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Understanding 5G: Networks, AI and the Road to 6G

Name: Understanding 5G: Networks, AI and the Road to 6G
Rating: 4.5 (9293 reviews)

What 5G really delivers today, how AI is reshaping networks, and what 5G-Advanced and 6G mean for your business

Created byBrian Newman

Last updated 10/2026

English

English [Auto],French [Auto],

What you'll learn

Explain where 5G fits in the evolution of wireless, from 1G to 5G-Advanced, and describe at least three of its key capabilities
Distinguish standalone from non-standalone 5G and explain why that difference shapes what a network can actually deliver
Read 5G deployment data like an analyst and ask carriers the right questions about coverage, speed, and performance
Evaluate how fixed wireless access and satellite direct-to-device service are helping close the digital divide
Identify real-world 5G use cases across industries and brainstorm new business opportunities, products, and services
Explain how AI and 5G are converging through AI-RAN, agentic network operations, and Open RAN
Describe what 5G-Advanced, RedCap, and 6G will bring, and build a plan to prepare your organization for what comes next

Course content

9 sections • 56 lectures • 4h 34m total length

Welcome and Introduction to Understanding 5G3:06
Welcome to Understanding 5G, fully updated for 2026!
This introduction explains what the course covers and who it is for: business leaders, technology professionals and anyone who wants to understand how 5G creates real value. With more than 3 billion subscriptions worldwide, 5G is now global infrastructure.
In this course, you’ll learn how it works, where it delivers results for consumers and businesses, and how 5G-Advanced, AI-native networks and the road to 6G are shaping what comes next.
The Business and Consumer Benefits of 5G4:30
5G offers many important benefits to consumers and to businesses. Learn about the important capabilities of 5G and how they will lead to high bandwidth, less latency, and more connected devices than ever before.
From Hype to Infrastructure: Why the 5G Question Has Changed7:07
When 5G launched, the big question was whether it was real or just marketing. With 3.1 billion subscriptions and nearly half of all mobile data now running on 5G, that question is settled. In this lecture, you’ll see what changed, why fixed wireless became the surprise success, and the new question that matters for businesses today: are you capturing the value 5G now makes possible? We’ll look at three places most organizations are leaving value on the table: Standalone 5G, private networks, and AI built into the network itself.
Preparing for What’s Next: 5G-Advanced, AI and the Road to 6G5:30
5G is not standing still. This lecture maps the three shifts that will define the next phase of 5G: 5G-Advanced, AI built into the network itself, and the road to 6G. For each one, you’ll learn what is changing and the key question to ask your carrier or vendor.
Closing the Digital Divide: 5G, Fixed Wireless and Satellite (61 characters)5:55
About 2.2 billion people are still offline, but the bigger problem isn’t missing networks. This lecture explains the coverage gap and the usage gap, how 5G fixed wireless brings broadband to rural areas without new fiber, and how satellites now connect directly to ordinary smartphones.
Understanding the Importance of 5G
Your 5G Starting Point

Section Introduction1:27
An introduction to lectures and sessions in Section 2 on the Evolution of Cellular and Wireless Networks.
Evolution of Wireless Networks7:24
Learn about the different generations of wireless networks and what key features and benefits each provided.
Determine Your Smartphone Network Speed
Architecture Changes in Wireless Networks12:56
Learn how the network architecture evolved with each generation of wireless technology.
Key Components of 5G Wireless Networks5:11
Understand the major components that make 5G wireless networks different and more innovative than previous generations.
Business and Commercial Application Evolution5:42
With wireless communications, consumer and business applications have evolved over the last few decades. Learn more about how voice came first and data came later.
Early Commercial Use and Applications3:50
Learn about early commercial use and applications within wireless communication and how the focus has shifted to where we are today.
Assess Wireless Devices In-Use
Section Summary1:15
A summary of topics in Section 2 on the Evolution of Cellular and Wireless Networks.
Check Your Knowledge about 5G

Section Introduction0:51
Introduction to content in Section 3 and what topics will be discussed.
5G Standards Bodies7:50
5G Non-Standalone Networks4:55
The first iteration of 5G networks will be non-standalone (NSA) networks that make use of 4G LTE infrastructure. Learn about this architecture that utilizes 4G network functions.
5G Standalone Networks6:48
Explore 5G standalone networks, connecting directly to G node B with sub-6 and millimeter-wave bands, and a service-based 5G core featuring AMF, SMF, UPF, NRF, NSF, and MEC edge computing.
Where 5G Stands Today: Global Deployment and the Upgrade Gap6:48
5G now has more than 3 billion subscriptions worldwide, and more than 390 operators have launched it. The real story is now which networks have been upgraded and which haven’t. In this lecture you’ll get the latest numbers on subscriptions, traffic and operator launches, and see why Standalone 5G is the real dividing line in the market. You’ll also see where 5G-Advanced and fixed wireless are gaining ground, and why the leading regions are close to universal 5G while low-income countries are just getting started. You’ll learn to read deployment statistics like an analyst, the three questions to ask any carrier, and the two free sources that keep these numbers current. Figures as of October 2026.
Assess Current Deployment of 5G Networks
Global Commercial Utilization6:48
Understand the current global utilization of 5G services and networks on a global scale.
Section Summary1:13
Summary of topics and information covered in Section 3 on the fundamentals of 5G wireless networks.
Quiz on Fundamentals of 5G Wireless Networks

