a 50% recharge with just 11 minutes recharge; a five-minute recharge is enough for two hours of mobile gaming. 

 

Further, the Reno8 series comes with OPPO’s exclusive Battery Health Engine (BHE) technology, which is the outcome of a three-year R&D into lithium-ion batteries and has resulted in 20+ pending patents.

  

BHE—with OPPO’s proprietary Smart Battery Health Algorithm and the Battery Healing Technology—intelligently controls the charging current and voltage through real-time monitoring. The Reno8 series features five-layer charging protection (comprising adapter overload protection, quick charging condition identification protection, interface overload protection, battery current/voltage overload protection and battery fuse protection) that protects the entire charging cycle, right from the adapter to the cable and the battery. 

 

Tests at the OPPO Research Institute show that Reno8 phone batteries with BHE can retain 80% of their original capacity after as many as 1,600 charge cycles. This charging cycle is double the industry average of just 800 charge cycles. It ensures batteries stay in good condition for around four years of typical use to make it the longest smartphone battery lifespan on the market. Notably, the batteries can last up to 1.55 days of regular use on a single full charge.

 

OPPO Reno8 Cooling System

 

Better cooling 

The Reno8 Pro now comes with OPPO’s Ultra-Conductive Cooling System that adopts Ultra-Conductive Graphite, a new material that improves cooling performance by 45% over traditional graphite. Here, graphite sheets are used for heat dissipation, both under the display and in the back cover to provide a total cooling surface area of 10957mm² (4% larger than the previous generation).  

 

OPPO also combined the ultra-conductive graphite with an aluminium middle frame to ensure that the OPPO Reno8 Pro does not heat up when playing games, watching videos, and taking photos. Also, a copper foil, with high thermal conductivity, is used both under the display and in the back cover to ensure stable performance and to dissipate heat during charging—even while maintaining a large charging current—for higher charging efficiency. 

 

The Reno8, on the other hand, comes with OPPO’s Super-Conductive VC Liquid Cooling System that covers 14644mm2, an increase of 16.8% over Reno7. The newly added Vapour Chamber covers an area of 2343mm² and is 1.5x more efficient than the previous generation’s heat pipe solution. For the Reno8’s middle frame, OPPO employs a super-conductive aluminium alloy that increases the thermal conductivity by 13.5%.

 

Three-year smooth performance

Over time, with regular use and as more apps are installed, smartphones get slower. To address this issue, OPPO upgraded its software and hardware and optimised the operation of the Reno8 Series. It then applied for TÜV SÜD certification, which comprises five ratings from E to A, of which A is the highest level.

 

Both Reno8 Series smartphones—after undergoing nearly 500 tests—met the certification requirements and obtained the TÜV SÜD 36-Month Fluency Rating a Mark. TÜV SÜD not only evaluated the devices’ fluency at the very beginning of use but also tested the degree of fluency attenuation after 36 months of use. The higher the level, the smoother a product runs, both at the beginning and after 36 months of use.

 

The OPPO Reno8 Series is slated to launch on 18th July 2022 from 6pm onwards.

 

Building a Telecommunications Roadmap for

 Building a Telecommunications Roadmap for 5G Implementation

 

Wireless technologies have become a fundamental part of daily life in the 21st century – they enable us to connect with one another in unprecedented ways, make efficient use of our time, and, broadly speaking, serve to improve our lives in innumerable ways. 

 

To function, wireless devices must be able to connect to cellular sites that provide reliable coverage both indoors and outdoors. To do this increasingly requires the placement of sites near densely populated urban areas – and, in the process, creating new challenges for both the wireless industry and local governments. 

 

The prospect of next-generation cellular technologies – notably, 5G – will enable greater functionality, but their complexity has resulted in increased burdens being placed on municipalities and government agencies. 

 

Looking ahead, as demand for 5G capabilities continues to rise, it’s critical that key stakeholders in the cellular ecosystem work hand in hand to streamline permitting and licensing negotiations and, ultimately, deployment planning and activation.

