It’s on the tip of everyone’s tongue at the moment, you can almost sense it in the air, something’s coming. Here we are, eagerly awaiting the arrival of 5G. Bringing with it a new era of speed. The general feel about this new technology seems to be slight apprehension, much like when the year 2000 came. But what is there to fear? We’ve been through the other ‘G’s so what’s different about this one?
THE 5G EFFECT
There seems to be confusion stemming from people thinking that 4G to 5G is like 3G to 4G, which it isn’t. 5G is a constantly developing “network of networks” which will span far further than mobile devices. It’s the first step to being able to have “smart” everything – from fridges, to hotels to healthcare. On top of that, self-driving cars are on the map with 5G as it will allow real-time interactions between vehicles.
The issues that are being raised seem to centre around the fact that 5G has a shorter wave but higher frequency to 4G, known as the mmWave (millimetre wave), the furthest it can travel is around 300-500 metres, so more base stations will be needed for 5G to work. Due to the waves being much smaller, from 5mm to 1cm, they can also be affected by atmospheric and environmental interference. Finally, there’s a few security worries, the worry that 5G will be used as a spy device has been raised numerous times.
Throughout 2019/20 5G’s going to begin to make a few appearances, starting out in big cities and then making its way to more rural areas. More questions will no-doubt be brought up as this technology evolves and more capabilities are released and turned into a reality.
MAPPING THE COMMUNITY
For this Top 100 we’ve concentrated on influencers within an extremely current topic: 5G. Using a comprehensive Boolean search query, we analysed over 9 million posts mentioning all the keywords we identified, from 1st May 2018 to 30th April 2019. We then identified the top 100 most influential individuals leading the discussion on social media. Below you can see a network map of the online conversation around 5G. The top influencer John Legere is at the centre. This map was created using the Onalytica platform. The ranking analyses a variety of personas from industry experts, to social amplifiers and content creators as well as journalists and politicians so there’s quite a mix of influencers that have been identified.
WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING?
We reached out to some of the top influencers to ask them for their views on 5G. We spoke to Evan Kirstel, Ronald van Loon, Michael Fisher, Alvin Foo, Dez Blanchfield, Jean Baptiste Lefevre, Harold Sinnott, Mike Quindazzi, Antonio Grasso, Kevin L. Jackson, Daniel Newman, Dr Sarah-Jayne Gratton, Hans Vestberg, and Sally Eaves. Be sure to follow them to stay up to date on the best content and resources on 5G!
Evan Kirstel – Social Media Business Strategist (Advisor) at NameUCStrategies.com
“5G networks will be vital for supporting the growing demand for mobile, But 5G’s unparalleled data capacity, speed and low latency will also help to enable a new breed of smart cities applications. The smart cities of the future will enable new modes of public transportation such as autonomous smart buses and flying drone taxis. Smart buildings will work more efficiently by regulating power consumption, while devices such as smart billboards will enable companies to target traffic congestion and flow. Smart city data will help authorities and planners understand how resources such as electric vehicles are used in cities as well as how traffic and commuters move around the area. The 5G-based infrastructure is set to offer a wide range of opportunities from public safety to first responder use cases.”
Ronald van Loon – Director at Adversitement
“5G is a crucial element of the global trade economy, and the foundation for all digital businesses moving into the future. Its potential for intuitive disruption will lead to new capabilities that few other modern technologies can rival, as well as bigger, better innovations. Lower latency, higher bandwidth, robust security, and network slicing position 5G at the forefront of the technological revolution. In Telecom, 5G disruption is going to create experiences similar to the App Store, enabling external parties to program applications using the connectivity and edge of the mobile network. For Manufacturing 4.0, 5G will impact AI, VR, Augmented Reality, and real time data and analytics systems that require sending large volumes of information.”
Michael Fisher – Systems Analyst at Whitcraft Group
“With the emerging technologies just around the corner, every day we demand more and more data to be delivered faster. 5G will be able to effectively scale on-demand, providing the bandwidth we need for Smart Cities, Autonomous Vehicles and the scaling up of IoT devices around the world. This “mesh” type of network will deliver low latency, high throughput and high availability to the services we rely on now and those to come in the future.”
Alvin Foo – Managing Director at Reprise Digital
“5G will lead to the creation of 3 million new jobs with $275 billion in direct investment and $550 billion in economic growth in the US alone (CTIA). It’s expected to go mainstream in China in 5 years transforming the internet landscape creating new digital services and startup unicorns. If data is the new oil, 5G is the backbone infrastructure transporting the new oil for the future economy.”
