New Generation Mobile Networks and Their Application in Electronic Learning

Abstract

The present article was aimed at examining the promising capabilities of new generation mobile networks for the implementation of first-class online education based on advanced immersive technologies. The study described the main functional drivers of the modern end-to-end 5G architecture and proposed several options for their application in today’s socio-economic life. It was assumed that, in the long view, 5G could become a facilitator and a quickening agent of Industry 4.0 and SMART Education, giving way to machine learning and the realization of Machine-to-Machine/Man (M2M) and Device-to-Device (D2D) technologies. The article provided an argument that the ability to connect through the 5G network would allow innovative technological solutions to fully realize their potential and create the global telecommunications infrastructure of the digital economy. In order to investigate public opinion toward a 21st-century education and identify the prioritized requests for university training among potential students, a survey of the target audience in the business administration segment was conducted. It involved 100 MBA students of the Graduate School of Business of Kazan Federal University (Russia) and 200 business workers. Respondents were offered to choose the most relevant requirements for the education quality from among 50 proposed variants by determining their priority on a 100-point scale. The analysis of questionnaire results allowed identifying 20 consumer trends and requests in education, which are becoming more and more prioritized in the contemporary business environment. After reviewing the survey outcomes, it was concluded that the main competitive advantages of an educational course are its pace, convenience, and effectiveness in goal-achievement. The provision of these benefits can become possible due to the synthesis of 5G and other digital educational technologies. In view of this, the present work also presented the analysis of promising educational opportunities of 5G for creators of study materials and students.