 

Potential of 5G benefitting the citizens

 

Wireless communication can be referred to as the "Fifth Utility", however, and unfortunately – the pandemic has exposed the digital divide in more ways than one. For instance, according to the  Lokniti-CSDS Study, in India only 16% of households had access to a computer or laptop while only 10% had an internet connection at home. This digital divide has risked the exclusion of thousands of Indians from, the cloud-based vaccine portal which requires internet access. On top of this, the urban-rural divide is also a huge topic of discussion when it comes to understanding the digital divide.

 

So, when we talk about next-generation wireless communications networks implementation, it is of the utmost importance that technologists, carriers, policymakers, etc. remain cognizant of the fact that these telco solutions must be deployed equitably. 

 

Doing so has the potential to improve the lives of Indians lacking reliable wireless communications capabilities at a fundamental level – it will enable them to better participate in an increasingly global economy, keep pace with educational innovation and change and, finally, connect with friends and family.

 

How to bridge the digital divide?

 

The days of yesteryear, where local government officials were primarily focused on zoning and planning with respect to telecommunications deployment, are over. Having moved firmly into the 4G era – and with one eye on future networks – local governments are now more involved than ever in deployment, which now occurs mostly on public property – on light poles and utility poles – as opposed to private property, which is where deployment historically occurred. 

 

This shift has had several notable impacts: 

·         The number of applications for localized telecommunications solutions has dramatically increased. It is expected that this trend will continue to increase, as our use of wireless communications has grown exponentially over the past several years – and certainly over the course of the pandemic

 

·         Public Works are now the primary drivers of telecommunications deployment as opposed to planning, zoning, or real estate entities. This has fundamentally changed the dynamic of network deployment, as cities are now responsible for something that is, overall, relatively new – cities tend to be effective at managing parks, sidewalks, streetlights, waste management and all the things that we typically associate with local government, but local governments are relatively inexperienced when it comes to wireless facilities in the public rights of way. 

 

Local governments are not only responsible for working with the wireless industry seeking to deploy future networks – they are also on the hook for approving and permitting upgrades to existing 3G and 4G networks, which poses additional challenges. And, of course, moreover, challenges associated with funding the staff time to manage these programs will always exist. 

 

Public officials at the local level will bear additional responsibility for network deployment moving forward – thus, it is important that policymakers understand the language, so to speak, of telecommunications.

NCR-Delhi Data center capacity to grow by

 NCR-Delhi Data center capacity to grow
by 2.2 times to 89 MW* by 2023: JLL

 49MW capacity addition is expected during 2021-23

• Government demand arising from digital initiatives to drive growth
• Supportive state policies to act as a catalyst for the industry growth

Note: MW*- indicates IT power load

NCR-Delhi is expected to emerge as a new data center hotspot as demand from Government departments and IT/ITeS are expected to drive further growth as per JLL report titled ‘2020 India Data Center Market Update.’

“NCR–Delhi data centers are expected to tend to the increasing demand arising from various digital transformation initiatives by the government. This coupled with supportive state policies for the industry is likely to drive 49MW supply during 2021-23. Large cloud players are expected to take up capacities to meet the increasing demand,” said Manish Aggarwal, Managing Director – North & East,  JLL India.

 

 

 

Source: JLL Research

“India’s colocation data center industry witnessed unprecedented absorption of 102 MW during 2020, notching higher absorption than most key markets of Europe and America. Fuelled by longer-term trends of rising cloud adoption, increasing digitalisation and progressive legislation, we anticipate increased demand for colocation space nationwide. Rising demand led data center operators and developers to pursue ambitious expansion plans, while some adopted the acquisition route to enter Indian markets, which we expect to continue. Colo capacity grew by around 28% to reach 447 MW in 2020 from 350 MW in 2019,” said Rachit Mohan, Head- Data Center Advisory (India), JLL. 

As the data centre landscape continues to evolve, the industry is expected to grow exponentially to reach 1,007 MW by 2023 from its existing capacity of 447 MW. With the growing reliance on digital connectivity, demand is likely to ramp up further due to the imminent rollout of 5G rollout, IoT-linked devices, data localisation and cloud adoption. India’s data center sector will require an investment of USD 3.7 billion over the next three years to fulfil the 6 million sq. ft greenfield development opportunity for the industry.

