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Smart Cities: A Futuristic 5G mMTC Use Case

Published Date
Author Cadence PCB Solutions

Key Takeaways

  • The connected devices in 5G mMTC use cases support reduced data volumes.

  • The deployment of 5G mMTC services helps ensure the efficient transmission and reception of small data packets.

  • 5G mMTC services are specially designed for IoT systems. 

5G systems

5G mMTC use cases support a high density of connected devices 

The design of 5G technology is focused on improving transmission speed, the network of connected devices, and latency issues. The main features of 5G wireless communication aim to develop better connectivity than existing technologies.

Currently, there is a proliferation of devices. With this trend, network density demand is at its peak. This problem is alleviated to some extent by 5G massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC) services. 5G mMTC supports a high density of connected devices and offers benefits like long range, low cost, and extended battery life. 

5G mMTC Use Cases

5G mMTC use cases involve massive device connectivity. The density of connected devices is more than 1 million devices per square kilometer. The connected devices in 5G mMTC use cases support reduced data volumes.

Applications where 5G mMTC features are being utilized include:

  1. Smart cities
  2. Smart buildings
  3. Intelligent transport systems
  4. Manufacturing
  5. Health care
  6. Farming and agriculture

As most 5G mMTC use cases send small amounts of data sporadically, latency and throughput are never a concern. However, a major setback comes from the optimal power utilization of these connected devices. The majority of the connected devices are battery-powered, with an expected battery life of 10 years. With 5G mMTC services, power utilization can be optimized.

Characteristics of 5G mMTC Use Cases

In the above 5G mMTC use cases, multiple sensors are employed for data transmission and reception. The connected devices send small amounts of data sporadically. 5G mMTC services transmit and receive small data packets efficiently. In most cases, data is sent on low-bandwidth channels. 5G mMTC design must provide latency tolerance, and the same applies to mMTC networks. The main highlight of any 5G mMTC use case is the high density of connected devices, which is impossible with 4G LTE.

5G mMTC Features

Other advantageous features that are supported by 5G mMTC include:

  1. Long range communication
  2. Low data rates
  3. Ultra-low-cost machine-to-machine communication
  4. Asynchronous access provision
  5. Extended battery life of up to 10 years
  6. Uplink centric transmission

Massive Sensing Is a Reality With 5G mMTC

Sensors generate data from electric grids, industries, farmlands, and other infrastructure. This process is called massive sensing. Massive sensing is mostly associated with IoT systems and provides high efficiency, performance, and productivity by enabling connectivity between numerous devices. 

5G for Smart Cities

As people migrate to urban areas, improving the basic facilities in cities is a necessity. The management and operation of the resources in a city should be automated to establish a cost-effective smart city makeover. The deployment of sensors for collecting data from streets, people, buildings, and transport systems is the first step to building smarter cities. Data is communicated between these sensors, so collecting this data means that it can be analyzed and any necessary changes in operations can be made.

Nowadays, expansive Internet of Things (IoT) networks are developed to build the kind of infrastructure needed in a smart city. To enable smart city development based on IoT, connectivity between various citywide services and facilities is required. The 5G mMTC service category helps ensure city resources are connected. 5G mMTC services are specially designed for IoT systems. The 5G mMTC use case of IoT-based smart cities supports small data packets, uplink center transmission, sporadic transmission, and power optimization.   

The Future Lies With 5G

5G mMTC services will continue to be utilized as cities grow and advance. Deploying mMTC use cases or services in networks demanding high-density device connectivity helps improve workflow, outcome, and profits.

Cadence’s suite of PCB design and analysis tools can assist you in developing 5G architecture for applications such as intelligent transportation systems, healthcare, smart grids, virtual reality, and augmented reality. Cadence offers highly efficient design tools that ensure the development of mMTC services for various use cases.

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