Jazz plans to expand its 5G network to 2,500 sites by the end of this year, the company’s GSM President Kazim Mujtaba said on Thursday.
Briefing the media, Mr Mujtaba said the immediate benefits of 5G for individual consumers remained limited, while the technology was expected to have greater applications in industrial, corporate and government sectors.
He said 5G-enabled sensor networks could be deployed in buildings to detect abnormalities, including overheating and excessive power consumption, and issue early warnings to relevant authorities.
Referring to the recent fire at Pims Hospital in Islamabad, Mr Mujtaba said sensors installed in equipment such as air-conditioning systems could potentially detect unusual heat levels or abnormal electricity consumption before a major incident occurred.
He said 5G networks consumed nearly twice as much electricity as 4G networks, increasing power requirements at cellular sites.
“As a result, we have requested upgrading of grid stations as 5G cell sites need more power. Similarly, battery backup has also been upgraded at these sites,” he said.