Mumbai and Chennai are expected to drive 73% of the sector’s total capacity addition during 2021-23, while other cities like Hyderabad and Delhi NCR emerging as new hotspots. Robust pre-commitments by global cloud players in the established markets of Mumbai and Pune continues owing to prevailing infrastructure, while new markets like Hyderabad are gaining momentum in this space.

“India’s data center industry is expected to add 560 MW during 2021-23 leading to a real estate requirement of 6 million sq. ft. The supply addition will be complemented by densification of racks and servers, sustainable energy sourcing and use of indigenous resources. Rising demand is leading operators to pursue ambitious expansion plans, while some are adopting the acquisition route to enter Indian markets. Various policies and reforms brought in by the Government to turn India into a ‘Global Data Hub’ has provided necessary measures to achieve this goal,” said Dr. Samantak Das, Chief Economist and Head of Research & REIS (India), JLL.

The increasing usage of e-commerce, EdTech and digital transactions placed the existing IT infrastructure of enterprises under pressure. Overall data usage increased by 36% in 2020 due to increased usage of smartphones and fixed wireless access as per Nokia Mobile Broadband India Traffic Index 2021. Enterprises have been upgrading their IT infrastructure by adopting hybrid models, given their budget constraints. Technology trends like 5G rollout, IoT-linked devices and AI will also result in stronger growth in demand.

According to JLL, the rapid growth of the data center industry has led to increased energy consumption and environmental impact. Increasingly, global cloud players setting up bases in India aim to reduce their carbon footprint and are looking at data centers that provide sustainable energy alternatives and are entering renewable energy power contracts. India’s renewable energy capacity at 90 gigawatts accounts for a 25% share of the installed power capacity and provides tremendous scope for the development of green data centers.

Airtel and Tata Group/TCS announce collaboration for

Airtel and Tata Group/TCS announce collaboration for ‘Made in India’ 5G

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s premier communications solutions provider and Tata Group, today announced a strategic partnership for implementing 5G networks solutions for India.

Tata Group has developed a ‘state of the art’ O-RAN based Radio & NSA/SA Core and has integrated a totally indigenous telecom stack, leveraging the Group capabilities and that of its partners. This will be available for commercial development starting Jan 2022.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) brings its global system integration expertise and helps align the end-to-end solution to both 3GPP and O-RAN standards, as the network and equipment are increasingly embedded into software.

Airtel will pilot and deploy this indigenous solution as part of its 5G rollout plans in India and start the pilot in January 2022, as per the guidelines formulated by the Government of India.

These ‘Made in India’ 5G product and solutions are aligned to global standards, and inter-operate with other products based on standard open interfaces and those defined by the O-RAN Alliance. The 5G solutions, once commercially proven in Airtel’s diverse and brownfield network will open export opportunities for India, which is now the second largest telecom market in the world.

Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO (India and South Asia) Bharti Airtel said, “We are delighted to join forces with the Tata Group to make India a global hub for 5G and allied technologies. With its world-class technology ecosystem and talent pool, India is well positioned to build cutting edge solutions and applications for the world. This will also provide a massive boost to India becoming an innovation and manufacturing destination.”

N. Ganapathy Subramaniam from the Tata Group/ TCS said, “As a Group, we are excited about the opportunity presented by 5G and adjacent possibilities. We are committed to building a world-class networking equipment and solutions business to address these opportunities in networking space. We are pleased to have Airtel as our customer in this initiative.”

Airtel is a Board member of the O-RAN Alliance and is committed to explore and implement O-RAN based networks in India. Earlier this year, Airtel became the first telecom company in India to demonstrate 5G over its LIVE network in city of Hyderabad. The Company has started 5G trials in major cities using spectrum allocated by the Department of Telecom.

The Tata group's telecom and media enterprises cater to the communication requirements of global business houses to SMEs, and from wholesale to home networks. Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) is a member of the O-RAN Alliance.