Dez Blanchfield – Chief Data Scientist at Gara Guru
“5G isn’t just another G, it’s an entirely new approach to the paradigm of how mobile and mobility are being implemented. Instead of retroactively connecting (shoe-horning) the Internet of Things to the internet, it’s a network designed from the ground up, for IoT. 5G is about building a capability that is so extremely dynamic and broad that it enables All Kinds of Growth. The manufacturing sector have been a great adopter of IoT enabled smart devices, utilising cloud and 4G. The data they are collecting and starting to analyse is going to take all kinds of waste out of their processes. But they’ll be the first ones to tell you – if not for commercial grade tech advances, they could never be doing what they are. 5G is going to blow their doors open, driving a whole ‘nother cycle of innovation.”
Jean Baptiste Lefevre – Chef de Projet Digital/PO/ Open Innovation DX Lab at BNP Paribas
“With 5G, access to data stored in the cloud will become particularly fluid. We can instantly process data from connected objects. There will be many advances such as the development of surgical operations at distances of several thousand KM or the management of autonomous vehicle fleets to name just a few examples! The widespread use of this technology is highly anticipated and full of promise.”
Harold Sinnott – HR, Talent Development Director | Consultant | Social Media | Sustainability at Human Resources Consulting
“In the last few decades we were able to be part of an incremental digital evolution. Changes were significantly relevant and implementing new technologies affected every industry, as well as the way we communicate and live. Even though there are skills that never go out of style, technology skills became a basic requirement in all professions, articulating key filters as part of any recruitment activity. 5G is the next-generation communication network that will lead to an exponential innovation in all social areas, businesses, industries and will undoubtedly disrupt the way we live and work. There is a long road ahead, but the potential for disruption is enormous. 5G will affect our daily lives and can be directed to achieve a favorable social impact that prioritizes sustainability and the development of human potential.”
Mike Quindazzi – Managing Director at PwC
“5G will be 100 times faster, with 1,000 times more capacity over 4G, who’s not excited? In fact, 73% of respondents in the recent PwC Consumer Insights study said it’s highly appealing, with GenZ males being most enthusiastic at 84%. For leading enterprises, now is the time to ideate and prototype new business models unlocked by 5g capabilities. We’ve identified 3 ways to think about new experiences and applications enabled by 5G: 1) consumer and business broadband required for 4K, 8K video, AR/VR, gaming, 2) massive machine-type communication including smart grids and smart homes, and 3) mission-critical applications such as autonomous vehicles, robotics and other automatons. While still early-on, it important to get started now, to create your future competitive advantage.”
Antonio Grasso – Founder & CEO at Digital Business Innovation Srl
“With a new microservices-based core architecture and enhanced radio access network, 5G will be the backbone of our system level restructuring that we call Digital Transformation. Low latency, superb data rate and much dense connectivity will create a whole new paradigm in the way we interact with things and other people, driving global economic grow and fostering the internet of everythings.”
Kevin L. Jackson – CEO, Founder at GovCloud Network
“5G represents society’s entrance into an entirely new way of life. Industries will accelerate their journey to the digitalization of products and services. Our virtual identities will become primary as online communications and engagements increasingly drive our physical lives. Virtual and augmented reality will deliver experiences equivalent to real life experience and will also fuel very serious disagreements around concepts like ethics, truth and justice.”
Daniel Newman – Principal Analyst and Founding Partner at Futurum Research + Analysis
“5G will enable the next wave of Digital Transformation. From artificial intelligence to autonomous vehicles and smart cities to significant improvements in our connection speeds, the 5th generation of wireless connectivity is not only one of the hottest trends in technology, but an enabler of great change. Over the next 1-2 years, this technology will go from concept to deployment in major markets around the world. I’m excited to track 5G’s continued impact on technology and society over the next few years.”
Glen Gilmore – Principal at Gilmore Business Network
“5G will bring us the “Matrix” – immersive technologies that will blur the virtual and real worlds. 5G is the technological spark we need to bring to life many transformative technologies, from driverless cars, streaming VR, robotic surgery, and much more, where the instantaneous and reliable transmission of data is a must. More than anything, blazing 5G internet speeds will accelerate human innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. Those who lag behind in adopting 5G will lag behind in innovation, advancement, and opportunity. It is hard to overstate the societal importance of 5G.”
