Faster internet speeds and more connected devices means more data usage, and data centers need to be able to handle the influx. Speed and storage capacity are key drivers, as well as the sheer size of the data centers, which cannot expand at the same rate as data usage. Future-forward, high-density data centers should be able to handle increased speed and data rates, which requires fine pitch, low-profile, ultra-micro connectors that can decrease system sizes. 

When it comes to cloud storage—an internet-based solution that reduces the need for data centers—security is key, and hardware can play a role in ensuring data is protected. Tamper-resistant and keyed connectors ensure that a cable can’t be switched or otherwise accessed by a bad actor.

While 5G is a wireless solution, it will require cutting-edge wired infrastructure to connect with mobile devices. Due to the increased bandwidth and wavelengths required to handle high-speed data transmission, the networks will rely on fiber optic cable solutions that can handle harsh physical conditions while ensuring high-speed data rates. Such powerful connectors will be used in cell towers, data centers and base stations to handle 5G transmissions.

The sheer number of cellular antennas will need to increase to handle the demands of 5G networks, which are more limited in range. One solution is the use of massive multiple-input multiple-output base stations, which can be outfitted with 100 antennas that connect to individual devices. In turn, energy grids will have to expand their capabilities to handle the huge power draw of these superstations. 

While 5G is a wireless solution, it will also enable wired connectivity at speeds never before seen. Service providers are already rolling out enterprise-level LAN and WAN networks powered with 5G speed. Fiber optic cables will power these hardwired connectivity solutions, and manufacturers are working to reduce the size of bundles to fit them into smaller areas. The use of high-speed fiber also helps future-proof products as higher and higher network and data speeds are adopted.  

Antennas, data centers, and other network infrastructure aren’t the only components that require an upgrade to handle 5G networks. Mobile device manufacturers have begun equipping phones and other devices with components that can handle 5G speeds, while also remaining backwards compatible—an approach that is especially important in the early days of the 5G rollout where the new network won’t be available everywhere. Mobile devices will require sturdy yet lightweight connectors, as well as sensitive antennas that can pick up signals and take full advantage of 5G speeds. 

Additionally, a new USB specification was announced in Spring 2019 and will be slowly rolled out over the next year or so. The connector will be paired with a higher-speed cable, allowing it to operate on increased bandwidth if possible but remain backward compatible with older USB iterations. 

Radio infrastructure is critical for wireless functionality, and a nationwide rollout of 5G will not be fully successful until more state-of-the-art radio units are deployed. Radio base stations, which are mounted on buildings or towers, facilitate mobile device data and voice communication capabilities via radio, and then transmit the device’s signal to a core network. 

Base stations require two functions: baseband or digital units, and remote radio units. These units will have to be updated and expanded to handle the increase in data volume and speed through the implementation of Fiber to the Antenna architecture, which enables lower power requirements, smaller base stations, and distributed antenna sites. And since many antennas are situated at the top of high towers or buildings, they must be engineered to withstand lightning strikes.