RFS 2024 Trends – Part Two

Solving Vertical Challenges

In 2024, industries looking to embrace connectivity to power next-generation technologies, AI, robotics, machine learning, etc., will have to tackle the issue of delivering full site coverage. As they invest in deploying private networks, they must find ways to deliver coverage in hard-to-reach areas. 

While some are looking at small cells to plug the gap, there is a much more compelling argument to use radiating cable. It combines more precise coverage contouring for full-site coverage with lower cost and lower energy consumption to meet the requirements of businesses rolling out private networks.

Particularly in environments like warehouses, data centers, and mines, it solves the challenge of signal propagation across a crowded site. For applications like wind turbines and smart roads, radiating cable offers an elegant solution to deliver coverage over large distances. 

Gurgen Harutyunyan, Director Sales EMEA, Managing Director at RFS

Connectivity for AI Applications 

One of the big technologies we expect to see a variety of industries focus on in 2024 is using AI/ML for predictive maintenance. Equipment downtime has a huge impact on profitability, and with new technologies offering a way to eliminate unexpected outages, businesses will look to take advantage. For AI models for predictive maintenance to function, they depend on being able to collect data from hundreds or thousands of sensors, which means reliable connectivity is essential. Particularly when we look at off-shore environments like wind farms where remote monitoring plays a key role, complete, reliable coverage is needed. At RFS, we have decades of experience delivering site-wide coverage on- and off-shore with the reliability needed to fuel new use cases. We look forward to continuing to deliver this for customers into 2024. 

Axel Schroeder, Head of Global Vertical Markets at RFS

A Long-Term Approach to Smart Cities

My colleagues have touched on the need for sustainability, and in 2024, we are already starting to see a huge number of potential applications designed to help support municipalities' environmental ambitions. However, it is essential that cities invest not only in the applications but the communications infrastructure needed to underpin this. There needs to be an emphasis on deploying long-life solutions that ensure the smart city use cases that are deployed today continue to add value for decades to come. 

Dietmar Brunsch, Innovations Manager at RFS

If you missed part one of RFS's 2024 trends, you can read it here.