According to a report from 451 Research titled, "Telco Study on 5G Reveals Industry Hopes and Fears: From Energy Costs to Edge Computing Transformation", 5G will be "the most impactful and difficult network upgrade ever faced by the telecom industry."

The report, sponsored by Vertiv, is based on an in-depth survey of more than 100 global telecom decision makers with visibility into 5G deployment plans. It not only outlines the "hopes and fears" of telecom operators on the cusp of a

451 Research called 5G "the most impactful and difficult network upgrade ever faced by the telecom industry", and with good reason. While the move from 3G to 4G was essentially linear, 5G is more of a reimagining of the cellular network. The changes are massive, but pale in comparison to the potential impact of fully realized 5G networks. According to IHS Markit, 5G is expected to generate some $12.3 trillion in annual revenue by 2035.

That 451 Research study, commissioned by

It was established more than a century and a half ago that energy efficiency, while very important, doesn't tell the whole story when it comes to sustainability. That holds true for today's 5G networks where, as new research shows, true sustainability will require a more holistic approach.