Page 8 - EngineerIT March 2022

ICT FORWARD FROM 5G

It's time to start preparing for the

networked reality

By Magnus Frodigh, head of Ericsson Research

he term networked reality, which is introduced in this technology trends article, refers
to a reality in which the line between the virtual and physical worlds has disappeared.
TAlthough it might be hard for many of us to imagine how that could ever be possible,
experts predict that it is likely to occur within the next decade or so. The networked reality
will be built using a combination of advanced extended reality (XR) technologies and limitless
connectivity that is delivered through highly advanced and ultra-reliable wireless networks.
Rather than being something we experience using only our eyes and ears via screens
and earphones, cyberspace will become an all-encompassing overlay on top of our physical
reality that we will be able to experience with all of our senses. In the networked reality, we
will be able to travel across space and time, seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling
everything around us as if we were physically there. It will have a revolutionary effect on
everything – from travel and entertainment to education, employment and healthcare.

Ericsson’s vision
In the new vision we unveiled earlier this year, Ericsson imagines a world in which limitless
connectivity improves lives, redefines business and pioneers a sustainable future. To make
the vision more concrete, we have also developed and released a set of vision stories that Magnus Frodigh
highlight the profound impact that limitless connectivity will have in four key areas:
education, business, entertainment and climate action. and entirely new features and functions
A reliable, secure and high-quality mobile network infrastructure is critical to making released every year. New and improved
each of these vision stories a reality. While the 5G platform is a core building block of the user equipment – phones, IoT devices, AR
future digital society that our vision stories represent, the impressive capabilities of existing glasses, VR head-mounted displays and so
5G networks are just the beginning. Mobile has become the fastest growing technology in on – are also appearing on the market at
the world and the innovation in 5G is continuous, with increments every six months or so, an unprecedented pace.

EngineerIT | March 2022 | 6