Tamara McCleary – CEO at Thulium.co
“5G Promises incredible speeds, low latency, and unprecedented throughput capabilities which will shift the current communications paradigm. Mobile networks will have previously unheard of advantages and control over all of the data we consume on a daily basis. By streaming 4K high definition TV, movies, live sports content, VR, AR and gaming content, today’s current cable and internet connections will become obsolete. Because of 5G, more of our lives will and computing will move to the edge of networks with exceptionally high data speeds, low latency and neural networked computing via IoT devices. E-mobility, connected cars, smart cities, true telemedicine and remote surgeries along with everyday, anywhere AR and VR will transform our daily lives.”
Dr Sarah-Jayne Gratton – Technology Futurist Founding Partner at The Influencers
“The 5G promise has already been heard, but now its voice is far more than just a whisper of things to come. We’re slowly tuning into a connectivity concerto of ultra-high spectrum and peak rates with just 1ms latency, brought to us by 100 billion connections that are soon to be echoed continuously through the very things we see, touch and sense around us every day.”
Hans Vestberg – Chairman and CEO at Verizon
“5G is so much more than just a fifth generation of wireless technology. Made up of 8 unique currencies, it’s a quantum leap that will bring radically new possibilities across all areas of tech. People are talking about a Fourth Industrial Revolution, featuring technologies like virtual reality, the Internet of Things, and AI. These breakthroughs are all about high-speed connectivity, and high-speed connectivity is all about 5G. That’s why 5G will be as central to the Fourth Industrial Revolution as the steam engine was to the First Industrial Revolution – it’s the innovation that will make other innovations possible.”
Sally Eaves – CEO and Director Sally Eaves Consultancy
“5G has the potential to solve many of the connectivity issues faced across multiple industry verticals, bringing benefits of enhanced speed, security and reliability, reduced latency and the advantages of network slicing. Alongside business transformation, these features afford significant opportunities for social impact too, closing perennial gaps and providing a catalyst for transformational change. During this time of transition, it is critical to manage expectations across telecommunication companies, clients and other stakeholders to ensure alignment between appetite, readiness and capability to implement.”
TOP 100 INFLUENCERS
We looked at all the individuals engaging on Twitter to bring you a list of the top influencers discussing 5G. Below is the top 50, if you want to see who ranks from 50-100 be sure to download the full report by filling the form in below.
| Rank | Twitter Handle | Name | Role | Persona | Influencer Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @JohnLegere | John Legere | C-Suite | Industry Thought Leader | 100 |
| 2 | @evankirstel | Evan Kirstel | Tech Professional | Social Amplifier | 87.15 |
| 3 | @hansvestberg | Hans Vestberg | C-Suite | Industry Thought Leader | 68.35 |
| 4 | @Fisher85M | Michael Fisher | Tech Professional | Social Amplifier | 65.77 |
| 5 | @Ronald_vanLoon | Ronald van Loon | Tech Professional | Content Creator | 64.63 |
| 6 | @AjitPaiFCC | Ajit Pai | Political/Government | Political/Governmental | 59.64 |
| 7 | @Ansip_EU | Andrus Ansip | Political/Government | Political/Governmental | 48.62 |
| 8 | @MatsGranryd | Mats Granryd | C-Suite | Political/Governmental | 45.35 |
| 9 | @alvinfoo | Alvin Foo | C-Suite | Social Amplifier | 45.31 |
| 10 | @MikeQuindazzi | Mike Quindazzi | C-Suite | Social Amplifier | 44.93 |
| 11 | @antgrasso | Antonio Grasso | C-Suite | Social Amplifier | 43.6 |
| 12 | @HaroldSinnott | Harold Sinnott | Management Consultant | Social Amplifier | 43.44 |
| 13 | @jblefevre60 | Jean-Baptiste Lefevre | Tech Professional | Social Amplifier | 43.43 |
| 14 | @dez_blanchfield | Dez Blanchfield | C-Suite | Content Creator | 42.77 |
| 15 | @mladki | Mounir LADKI | Entrepreneur | Expert | 42.68 |
| 16 | @GlenGilmore | Glen Gilmore | Comms & Marketing Professional | Social Amplifier | 38.16 |
| 17 | @KathrinBuvac | Kathrin Buvac | C-Suite | Industry Thought Leader | 37.81 |
| 18 | @dmavrakis | Dimitris Mavrakis | Analyst | Analyst | 34.79 |
