SGS, the global leader in testing and
certification services, looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the use of wireless
technologies to help manufacturers capitalize on the growth being predicted in
this sector.
Lockdowns caused by COVID-19 have caused work,
education, communication, and entertainment to all become online pursuits. The
US trade association for the wireless communications industry, CTIA, reports
that since the start of lockdown, voice usage has increased by 12.2% and data
usage by 28.4%. Similar increases in the use of wireless technologies are being
reported all over the world.
In response to the
increased demand for wireless services, the industry has deployed Wi-Fi hotspots, services in new spectrums, and continued the rolling out
of 5G. This has created the capacity necessary to cover the increased demand
for voice and data services, alongside the adoption of other mission critical
applications and connected & automated vehicles (CAV).
Wireless technologies have also been
used to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Internet of Things (IoT) solutions
are being used for contact tracing applications and a variety of technologies,
including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi and Sigfox, have been incorporated
into bands and bracelets to help organizations return to some semblance of
normality.
Smart technologies were already
becoming a common part of the family home even before the pandemic and, with
lockdowns, these labor-saving devices are helping to mitigate the stresses
caused by being stuck at home. In what was already a robust market, a September
2019 report has estimated a compound annual growth rate of 14.4% for the next
five years and it seems that COVID-19 has done nothing to curtail this growth.
In fact the opposite may be true – it is predicted global shipments of smart
home voice-control devices will rise by 30% in 2020.
Manufacturers seeking to capitalize on
this sector growth need to be aware that consumers now demand more than mere regulatorily
compliance from their products. They expect good battery performance, security,
and easy connections to existing technologies. In addition, they are demanding
products that support more frequencies to allow better capacity and
coverage.
When developing new products, these
considerations should be incorporated from the earliest design phases.
Manufacturers must also include them into any comprehensive testing strategy
that goes beyond regulatory compliance and covers advanced performance. Approaching
product development in this way, allows manufacturers and suppliers to ensure
their products will meet consumer expectations while expediating
time-to-market.
COVID-19 has shown many consumers the
advantages of wireless technology. The quick responses taken by the industry to
ensure capacity meets demand, has allowed this sector to blossom, creating
opportunities that manufacturers and suppliers will only be able to capitalize on
if they adopt the correct approach to product development.
SGS IT and
Communication Technology Services
SGS offers a comprehensive range of
services to help electrical and electronic (E&E) manufacturers successfully
bring their products to the marketplace. Utilizing its global network of
high-tech laboratories, their experts can perform EMC and radio frequency (RF)
testing, alongside comprehensive quality, safety and performance testing
solutions for E&E and other consumer products. They can also ensure
products comply with the latest specifications for IoT and 5G services,
including RF and protocol test requirements in both sub-6GHz (FR1) and mmWave
(FR2) frequencies. Learn more about SGS IT and
Communication Technology Services.
SGS
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industry. Read the original article, Wireless Technology and The Impact of Covid-19.
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For more information, please
contact:
Parthiv Parikh
Global Business Development Manager
SGS Consumer and Retail Services
Tel: +1 858 304 9154
Amy O’Regan
Key Account Manager
SGS Consumer and Retail Services
Tel: +1 858 592 7100
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/ee
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection,
verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the
global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees,
SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.