The evolution from 2G to 5G transformed mobile communication and enabled advanced internet of things (IoT) applications. While 3G and 4G provided the foundation for mobile connectivity, they lacked the speed, scale, and low latency required for complex IoT ecosystems in healthcare, smart cities, and autonomous systems. 5G overcomes these limitations by offering enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine-type communication (mMTC). These features support real-time, high-performance applications. In the future, 6G brings innovations such as terahertz communication, AI-driven networks, and an expansion of global connectivity. Nokia's 'network-as-code' concept exemplifies this shift, treating network functions as programmable software to enable intelligent, self-optimising, real-time systems. This fosters ultra-fast, low-latency, adaptive connectivity for next-generation applications. This study explores technological advancements, infrastructure requirements, and security challenges across generations, highlighting how each advancement enhances connectivity, drives innovation, new business models, and builds smarter and responsive digital ecosystems for the future.
Tuunainen et al. (Wed,) studied this question.