The latest generation of wireless networks, called 5G (for "fifth generation"), has launched with great expectations and amid significant concerns. A theme running through discussions of the 5G era is that this is a race, that first movers will dominate all others, and that this dominance will provide enduring economic and technical benefits to those first movers' home countries and populations. Influential leaders from government and industry have argued that leadership in wireless communication is a crucial determinant of the country's economic success in the mobile technology era. The White House has made the case that leadership in wireless technology helps nations "win" in the information age.

       This Perspective serves as a policy primer for the 5G era and summarizes our observations from the RAND-Initiated Research project titled "America's 5G Era: Securing Its Advantages and Ourselves." As the authors assessed the 5G wireless ecosystem, they began to see the development of its markets and technologies as an enduring competition rather than a "race." A key observation is that past technical or market leadership does not guarantee a lasting advantage. The authors also highlight important implications of 5G-era devices, networks, and services for securing data and protecting individual privacy.

       Research conducted by Homeland Security Research Division

       Funding for this research was made possible by the independent research and development provisions of RAND's contracts for the operation of its U.S. Department of Defense federally funded research and development centers. This research was conducted within the Acquisition and Development Program of the RAND Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD).

       This report is part of the RAND Corporation perspective series. RAND perspectives present informed perspective on a timely topic that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND perspectives undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

       Permission is given to duplicate this electronic document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Copies may not be duplicated for commercial purposes. Unauthorized posting of RAND PDFs to a non-RAND Web site is prohibited. RAND PDFs are protected under copyright law. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit the RAND Permissions page.

       The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.