OPPO’s F19 Pro+ 5G becomes No.1 selling 5G smartphone as

 OPPO’s F19 Pro+ 5G becomes No.1 selling 5G smartphone as per Counterpoint for 2 consecutive months

Consolidating its 5G legacy, OPPO India’s F19 Pro+ 5Gwas recently declared as the No 1 selling 5G smartphone in the 25k-30k category for two consecutive months in March and April. Markets including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Mumbai have been the top-performing states recording the highest sales volume of the product.

F 19+ Pro, OPPO’s 5G product launched in the mid-segment range was introduced to make 5G accessible to all. Interestingly, this device successfully clocked sales worth over INR 230 crores in only three days of the F19 Pro series availability in the market.

Commenting on this success, Mr. Damyant Khanoria, Chief Marketing Officer, OPPO India, said, “We are delighted to see the response we have received on F19 Pro+ 5G. This success bears testimony to the love and acceptance of the devices in the series. This product stands for powerful specs and continues to be a firm favorite among millions of Indian users.  We are driven to push the boundaries of innovation and simultaneously create engaging consumer touchpoints to give our users a great experience as we carry this legacy forward.”

The brand also introduced several offers that customers can avail in the month of June. OPPO has collaborated with HDFC Bank, Kotak Bank, Standard Chartered and Bank of Baroda for customers to avail a flat 7.5% Cashback along with zero downpapement finance scheme and an 11% instant cashback for anyone using PayTM.

F series has always been a firm favorite among the young discerning trendsetters & known for its trending features allowing users to flaunt their life. With cutting-edge technologies from unique features like the AI Highlight Portrait Video, Smart 5G, dual-video mode, superior battery, immersive gaming experience, and a lot more, the F19Pro series is doing wonders among the young trendsetters.

OnePlus Nord CE 5G: The Core OnePlus Experience

 OnePlus Nord CE 5G: The Core OnePlus Experience, For Less 

 A great everyday smartphone that’s a little more than you’d expect

For product images of OnePlus Nord CE 5G, please click here

Today, global technology brand OnePlus revealed a new addition to the OnePlus Nord product line: OnePlus Nord CE 5G (Core Edition). The newest member of the Nord smartphone portfolio is built on the core aspects of the Nord experience, delivering powerful features at an even lighter price - all packed into a beautiful design.

Nord CE combines best-in-class hardware features, including a versatile 64 MP triple camera system, a 90 Hz fluid AMOLED display, a powerful Snapdragon 750G 5G processor, and improved Warp Charge 30T Plus, along with OnePlus’s signature fast and smooth OxygenOS 11, to deliver a fantastic everyday user experience.

“The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is the next step in our commitment to sharing great technology with the world,” said Pete Lau, Founder and CEO of OnePlus. “The Never Settle spirit drives us to provide a better experience relative to what's available in any price segment. Nord CE is the newest addition to the OnePlus Nord product line that delivers a great everyday experience while maintaining the OnePlus quality that users have come to love.” 

 

Fast and Smooth Experience 

OnePlus Nord CE 5G comes with a large 4,500mAh battery, but with improved Warp Charge 30T Plus charging technology, the battery still charges at the same speed – 0 to 70% in just half an hour. Like all OnePlus devices, Nord CE also adapts to reduce the time spent at 100% battery to maintain good battery health while charging overnight.

Nord CE is powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 750G 5G Mobile Platform which offers a 20% CPU and 10% GPU boost over its predecessor, thanks to the Kryo 570 CPU and Adreno 619 GPU.  The advanced AI Engine also provides users with an incredibly smooth and intuitive experience, from enhanced gaming to improved voice-chat.

Nord CE comes pre-installed with OxygenOS 11, OnePlus’s fastest and most responsive software to date. OxygenOS 11 features significant improvements to beloved features like Dark Mode, Zen Mode, and a new always on display (AOD). In addition, OOS 11 has been optimized for single-handed operations, thanks to repositioned touch controls and a simple yet bold design.

