The 5 G’s of Connectivity

Every day new technology is being introduced. It is always evolving and opening new doors of opportunity for the people behind the technological innovations. Stop for one moment and think where technology would be if those people were unable to communicate effectively in-office, to their customer base, or to their network that may exist globally that is motivating the new concept. What if the product was produced but there was no form of communication to handle the logistics of getting it from the factory to us, the customers? Without communication, technology development would be inhibited.

Just as technology is growing and impacting the world as we know it, the internet is growing along with it: some technology directly affects the internet and its contribution to communication. Effective internet is changing the speed, style, and overall quality of interpersonal communications and relationships. The internet makes telecommunication a daily possibility. Our lives would be empty if there was no signal… The fifth-generation technology standard for cellular communication has been introduced (5G) and it is about to take connectivity to the next level!

Why is being connected so important?

Covid19 came in unexpectedly and the virus swept the world off its feet. Lockdown introduced a new way of working virtually for most companies. Employees were working from home, gathering, and sharing information and ideas in virtual meeting rooms, and calls and emails continued to reach customers. If effective telecommunication and the internet were not readily available, the virtual means of continuing a business would not be possible, and the economy would shut down. Businesses would close their doors, customers would be lost, all work would stop, and the economy would be impacted without product or service delivery. We all understand the impact of rolling blackouts on business, now imagine that on a much larger scale.

Telecommunication is the lifeline of an organization and the core foundation of its success. It plays an increasingly vital role in every single aspect of a business. Effective communication encourages production and facilitates innovation. It promotes widespread information being gathered from various parties involved in a business and initiates and helps with the execution of plans. The next best innovation would not be produced if the internet and telecommunications were not available, especially when reaching out to resources around the country, or the world. Would life-changing medical inventions and technology be possible without efficient communication? Maybe, but it would take a lot longer to produce and may be limited in capability.

Thinking outside of business needs, we use telecommunications to reach out to friends and family, to maintain and build relationships, and as a platform for safety and awareness in our community and country. We connect to social media networks on our cell phones and computers to share helpful information, recipes, various forecasts, and even warn each other about the news and happenings around us. Someone right now is being introduced to their “soulmate” on a dating application because finding love these days is telecommunication based too.

The Industry Behind the Connection:

We pick up our cell phones, type in a number, and we make a call to colleagues or family. We click on a search engine and look up the next dinner recipe. It is fast, and just a few clicks away, but have you ever thought about the industries behind the few clicks that are making communication and connection possible?

When GSM networks first arrived in South Africa in 1994, a cellular infrastructure needed to be developed to handle the new avenue of communication. Whilst most were excited for the new generation of communication, concerns were raised about the visual impact the new infrastructure would have in public spaces.

The visual impact of these “Towers” was addressed by developing camouflage tree masts that in most cases have been done so effectively that they blend into the urban landscape. Research found that a large number of people certain Suburbs didn’t know that they have Cell Tower Masts in the neighborhood and the property sector has also attributed these Camouflage Tree Masts as a necessary Initiative to assure property maintains its value.

These aesthetically pleasing tree mast antennas are the signal towers that offer effective communication, telecoms, and the internet. It may seem like a simple product, but without these antennas, the signal would not exist or would be continually disrupted.

The production and development of the cellular infrastructure also opened the doorway for empowering females in what may be considered a male-dominated industry. Ladies shared their knowledge and their skills and stepped up to the plate to use projects that were influenced by the tree mast development to help employ and develop less fortunate communities. What does this mean for you, sitting behind a laptop or mobile device reading this? This means that when you share this article via Social Media Platforms you are in essence part of a connectivity cycle that starts with underprivileged communities being empowered to manufacture Camouflage Tree Masts. Job productivity is boosted, and more people are offered the opportunity to work, to make money, and to put food on the table for their families.

Essentially, Cellphone Service Providers in South Africa aesthetically enhance neighborhoods and suburbs while initiating job creation & community empowerment, all in the name of connectivity. Perhaps whilst more women are offered the opportunity to join a developing workforce, together with employing disadvantaged communities, it may the root to help eliminate crime. More people will have their essentials and will not need to turn to other means.

Taking two steps back from the aesthetics, women empowerment, job creation, and the possibility of crime reduction that these tree masts are making possible and think about the education and medical industry. The tree masts are the foundation of connectivity for cellular service providers and without them, connectivity would seize to exist, or at least be minimized. Wireless networks impact and improve education and health by keeping schools, and learning institutions connected. Where would education be if we could not connect online in the safety of our homes to obtain resources, research, and reach online schooling during the pandemic? Connectivity meant that education continued, and the youth did not lose their own empowerment! Connectivity also meant that the health sectors could continue and that less lives would be lost as some doctors even consulted online. The concern for everyone through the COVID-19 pandemic is the reality of a vaccine being created. If doctors, scientists, and researchers throughout the world cannot connect, how would information be exchanged? Becomes more real when you realize how much a simple tree mast antenna can impact the entire world.

How Does the Telecommunication Industry Operate:

The industries behind telecommunication development, infrastructure, and services are made up of key role players and employees that share their skills and knowledge to create and install the technology we need. That takes a team on its own to continually check all technology and new developments against the specifications. Coverage must be carefully investigated, overlaps between radiating elements, and overlaps between indoor and outdoor need to be explored. Everything from overloads and intermodulation needs to be considered. Standards for health and safety need to be met, and skilled members are testing radiating power and public RF exposures. Once all the necessary research is in place, specifications are complied with, standards are in order, and all measurements for connections, exposure, etc. have been completed then site inspections can start and the actual production of the signal towers can start. The Antenna Tree Masts are carefully placed in designated areas to ensure that connectivity is balanced and reached by all areas, and of course, the aesthetics of the masts are considered too.

Some companies have gone so far as to create a portfolio of various trees so that they are well-camouflaged and suit the environment as naturally as possible. Once antennas are in place then telecoms solutions need to be available to host a variety of services for the telecommunication needs of the country and its users. 

We as the User:

It’s important to note that as the consumer we also have a role to play in this industry. We must realize that even though we often forget about the massive amount of work that goes into being connected, we can insist on it being done in a Socially Responsible way that empowers not only us but a large group of people.

Camouflage Tree Masts do much more than just keep us connected:

• It allows us to look past Steel Towers and to see the beautiful nature our suburbs have to offer.
• It allows us to provide a natural environment for our families, regardless of where they live.
• It allows us to empower an entire industry that strives to Integrate Technology with everyday life.
• It allows Service Providers to create jobs while providing a product that enhances the value of locations it is being installed in.

? It serves as a reminder that while we might not realize it’s there, by insisting on it, it has empowered communities and it drives the social-economic responsibility of service providers.

As consumers, we have an Active Role to remind Politicians & those in power in our neighborhoods that we appreciate the 5 G’s of connectivity and we insist on it being done in a way that improves not only our lives but those around us. 

The bottom Line:

A lot of skillful and dedicated people are working around the clock to achieve efficient telecommunication services to ensure that we are always connected, always working, and always nurturing and building valuable relationships. The next time you hear about 5G, think about the great benefits it is about to offer. The next time you drive by an Antenna Tree Mast (if you can notice it), take a moment to think about the endless hours, research, development, and valuable time that has placed that tree of connectivity in place, and the inspiration to camouflage it and make it apart of the environment. It is one thing to create technology that works, it is another to make it aesthetically pleasing!