The blazing fast speeds, ultra-low latency, and massive connectivity that 5G technology will bring will change the way mobile media is perceived. As a result, storage solutions must keep pace with the growing demands of the content supply chain. In 2009, 4G introduced the concept of mobile data as an object that is downloaded to a device and then played. This innovation has led to an increase in the amount of data being processed on mobile devices.
More than 500 hours of video content is uploaded in a single minute on YouTube alone, and 5G will only increase the amount of media that can and will be consumed worldwide. In this article, we provide insights into how 5G innovation will change storage requirements and the way media is consumed on mobile devices.
Senior Systems Engineer, OpenDrives.
5G performance far exceeds standard wired Ethernet ports on desktop computers, with speeds of up to 20 Gbps in theory. This is compared to the typical 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps of wired Ethernet. In practice, 5G is more than a match for most wired connections, with download speeds of 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps, which is comparable to your desktop computer. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile own the 5G infrastructure and can create private 5G cells, where higher performance can be achieved, even reaching 20 Gbps because you don’t have to share the bandwidth with many devices.
UHD streaming
5G’s higher speeds and lower latency make it easy to stream high-resolution video, such as 4K and 8K, with minimal buffering on mobile devices. For reference, a 4K stream requires about 25 Mbps of bandwidth, while an 8K stream requires 100 Mbps, both of which are demanding but easily achievable with 5G. As a result, consumers can seamlessly stream UHD video from their phones in virtually any environment
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR):AR and VR applications, with their full immersion, largely rely on high bandwidth and low latency. While 5G’s 1ms latency is significantly higher than Ethernet’s 10-30 microsecond latency, it is still suitable for these applications. To meet these high-speed demands, storage systems must be able to retrieve and process data in real time.
Interactive livestream:The high data volume and speed for 5G enables new interactive live streaming capabilities such as multi-angle and instant replays. To achieve this, the underlying system and storage infrastructure must be efficient and fast enough to handle numerous requests while maintaining sub-second video latency.
Storage Challenges and Solutions
As more advanced and data-driven media technologies become possible via 5G, older, conventional storage infrastructures face several technical limitations:
Sign up for the Ny Breaking newsletter and get all the best news, views, features, and guidance your business needs to succeed!
1) Scalability: The increase in high-resolution, interactive content demands storage solutions that can handle larger amounts of data. Conventional storage systems may not be able to keep up with the amount of information created by innovative, 5G-enabled applications due to their sheer size and rapid expansion. Distributed storage systems, such as those using software-defined storage (SDS) architectures, provide the scalability needed to efficiently meet these demands.
2) Bandwidth Management: Compression technologies are used to effectively manage the increased data bandwidth that 5G networks provide, with many using artificial intelligence (AI) to make algorithms more efficient. These algorithms help reduce the size of the data stored or transferred, ensuring that no bandwidth is wasted and media quality is maintained.
3) Security: Given the massive amount of data being sent over 5G networks, security becomes even more important and challenging. With massive amounts of data being sent at an unprecedented rate, traditional encryption methods may fall short. Improving encryption techniques and integrating blockchain for data integrity and Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) into storage solutions can improve security.
Future trends
Edge storage: As 5G becomes more widely available, it will be critical to make better use of “edge storage,” a type of decentralized storage that keeps data close to where it’s needed. This approach has the potential to reduce latency while improving performance and overall user experience for real-time applications like AR/VR and streaming for Apple Vision Pro and similar devices.
AI-driven storage optimization: The use of AI in storage management is likely to become more widespread in the 5G era. AI tools can analyze usage patterns and dynamically optimize storage allocation to ensure optimal resource utilization. For example, AI can predict which content is frequently accessed and then store it in high-performance storage tiers, while moving less frequently accessed data to cheaper storage.
5G as the Backbone for Broadcasting: Mobile broadcasting and network infrastructure, including cables, are not well-suited to sudden changes in mobility. 5G technology reduces the need for extensive infrastructure, making it an ideal solution for dynamic, live broadcast environments such as breaking news or outdoor events. Combined with edge computing, 5G enables local processing of video feeds, reducing latency and increasing broadcast efficiency. This seamless integration improves the efficiency and speed of live content delivery, marking a major shift forward in the media industry.
5G as a backbone for mobile broadcasting: Harnessing 5G has the potential to transform the way cameras and other devices connect to Outside Broadcasting (OB) trucks. With up to 20Gbit, private 5G cells and an acceptable latency of 1ms, the setup becomes significantly more flexible. Inside the OB truck, the data storage receives the captured data and potentially transmits it via 5G, enabling real-time editing and graphic overlays directly from that storage. 5G technology can also significantly improve mobile broadcast workflows by delivering blazing speeds of up to 10Gbps. This enables the seamless transfer of uncompressed 4K or 8K video directly from cameras to production facilities without compromising video quality.
5G as the backbone for live broadcasting: For live sports broadcasts, 5G enables near-instant synchronization of multiple camera feeds with ultra-low latency of just 1 millisecond. This precise positioning and angles allows viewers to enjoy an immersive, “live-like” experience from any screen. Additionally, 5G’s impressive speeds easily support real-time editing and graphic overlay directly from the pitch, allowing editors to integrate live feeds and make quick edits with minimal delay.
Conclusion
Innovative storage solutions and 5G are completely changing the way media is consumed on mobile devices, and 5G will continue to change the way digital media is consumed across every screen. Storage technologies must meet security standards and continue to evolve to keep pace with 5G’s increased bandwidth management and scalability requirements to ensure seamless experiences for viewers. Fortunately, 5G’s faster speeds and lower latency make it easy to deliver live 4K content over the internet to anywhere. 5G and advanced storage solutions can do more than just enable amazing viewing experiences; they can dramatically improve them. Who knows what the future holds?