The coronavirus has already dented supply chains — notably those that serve retailers and auto manufacturers, among others. Digging a bit deeper and into the tech supply chains serving Apple, the headlines seem focused on consumer-facing firms, where end products such as cell phones may be slow to reach shelves if (well, of course, when) production gains traction again.
But the ripple effect goes right to the infrastructure that underpins future growth of technology, where data moves faster and the Internet of Things (IoT) gets ever closer to ushering in a hyper-connected world.
We’re referring to 5G, of course.
It is, of course, reasonable to expect that with any technology endeavor that is global in scope — especially the rollout of a new network protocol — will see twists and turns, bumps and turbulence.
It remains to be seen whether the fifth generation of mobile technology sees a hiccup from what is increasingly being labeled a pandemic, or something longer-lasting and possibly detrimental.
Last week, analysts at Omdia wrote, “With the epidemic arriving at dawn of 5G’s mainstream deployment phase, the coronavirus has the potential to disrupt the progress of the next-generation wireless standard, as the crisis slows or threatens to slow the production of key smartphone components, including displays and semiconductors,” as relayed by MarketWatch.
“We believe that China will take a significant position in the 5G era in both supply and dem
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