2023 / McCANN ENTERPRISE / VERIZON / LINKEDIN BLOG

Why 5G can be the real power behind a digital twin

Digital twins have become a powerful tool for simulating and optimising real-world systems, reducing costs, and helping businesses make better-informed decisions. But twins that depend on large volumes of near-real-time data also depend on the network carrying it. For demanding digital-twin applications, this is where 5G can make a real difference. Here are some of the reasons why.

For a connected, near-real-time digital twin, it’s best not to think of the network as merely an enabler. It can be so integral to how the twin performs that it makes sense to treat connectivity as part of the overall system. Any sound implementation strategy should therefore prioritise a network capable of handling the twin’s demands. Network providers like Verizon have an important role to play here, with 5G and edge infrastructure designed to support these demanding applications.

Creating the twin is one thing. Keeping it useful is another. Central to this is what to do with all the data generated by the physical systems feeding it. For instance, to minimise ongoing cloud costs, it may make sense to send only the most relevant data to the cloud. Sensitive data can also be processed closer to where it is generated, reducing the need to send everything to a distant cloud — something mobile edge computing can help achieve.

In fact, edge really does give your twin the edge by improving the speed and responsiveness of data processing. Relying on distant cloud infrastructure can introduce latency that hinders a twin’s ability to reflect fast-changing conditions. 5G-powered mobile edge computing can reduce this by placing compute resources closer to devices and endpoints, cutting response times and enabling data to be processed faster.

5G can also work alongside existing connectivity technologies such as Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Rather than replacing them, it can complement them where mobility, coverage or device density makes wired or Wi-Fi connectivity less practical. This can make 5G particularly useful in outdoor, industrial or hard-to-reach environments. 5G also incorporates encryption, authentication and other security capabilities at the network level, helping organisations protect sensitive data as part of a wider security strategy.

For twins that need to track fast-changing physical conditions, low latency becomes critical. Too much delay in transferring and processing data can leave the digital representation lagging behind physical reality. 5G's ultra-reliable low-latency communications capabilities are designed to support millisecond-level latency, helping keep the digital representation closely synchronised with its physical counterpart. This can be particularly important in environments where conditions such as temperature, movement and pressure change rapidly.

Latency isn't the only advantage. 5G is also designed to support very large numbers of connected devices — up to one million devices per square kilometre under defined 5G requirements. That matters when a digital twin draws information from large numbers of sensors and connected devices. Combined with 5G's high bandwidth and capacity, this gives organisations an infrastructure capable of supporting data-intensive digital-twin applications.

A digital twin can only be as responsive as the infrastructure connecting it to the physical world. For applications that demand high bandwidth, low latency, large numbers of connected devices and near-real-time processing, 5G and mobile edge computing can provide the connectivity and computing capabilities needed to keep the physical and digital worlds closely aligned.

This article is based on insights from Verizon's white paper, 5G/MEC & Digital Twins: A huge opportunity for Global System Integrators (GSIs). To explore how 5G and mobile edge computing can support demanding digital-twin applications, read the full paper here.