| 19 | @danielnewmanUV | Daniel Newman | Analyst | Analyst | 33.75 |
| 20 | @ValaAfshar | Vala Afshar | C-Suite | Social Amplifier | 32.62 |
| 21 | @TamaraMcCleary | Tamara McCleary | Entrepreneur | Social Amplifier | 31.71 |
| 22 | @MarcAllera | Marc Allera | C-Suite | Industry Thought Leader | 29.01 |
| 23 | @PatrickMoorhead | Patrick Moorhead | Analyst | Analyst | 28.91 |
| 24 | @ViolaRoberto | Roberto Viola | Political/Government | Political/Governmental | 28.55 |
| 25 | @Kevin_Jackson | Kevin L. Jackson | C-Suite | Social Amplifier | 28.46 |
| 26 | @sallyeaves | Sally Eaves | Tech Professional | Social Amplifier | 26.22 |
| 27 | @adamsconsulting | Diana Adams | Journalist | Media | 26.21 |
| 28 | @JRosenworcel | Jessica Rosenworcel | Political/Government | Political/Governmental | 25.98 |
| 29 | @chboursin | Christine Boursin | Comms & Marketing Professional | Social Amplifier | 24.76 |
| 30 | @2morrowknight | Sean Gardner | Comms & Marketing Professional | Social Amplifier | 24.24 |
| 31 | @RonanDunneVZ | Ronan Dunne | C-Suite | Industry Thought Leader | 24.11 |
| 32 | @mikeddano | Mike Dano | Journalist | Media | 23.64 |
| 33 | @jdolcourt | Jessica Dolcourt | Journalist | Media | 23.58 |
| 34 | @RoblemVR | Rob Crasco | Entrepreneur | Social Amplifier | 22.86 |
| 35 | @grattongirl | Sarah-Jayne Gratton | Tech Professional | Social Amplifier | 21.86 |
| 36 | @andi_staub | Andreas Staub | FinServ Professional | Social Amplifier | 20.85 |
| 37 | @benwood | Ben Wood | Analyst | Analyst | 20.85 |
| 38 | @thelaughingsub | Corinne Reichert | Journalist | Media | 20.13 |
| 39 | @mvollmer1 | Dr. Marcell Vollmer | C-Suite | Industry Thought Leader | 19.96 |
| 40 | @digitalcloudgal | Jo Peterson | Tech Professional | Social Amplifier | 19.18 |
| 41 | @AerisCTO | Syed Zaeem Hosain | C-Suite | Expert | 18.73 |
| 42 | @AkwyZ | Antonio Vieira Santos | Comms & Marketing Professional | Social Amplifier | 18.56 |
| 43 | @richardawebb | Richard Webb | Analyst | Analyst | 18.56 |
| 44 | @rtehrani | Rich Tehrani | C-Suite | Content Creator | 18.3 |
| 45 | @grattonboy | Dean Anthony Gratton | Tech Professional | Social Amplifier | 17.9 |
| 46 | @ChuckRobbins | Chuck Robbins | C-Suite | Industry Thought Leader | 17.56 |
| 47 | @Shirastweet | Shira Rubinoff | Tech Professional | Event Speaker | 17.06 |
| 48 | @dhinchcliffe | Dion Hinchcliffe | Analyst | Social Amplifier | 16.69 |
| 49 | @thorstenbenner | Thorsten Benner | Entrepreneur | Expert | 16.68 |
| 50 | @psb_dc | Theodora Lau | Entrepreneur | Social Amplifier | 16.61 |
Download the Full Report
Disclaimer: As ever with these lists, it must be stressed that the ranking is by no means a definitive measurement of influence, as there is no such thing. The individuals listed here are undoubtedly influential when it comes to driving discussion around 5G. Onalytica’s PageRank based methodology is used to extract influencers on a particular topic and takes into account the number and quality of contextual references that a user receives – this allows us to identify Topical Authority (reference) – our priority influence metric. We analyzed topical authority via their social engagement on Twitter and how much influencers were referenced in association with 5G on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Forums, Blogs, News and Tumblr content. These calculations also take into account a user’s resonance (topical engagement) relevance (number of posts on topic, and % relevance – the proportion of their social content on the topic) and reach (number of followers). If you want to learn more, please read our article that outlines How to identify your target influencers.
At Onalytica we love building these lists and want to give back to our loyal readers as much as we can. If you’re interested in other topics (such as Virtual Reality, Digital Health, Digital Marketing) be sure to have a look on our blog or why not propose some topics to us on Twitter? Effective influencer marketing starts with identifying relevant influencers for your brand. Onalytica’s Discovery platform mines over 200 billion posts a year into a curated database of over 700K global social media influencers, including data from Twitter, Blogs, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn Profile Links + Demographic Data. Our software enables you to identify influencers by topic, demographic or content and includes real-time tracking and measurement reporting to scale your influencer relations.