Powerful Essentials 

Nord CE sports a powerful triple rear camera setup with a 64 MP main camera with a large f/1.79 aperture that captures crisp, high-resolution images and next-level detail in bright lighting conditions, and a 119° ultra-wide angle lens for enhanced versatility. On the front, Nord CE features a 16 MP camera for capturing great selfies.

Like all OnePlus flagship models, Nord CE comes with Nightscape for a better low-light photography experience. This must-have feature for nighttime shooting takes up to eight pictures at varying exposures and effortlessly weaves them together to produce clearer, brighter, and more dramatic photos.

Nord CE also rocks a 6.43" 90Hz AMOLED display that makes everything incredibly smooth and responsive. HDR10+ offers vivid colors to ensure immersive and enjoyable viewing experience. 

Everything Else Users Love About OnePlus  

At 7.9mm in thickness and 170g in weight, Nord CE 5G is the slimmest OnePlus device since the OnePlus 6T. But cutting back doesn’t mean subtraction. Extra features have been added to Nord CE, like the 3.5mm headphone jack. Nord CE comes in three colorways: Charcoal Ink, Silver Ray, and Blue Void.  The latter features a fingerprint-resist matte finish which reveals a fresh nuance from every angle.  

Like all OnePlus flagship devices, Nord CE will receive two years of software updates and three years of security updates to keep the phone smooth over time.   

Experience the OnePlus Nord CE 5G in AR

In addition to creating great devices, OnePlus is also committed to delivering fresh and exciting experiences to the community by continuously integrating innovative technologies into the brand experience. In 2020, OnePlus held the world’s first-ever AR product launch to unveil the OnePlus Nord, allowing users to participate in the event from the safety of their homes. OnePlus is continuing to explore AR integrations with the OnePlus Nord CE 5G by allowing users to get a feel of the brand-new Nord CE through a web-AR experience.

Users will be able to get up close and personal with the three stunning colorways of Nord CE, along with the improved Warp Charge 30T Plus and its lightning-fast charging speed. In addition, the experience features a Code Breaker challenge, where users have a chance to win a Nord CE device if they correctly crack the passcode of the virtual device. More details can be found at https://forums.oneplus.com/threads/experience-oneplus-nord-ce-5g-in-ar-right-now.1451075/.

Users will be able to participate in the AR experience from June 10 – 30. The AR experience can be activated by visiting nord-ar.oneplus.com. Stay tuned to the OnePlus Nord Instagram account (@oneplus.nord) and nord-ar.oneplus.com for more updates. 

Pricing and Availability 

 OnePlus Nord CE 5G will be available on Amazon.in and OnePlus.in beginning June 16 at 12 noon.

Pre-order OnePlus Nord CE 5G on oneplus.in or OnePlus Store App to get Gifts worth Rs. 2,699, which includes OnePlus Nord Handy Fanny Pack and OnePlus product discount vouchers. Red Cable First Pre-order starts at 12 PM, 11th June. Just sign up on oneplus.in to become the Red Cable Club member.

RAM	ROM	Colors	Price
6GB	128GB	Charcoal Ink	INR 22,999
8GB	128GB	Blue Void, Charcoal Ink	INR 24,999
12GB	256GB	Blue Void, Charcoal Ink, Silver Ray	INR 27,999

OnePlus Nord CE 5G Silver Ray will be available for sale from 23^rd June onwards on Amazon.in, OnePlus.in, OnePlus stores and select offline partners.

Users can also avail the following launch offers for their purchase of OnePlus Nord CE 5G –

• Users who purchase their Nord CE on amazon.in will receive an Amazon Pay cashback worth INR 500
• Users who purchase their Nord CE on oneplus.in will receive a coupon worth INR 1000 to purchase other OnePlus products
• Customers can avail instant discount of INR 1000 and up to 6 months No Cost EMI using HDFC Bank Credit Cards, Credit Card EMI & Debit Card EMI on Amazon.in, OnePlus.in, OnePlus stores and select offline partners
• Customers can avail 5% cashback up to INR 2500, on select American Express cards only on OnePlus.in
• Jio prepaid users can recharge their Nord CE 5G for INR 999 to receive cashback benefits worth INR 150 up to 40 months. Offer valid till August, 2021

Apart from this, Nord CE users who sign up for Red Cable Club will also get -

• Additional 1Tb Cloud Storage with Red Cable Care plan (under Red Cable Pro).
• OnePlus has also partnered with Uber to bring the Uber Executive access for Red Cable Pro users, granting them exclusive perks such as zero cancellation fees, priority support on the Uber app, top-rated drivers and peak price protection.

