5G for Inclusive, Personalized, and Economic Learning Experiences of the Future

By: Dr. Eman AbuKhousa

Professor for Information Technology & Communication

University of Europe for Applied Sciences

In this era of digital transformation, education is approaching a pivotal change, one where learning is not just about consuming knowledge, but experiencing it. Education is the process of designing experiences that help learners acquire knowledge and skills, enabling them to adaptively respond to challenges in their surroundings. In experiential learning, or “learning by living”, learners are “immersed” into real-life situations where they sense, think, interact, and decide the best course of action. The introduction of 5G technology into the educational sector promises a new age of immersive learning, where barriers of distance and access are obliterated, marking personalized and interactive education as the norm, not the exception.

5G is the fifth generation of wireless cellular technology that is much faster and more reliable than the previous networks. This is not just about faster downloads or smoother streaming; it is about creating a fabric of connectivity that is versatile enough to support everything from everyday conveniences to critical, life-saving innovations.

Immersive learning experiences are developed using artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to model virtual spaces where learners can perform various tasks. These include communicating, and collaborating with others, utilizing digital objects, creating content, and even editing or generating new spaces. By design, the effectiveness of these experiences relies on the motion-to-photon latency—the delay between a user’s action and its impact on-screen— which should be kept to a minimum to maintain learner immersion, a critical factor in engaging learners. This significantly requires access to high-bandwidth networks to support real-time transmission and processing of large amounts of data to achieve seamless and consistent shared experiences across time and space and among large number of learners. The increased capabilities of 5G such as up to 10Gbps data rate, 1-millisecond latency, and the ability to connect up to 100 times more devices per unit area than previous technologies, would highly leverage the use of AI/AR/VR and enable the development of new and improved immersive learning experiences. 

Furthermore, 5G technology enables the integration of a variety of educational technologies, such as interactive e-contents, learning applications and collaboration platforms, all of which can be customized to individual learning needs and preferences. The capability of these tools to deliver immediate support, coupled with instant feedback and assessments fundamentally transforms the learning journey. It enables learners to reflect on their experiences, assess their thoughts and understand the consequences of their behaviors and actions in real time. This in turn, allows them to use the outcomes to adjust their actions and prepare for future experiences. Additionally, 5G empowers educators to evaluate the quality of the learning experience and to adapt the design of future experiences to meet the needs of their learners more effectively. This signifies a major advancement towards more interactive and personalized learning pathways.

The emergence of 5G technology has also considerably contributed to shaping UNESCO’s global initiative “Futures of Education: learning to become”¹ which advocates for education systems that address injustices and leverage technology to broaden human capabilities, aiming for a more inclusive and sustainable world. This effort aligns with the item 4 of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): “Quality Education- Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”². In this context, 5G connectivity is set to enhance educational access and quality not only by facilitating real-time lesson streaming and enhancing access to learning platforms and educational multimedia materials but also, and more importantly, by augmenting the functionalities of assistive technologies in special education.  This implies that robotics designed for learners with physical disabilities could become more responsive. Similarly, real-time transcriptions for learners with hearing impairments would be quicker and more precise, and those with cognitive or physical impairments could engage in virtual worlds alongside their peers, leading to a learning experience that is more inclusive for everyone.

Viewed from another perspective, 5G holds the potential to enhance the efficiency of educational operations and, consequently, reduce the cost in several ways. A 2022 report³ reveals that in OECD countries, annual education spending averages at $9,900 per student for primary education, incorporating both household and governmental expenses. This figure rises to $11,400 at the secondary level and further escalates to $17,600 per student at the tertiary level. The report also highlights how expenditure is allocated in tertiary institutions, with 63% dedicated to core services such as educators’ salaries, infrastructure, and administrative costs. Meanwhile, 33% of funds support research and development (R&D) activities, and a smaller fraction of 4% goes towards ancillary services like meals and transportation.

The ultra-fast speeds, lower latency, and the capacity to connect a vast number of devices with 5G can make remote learning more accessible and reliable. This reduces the need for maintenance and expansion of physical infrastructures, thus lowering operational costs related to buildings, utilities, and on-site resources. For institutions with physical campuses, 5G can support the implementation of “smart campus” technologies, which may include energy-efficient building controls, optimized route planning for campus transport, and predictive maintenance systems. On the other hand, the ability of 5G to support AI, AR, and VR technologies for simulations and laboratory experiences can significantly reduce the need for expensive physical lab equipment and materials, as well as the space required to house them, while providing scalable learning opportunities. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, by enhancing the functionalities of assistive technologies, 5G can reduce the need for specialized, and often more costly, educational arrangements for students with disabilities. It can also decrease the time and labor costs associated with administrative tasks, such as attendance tracking, grade reporting, event scheduling, and resource allocation, through the use of cloud-based services to manage these tasks more efficiently. However, one of the most impactful and promising applications of 5G technology in reducing education costs is its ability to vastly improve the sharing of resources across institutions – a practice I strongly encourage all educational entities to consider. The more efficient sharing of digital resources among institutions, including textbooks, multimedia content, and interactive learning tools, can decrease the per-student cost of educational materials by leveraging economies of scale and reducing the need for physical materials. This also benefits R&D activities, as collaborative research projects can be conducted in virtual environments, allowing experts from around the world to work together more efficiently, regardless of their physical location, while sharing expensive research resources and large databases.

While I understand that the pursuit of competitive advantage among educational institutions often emphasizes unique offerings and resources, I also believe that institutions can rise above traditional competitive barriers. By nurturing an ecosystem of shared growth and mutual benefits, educational entities can become more appealing to the new generation of learners who value the corporate social responsibilities and sustainability practices of modern education institutions.

Bearing this in mind, let’s not overlook the critical ethical questions we face. The key challenge is to balance innovation with integrity. Protecting the privacy of learners’ data is imperative, and we must remain vigilant as digital footprints expand. Bridging the digital divide is a crucial moral obligation; access to this technology should be universal, not a privilege. And while 5G has the potential to transform learning, it must not diminish the human connection that is at the heart of education. In essence, the journey towards integrating 5G in the education sector is not just about technological upgrades but also about ethical stewardship, inclusivity, and socialization where individuals build on each other’s experiences. Let’s not just chase the future; let’s shape it responsibly.

References and Links:

1. UNESCO (2019), Futures of Education: learning to become, UNESCO Digital Library,
2. UN (2015), Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
3. OECD (2022), Education at a Glance 2022: OECD Indicators, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/3197152b-en.: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/