HOW 5G TECH CAN ENHANCE THE BANDWIDTH OF POLICING IN FUTURE
Every few years, we see a significant revolution in telecommunications. In the 1990s, it was all about the Internet. Nowadays, we are moving towards a 5G future, with immense implications for law enforcement. 5G is the next generation of mobile internet technology. Cellular telephone companies began deploying 5G broadband cellular networks worldwide in 2019, and it is the successor to 4G networks that give connectivity to most current cell phones. The first 5G networks were able to provide speeds up to 20 gigabits per second and will upwardly scale that number in the future. According to the GSM Association, 5G networks expect to have 1.7 billion subscribers by 2025. As with previous generations, 5G cellular networks divide their service areas into small geographical areas called cells. All 5G wireless devices in a given cell are connected to the Internet and telephone network via radio waves via a local antenna.
The new 5G networks have higher bandwidths, up to 10 gigabits per second, than current networks and can connect a more significant number of devices, improving the Internet service quality. As a result of its increased bandwidth, 5G allows improvement of Internet services in crowded areas. Due to the boosted bandwidth, the 5G networks will increasingly be used as general internet service providers (ISPs) for laptops and desktops, contending with existing ISPs such as cable internet. They will make feasible new applications in internet-of-things (IoT) and machine-to-machine areas. Cell Phones with 4G capability will not be able to use the new networks, which require 5G-enabled wireless devices.
5G can revolutionise policing because it has a plethora of uses. The new standard will help the police detect crime, but it will also give them an advantage like never before with increased data transfer rates. The first and foremost benefit of 5G is that it will provide bandwidth to the police force that they have never had before, which means they can scan more CCTV footage in real-time and use more cameras at once without being limited by how much information they can process at once which is just one use case of how 5G would make policing easier.
5G has already been tested in different areas. In contrast to 4G, which is suitable for data-intensive tasks such as videos and gaming, 5G will offer significantly higher data rates for video transmission and virtual reality services. With 5G’s speed capabilities, law enforcement can use it with many different applications, such as drones to transmit live video from ground-based officers’ patrol cars or augmented reality technology during investigations.
5G due to much faster speeds will help law enforcement in highly-congested areas. It can also help deter criminal activity if used proactively for intelligence gathering. 5G networks can help law enforcement by assisting them in combating crime by being able to transmit data at faster rates and with lower latency. The 5th generation wireless technology will ensure that every officer or agent on the ground has access to all the information they require at any given time.
In the future, several police gadgets such as the following will use 5G:-
- Smart body cameras – 5G will enhance video coverage , live video streaming, and better quality.
- IoT device management – when a 5G connection is unavailable, it will be possible to manage these devices through an IP or 4G network.
- Wearable tech – police officers using 5G will be able to connect and get accurate time updates on traffic conditions etc.
- Self-driving cars – police officers will be able to communicate with other vehicles on the road to avoid accidents or make driving smoother.
- Robots in the field- robots using 5G will be able to do factual crime scene investigations, collect evidence at a crime scene, and even conduct interviews with victims.
The next generation of mobile tech, 5G, will also revolutionise how law enforcement agencies operate. First, it will enable agencies to improve their response times substantially. That’s because it will allow them to transmit data over shorter distances and at higher speeds. That will allow police cars to receive collision alerts from other vehicles swiftly and will enable them to arrive early on the scene. It will also allow police officers to receive video feeds from body cameras and security cameras. Second, it will allow agencies to track crimes in progress more accurately. Third, it will allow agencies to share data more quickly and securely. And finally, it will allow law enforcement agencies to use drones more safely and effectively.
Law enforcement agencies can use this tech for many purposes, such as patrol cars, drones, virtual reality, augmented reality and face recognition technologies. And to identify, track and monitor individuals. The ACLU has released a new policy paper, “Protecting Privacy in the Age of Surveillance Technology,” that calls on governments and companies to take the lead in regulating surveillance technology. The paper argues that government agencies should establish privacy policies for their use of technology and implement surveillance protocols before allowing law enforcement advancements will improve their performance in terms of speed and usability and make policing much more effective than ever before.
With 5G technology, law enforcement agencies can expect to create a more efficient and less stressful environment for their officers and an improved level of transparency and accountability. 5G technology will enable faster, more reliable connectivity, no matter where the officers are, allowing them to access more data more quickly and more reliably. Consequently, enabling better communication between officers, including seeing each other’s locations. Besides, 5G will allow officers to access real-time data from surveillance cameras that will enable them to make better decisions while on the job. Additionally, 5G technology will enable officers to focus on more critical tasks, such as building relationships with the community they serve. 5G technology allows real-time video streaming between officers, which will help create a more positive relationship with the community they serve.
5G is a major technological trend for the coming decade, but it has its challenges. One of the biggest challenges that 5G has is integrating it into existing telecommunications networks. It will also depend on how many countries get on board with this new technology as it slowly rolls out within their borders and how many people get 5G-enabled devices. A significant benefit of 5G is that it will relieve some of the pressure on 4G networks; faster speeds mean less lag time and better access to data. The real-world impact is still unknown, but likely, 5G will positively impact many aspects of our lives. This new network will be fast, more reliable, and more secure while at the same time creating more work for network technicians.
Law enforcement agencies will use 5G to improve the efficiency of their crime-fighting efforts. As we have seen, the new wave of mobile technology that 5G brings will allow agencies to become more responsive to emergency calls, more accurate in identifying crime scenes and better able to track suspects. By using 5G, agencies would be able to save a significant amount of money. The cost for 5G services is still in its infancy, but it should be much less than the cost for 4G or even 3G networks. The prices for different service providers will vary. But, as the 5G networks expand, there’s no doubt that they will bring substantial savings. Additionally, 5G is much more secure than 4G or 3G, which means law enforcement agencies can count on it more. And with 5G, law enforcement agencies can further enhance their operations by leveraging its many functions. For example, it will enable officers to move around and interact with people in real-time and securely share sensitive data. It will also allow them to use remote sensors and robots and conduct more efficient and safer operations. In the future, the use of 5G will be widespread. And while it will take the police some time to fully implement it in their operations, it will be worth the wait.
Dr.K.Jayanth Murali is an IPS Officer belonging to 1991 batch. He is borne on Tamil Nadu cadre. He lives with his family in Chennai, India. He is currently serving the Government of Tamil Nadu as Director General of Police, Idol Wing CID.
