Interest in 5G is growing due to three key advantages of the new standard over its predecessor: its ability to deliver significantly higher bandwidth to mobile devices, reduced data latency, and support for many more devices per unit area.
Each of these features expands the applicability of 5G and opens up new market opportunities for manufacturers. For example, automakers anticipate that 5G could enable vehicle-to-vehicle communications with latency low enough to allow autonomous vehicles to manage traffic collaboratively.
In the short term, phone and base station manufacturers are focusing on producing the equipment needed for the deployment of commercial 5G networks. Market analysts Gartner say, “5G networks are moving from testing to commercial deployments; operational networks are now available in the US and South Korea, providing greater visibility into how carriers will build and bill for 5G services.”.
For mobile network operators investing in 5G, quality of service and quality of experience are paramount. Effective testing is essential to optimize signal quality, network performance, and capacity to grow their customer base and achieve a return on investment. Testing is also important to ensure interoperability between user equipment and network infrastructure. To keep pace with evolving technology and standards, network operators and equipment manufacturers need fast and flexible access to the latest test and measurement equipment.
Microlease stocks equipment to address these challenges. This includes the Keysight Technologies UXA N9040B signal analyzer, with a frequency range of 2Hz to 50GHz, which is available in various configurations to suit different aspects of 5G validation work. The company is also stocking the R&S FSW signal and spectrum analyzer for characterizing broadband components and communications systems.
The opportunities that 5G brings come with the risks associated with fierce market competition, an evolving standard, and technical complexity. Microlease can help test equipment users mitigate these risks by ensuring they have flexible access to the test equipment they need to validate their designs now and make decisions about what type of equipment they will need in the long term.
Microlease has highly trained experts who can help customers access the equipment that meets their precise needs and advise them on whether to rent, lease, or buy. Customers who choose to rent have fast and flexible access to the latest testing technology and benefit from ongoing technical support, with free service and calibration. Customers who choose to buy can leverage Microlease's expertise in acquiring new or certified pre-owned equipment, as well as a range of financing options.