What is 5G and What Does it Mean for

 What is 5G and What Does it Mean for Cybersecurity?

The buzz around 5G is reaching a fevered pitch – barely a day goes by where it isn’t in the news.  We have heard about the data capacity and speed increases, lower latency, and lower power consumption.

The Ericsson Mobility Report 2020 shows how the impact of Covid19 has led to network’s crucial role in society. The report expects the global number of 5G subscriptions to top 2.8 billion by the end of 2025. In India, 5G is expected to represent around 18 percent of mobile subscriptions at the end of 2025.

It also states that in India, the projected value of the 5G-enabled digitalization revenues will be approximately USD 17 billion by 2030. With 5G being a platform for innovation it will enable the development of new services for consumers, enterprises, and industry, including large-scale IoT use cases.

BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS 5G?

When we spoke with Dorothy Stanley, IEEE Member and Chair of the IEEE 802.11 Working Group, she pointed out that confusion stems from the term ‘5G’ being used to refer to several ideas interchangeably: “Is 5G a vision? A set of services and data rates that are a goal to be accomplished, requiring multiple technologies? Or something that’s tied only to cellular carriers and what they can deliver?”

Some experts are most focused on the mixed nature of the technology. Babak Beheshti, IEEE Member and Interim Dean, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, for example: “The very design philosophy of 5G is based on network heterogeneity. This means that the network can be a combination of technologies such as Wi-Fi® and LTE.”

Therefore, what 5G means depends on the context of the discussion, but it’s likely to include a combination of technologies.

This heterogeneity makes security more complex. However, there are already some exciting developments in the pipeline for 5G and IoT device security.

“According to T-Mobile US, 4G information being carried across mobile networks was not always encrypted. In 5G, end-to-end encryption is intended to provide much stronger safeguards for data privacy,” Beheshti says.

That will be coupled with a globally unique subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI) for each user. Beheshti: “The SUPI is never broadcast over the air during connection establishment for a mobile device, which can help prevent the hijacking of a mobile’s identity. 3G and 4G networks are inferior in this respect.”

For Stanley, top of mind is “The latest security solution, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Easy Connect™. You scan the QR code, and that bootstraps a protocol exchange that gets you on the network securely, so your traffic over the wireless link will not be snipped.”

Since IoT devices don’t often have robust user interfaces, using a QR code lets manufacturers create security protocols that can be operated without the use of a keyboard, Stanley says. “The QR code is just a way to encode data. Basically, you’re encoding a public key that then can be used to establish and bootstrap trust. Only the peer device that has the private key can decode that.”

So upcoming security technologies are promising.

WHAT CAN CONSUMERS DO TO MAKE SURE THEIR CURRENT IoT SETUPS ARE SECURE?

For Kayne McGladrey, IEEE Member and Director of Security and Information Technology at Pensar Development, “Consumers should use the ‘guest’ network of their home Wi-Fi routers as a dedicated network for IoT devices, so if one of those devices were compromised, the threat actor can’t easily pivot to more valuable data.”

That’s the case for newer devices, he says. “For older, cheap, IP-based security cameras and digital video recorders (DVRs), the easiest way to secure them is to recycle them responsibly as there often are no security updates available.”

The ability to update devices over their lifetime is essential to security, and should factor into buying decisions, he says.

Han Guangjie, IEEE Senior Member and professor at Hohai University, seconds this point: “Check and update the IoT device firmware. If IoT devices have exploitable vulnerabilities, manufacturers often identify and fix problems before the hacker can access the device’s environment.”