5G in universities:
Enabling near
limitless learning

Today's classroom is a case study on the transformative power of technology. From the calculator to video conferencing, advances in technology continually reshape the educational experience. Some educational technology tools, such as the whiteboard or overhead projector, have greatly enhanced classroom tasks when introduced. Others have truly redefined education—such as the personal computer and the internet, which opened new worlds for students.

Today, 5G offers the prospect of allowing universities to provide learning experiences previously inconceivable. From immersive virtual learning environments and enhanced collaboration to more equitable and safer campuses, deploying 5G in universities could empower educational institutions with the improved connectivity needed to support better learning.

Deploying 5G on campuses could enable educational institutions to help educators revolutionize learning experiences. Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) in education are expected to grow to $32.94B by 2026 (up from $6.37 billion in 2021), according to Research and Markets. Increasing penetration of 5G technology could help accelerate adoption.

Virtual reality can immerse students in multisensory experiences, shifting classrooms from a knowledge transfer model to a rich, experiential learning environment.

The SAMR model outlines four ways technology enhances or transforms learning: substitution, augmentation, modification and redefinition.

• Substitution: Technology replaces an analog task (i.e., a digital worksheet)
• Augmentation: A tool substitutes but improves functionality (i.e., the overhead projector)
• Modification: Technology transforms a traditional classroom task (i.e., collaborating on a shared document)
• Redefinition: Technology allows for new tasks never thought possible (e.g., immersive technologies such as AR and VR)

In the virtual world, learning is no longer limited by the four walls of a classroom. With 5G-fueled virtual field trips, students could walk on the ocean floor, float in space or go back in history. In a simulated operating room, medical students could practice open heart surgery or control a robot to treat a patient remotely.

Immersive multisensory learning promises more engagement than traditional lectures. But these experiences could become a reality using 5G in universities. To transport a student to an archeological dig in Africa requires massive amounts of streaming data. Significant buffering can pose issues when students are immersed in virtual military training or exploring a nuclear power plant. 5G's ability to support increased data volumes with low lag (latency) is critical for supporting improved VR and AR experiences.

High-bandwidth 5G can extend the learning experience to anywhere students and professors have access to it—the boundaries by using 5G on campus become, in effect, the world.

One of the promises of next-generation networks is to make the internet more widely accessible. Access to higher-speed internet can mean improved access to telehealth and jobs. Using 5G in universities could potentially extend its network to students beyond the campus border, helping to close the digital divide. In the most rural parts of the U.S., less than 70% of households have access to high-speed internet. The lack of digital equity in education affects nearly one-third of public school students in the U.S. Without the need of laying fiber or cables for last-mile connectivity, 5G could be a cost-effective solution for expanding internet access in rural areas. In addition to expanding connectivity beyond the campus, 5G, where deployed, could provide the bandwidth to boost equity inside the classroom.

By using 5G on campus, Arizona State University's students recently pitched ideas at a Digital Equity Jam where they were challenged to think up ways to make learning more equitable with 5G and mobile edge computing (MEC). One of the winning ideas generated braille transcriptions of writing on whiteboards in near real-time to help students who are blind or partially sighted have the same experience as their classmates.

5G in universities could help improve the learning experience for students with disabilities with the speeds needed to keep up and power assistive technologies.

Using extended reality (XR) applications, students can practice real-world skills—such as crossing a street, shopping or social interaction—in a safe, virtual environment. Students needing extra help will benefit from 5G-enabled robots and learning assistants. Using 5G speed, pricey learning experiences such as far-flung field trips and complex science experiments are accessible to many more students in a virtual world.

Collaboration is at the heart of work. Learning should be, too. There is no collaboration without connection, and 5G can offer connections on par or faster than 4G. Deploying 5G on campus could help provide the bandwidth to connect multiple classroom devices (i.e., 3D printers, smart boards, VR headsets, etc.) all at once with low lag—simultaneously connecting with on-campus students (who average having two devices) and remote learners needing a reliable stream from afar.

The immersive learning possible with 5G means students might be able to actively participate in the learning form best for them. Whether a student is on or off campus, 5G could help ensure that their ability to collaborate with peers isn't hindered by a slow connection.