Aftermarket professionals get tech primer, career advice

Well-known technology commentator Michael Hainsworth offered his taken on the advent of 5G networks in North America.

Speaking at a Young Professionals in the Aftermarket (YPA) event at the Royal Woodbine Golf Club last week, Hainsworth offered a primer on 5G, as it is being rolled out this year by major telecom and wireless companies.

Expected to bring rapid advancements to the mobile internet, he said 5G brings three new aspects to the table: greater speed (allowing it to move more data), lower latency (so it will be more responsive), and the ability to connect a lot more devices at once.

The last point, he said, is particularly relevant for the automotive market, where sensors and smart devices play a significant role.

LTE is currently the fastest mobile technology available, supporting peak data rates of up to 300 megabits per second (Mbit/s). 5G tops out at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps).

Hainsworth pointed out what all this might means for Level-5 autonomous vehicles and how the human component will be taken out of driving.

“Cars will be fully computers on wheels and will be able to communicate to other cars on the road,” he said.

Using 5G, vehicles are expected to be capable of self-diagnose and will be able to order their own replacement parts, book their own service appointments, and even deliver themselves to service shops.

As the industry mentor speaker at the event, Shannon Spano, vice president of consumer sales at Wakefield Canada, offered advice on tackling new challenges and preparing for career growth.

Following the speakers, the young professionals hit the links for a golf tournament.