5G is on everyone's lips. This new mobile technology will increase connection speeds, reduce latency (web response time) to a minimum and exponentially multiply the number of connected devices. Its advantages will allow the emergence of new exportable services and the creation of jobs, providing opportunities for women and gender equality in the digital age.
It will be advantageous to promote its adoption in the short term. To spread this opportunity in Latin America, the Inter-American Development Bank launched the publication “New exportable services from the 5G network: how can we use them to reduce the gender gap?”
Through five chapters, the specialists show and analyze the challenges in this field that may arise for Argentina, Brazil and Mexico (three countries chosen for their greater representativeness in the region) with respect to this technology.
But what exactly is 5G?
The term 5G refers to the fifth generation of mobile networks that we know of. The old 1G network, that of those first mobile phones that only allowed us to talk, is a thing of the past. 2G technology introduced SMS, and little by little our “Smartphone” became an increasingly broad communication tool. First, the Internet connection (3G) was incorporated, and then came broadband (4G), which brought with it the reproduction of real-time videos (streaming) or augmented reality.
The most significant advance will come from speed5G will allow browsing at up to 10 GBps (gigabytes per second), 10 times faster than the main fiber optic offerings on the market.
In addition, latency (the time it takes to transmit a data packet) will also experience a significant advance. According to operators, this could be reduced to 5 milliseconds, a period almost imperceptible to humans, which It will allow us to connect practically in real time, optimizing production processes through more and better information.
Thanks to this new technology it will be possible exponentially increase the number of connected devices. Sensors will improve vehicle traffic, urban space management, energy generation and administration. They will also improve medicine, with remote surgery; or entertainment through extended reality (augmented and virtual). The result will be the generation of new and better services, which will lead to an extension of the value chains of certain industries.
In this sense, the authors argue that governments should promote the deployment of the potential that 5G offers because would reduce productivity gaps in various industries. At the same time, its development would increase public and private work and the opportunity to incorporate solutions developed in the region.
How is 5G adoption progressing in the region?
In the publication, the specialists analyze the infrastructure that the selected countries have, as well as the plans around the adoption of the 5G network in the short term. They found that the countries have advantages and difficulties. Brazil and Mexico They will soon tender the spectrum to install the network and have pilot experiences, while in Argentina its installation is not yet in sight.
On the other hand, the analysis details the Changes in the Software and IT Services sectors (SSI), Entertainment and HealthAlong these lines, the study finds growth opportunities for the selected countries due to the current export insertion of their services.
For example, for the sSSI Sector, Argentina and Brazil have significant growth in ICT exports, in the case of software (computing services) they present an accumulated annual growth rate between 2015 and 2019 of 7,7% and 16% respectively. In the case of Argentina, these exports have a significant share in the total of exported services, reaching 12,6% in 2019; this value is almost 6% in the case of Brazil. The data, among others presented in the study, suggests that Argentina could benefit from the expansion of services associated with 5G with a greater external demand for software development. Meanwhile, Brazil could have a presence in data processing services and application and program design and development services. Likewise, Argentina has the new regime for promoting the knowledge economy, which encompasses many areas where the impact of 5G will be noticeable. What is also interesting is that it promotes additional benefits in employer contributions if women are hired.
With regards to health sectorAlthough exports are very difficult to measure, the authors record high values in Mexico and Brazil of “medical tourism”, with the caveat of overcoming cultural and regulatory challenges.
As to entertainment sector, the publication says that critical capabilities in the creative and cultural industries are a necessary condition to promote a wave of innovation in the sector. And 5G presents vast possibilities to boost revenues and encourage exports in the football, entertainment, broadcasting and gaming industries.
How can 5G support gender equality?
The advantages of 5G are an opportunity to contribute to an increase in the positive results of gender policies and practices in the labour market. In particular, the report highlights the multiple barriers to the insertion and participation of women in the Health, Entertainment and SSI sectors, among which the role of motherhood, self-demand, stereotypes and the unequal distribution of household tasks can be pointed out.
The report recommends promoting positive gender policies and practices by encouraging programs that include more women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers, with strategies that help not only increase the number of women in these new jobs that would be created with 5G networks, but also by promoting labor mobility.
In short, Latin America is facing a new opportunity, as highlighted by the IDB publication. Policymakers cannot remain on the sidelines of this new challenge to increase services and female participation in trade with countries in the region and the rest of the world.Publication New exportable services from the 5G network: how can they be leveraged to reduce the gender gap?)
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