WeWork Is Verizon’s First Indoor 5G Customer

Companies are realizing the value of allowing employees to choose their workplace. This has led some to look towards faster 5G connections to better accommodate their employees working outside of the office.

This has led Verizon to announce it is working with fiber-optic cable company Corning Inc. to install indoor cell sites, and the first customer will be none other than WeWork.

This process is done by installing small boxes with an antennae that transmits data on Verizon’s millimeter airwaves. Millimeter wave spectrum offers the fastest connection, however, it cannot travel long distances.

According to Sampath Sowmyanarayan, leader of the global enterprise unit at Verizon Business Group, it is “Wi-Fi on steroids.”

Using 5G not only allows workers to have lightning fast connection, but it can also provide a better layer of security as well. For instance, an employee can walk into a flexible office and log on without jumping through multiple hoops of authentication.

While employees won’t necessarily be working from home permanently, companies have already expressed interest into moving towards a more hybrid model that will involve home, satellite and shared offices.

“Most technologies were made for the consumer, and enterprise came along for the ride,” said Sowmyanarayan. “5G was made for the enterprise, and the consumer is going to come along for the ride.”