Introduction0:53
Introduction to content in this section on consumer use cases using 5G wireless networks.
Enhanced Video5:55
Learn about enhanced video and how 5G will provide ultra-high definition video in near real-time.
Live Sports Streaming5:17
Understand how 5G changes the game when it comes to live sports streaming.
Music, Gaming, and Entertainment6:29
5G will make music, gaming, and entertainment more immersive and real-time. Learn the impacts in this session on consumers and wireless users.
AR, VR, and the Metaverse6:07
5G promises to change and enhance Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and provide all new experiences in the metaverse. Learn and understand the impacts.
Digital Advertising4:29
Understand how 5G will enhance digital advertising to consumers and engage them more effectively.
Section Summary1:30
A summary of content provided regarding consumer use cases for 5G.
Quiz on 5G Consumer Use Cases

Section Introduction0:39
Introduction to this section on 5G Business Use Cases.
Healthcare6:44
Understand the significant impacts to the healthcare industry from 5G. It's remote robotic surgery and a whole lot more.
Retail7:40
Learn how the retail industry will be impacted from the high-bandwidth, high-capacity, and low-latency capabilities of 5G wireless networks.
Automotive6:56
The automotive industry stands to reap huge leaps forward with 5G-enabled technology. Learn about what capabilities will be available.
Public Safety and Public Transportation9:21
5G will provide improved public safety and public transportation. Learn and understand the impacts that 5G wireless networks and 5G wireless services will have.
Financial Services5:05
5G has the potential to reshape the financial industry. Learn about how 5G capabilities will impact banking and financial transactions.
Section Summary0:43
Summary of content provided in Section 5 on business use cases for 5G.
Quiz on 5G Business Use Cases

Section Introduction2:23
Introduction to topics covered in this section on Private 5G Use Cases.
Campus Networks6:02
Understand how Private 5G supports capacity and capabilities for campus networks.
Manufacturing6:35
Understanding the disruptive impact of Private 5G to manufacturing and to factories.
Oil and Gas6:00
Understand how Private 5G plays an important role in the oil and gas industry.
Smart Facilties6:04
Learn how Private 5G is an important network resource for managing smart facilities.
Logistics6:07
Learn how Private 5G plays a critical role in the logistics industry.
Section Summary0:50
Review the key topics covered in this section on Private 5G.
Quiz on Private 5G Use Cases

Section Introduction1:11
An introduction to this section on 5G wireless networks using AI, ML, and Open-Source.
Artificial Intelligence in 5G8:43
Learn how Artificial Intelligence will be used with 5G wireless networks.
Using Machine Learning with 5G9:12
Understand the importance of 5G wireless networks to Machine Learning.
Open-Source Software Collaboration4:52
Learn how 5G wireless networks make use of open-source software and its importance to 5G wireless networks.
Open-Source 5G Initiatives5:32
Learn about a few of the most important open-source initiatives impacting 5G wireless network development.
Section Summary0:44
A summary of the topics covered in this section.
Quiz on AI, ML, and Open-Source in 5G Wireless Networks

Section Introduction1:09
Introduction to topics presented and discussed in this section on development and collaboration.
Technology Labs and Incubators6:29
Learn about technology labs and incubators to build 5G services and solutions in partnership with mobile network operators, equipment suppliers, and universities.
Partnering with Mobile Network Operators6:00
Understand why mobile network operators need partners and why it is so critical to the development of 5G solutions and services.
Monetization Strategies and Goals8:16
Understand how 5G will enable the generation of profit and potential through new operating models for network operators and businesses.
Setting Expectations and Establishing Alignment4:46
Learn the important reasons to set expectations between 5G network partners early and the importance of alignment.
Cell Site and Tower Considerations5:52
Learn about important considerations in cell site leasing and tower placement when it comes to 5G wireless networks.
Industry Research Tools and Resources5:34
Learn about various industry research tools and resources to dive deeper into understanding 5G networks.
Section Summary1:07
A summary of key topics and ideas covered in this section on development and collaboration opportunities in 5G.
Quiz on Development and Collaboration

Requirements

No technical or engineering background needed. Every concept is explained in plain language for business and non-technical learners.
Basic familiarity with mobile phones, Wi-Fi, or internet service, whether as a consumer or in your work.
Curiosity about how wireless networks and AI are reshaping business, industry, and everyday life.

Description

5G is no longer the next big thing. It is the network the world is being built on, and the questions have changed. The conversation has moved from hype to hard results: which carriers have built true standalone 5G, how fixed wireless and satellites are closing the digital divide, and how artificial intelligence is changing the way networks are designed and run.

This course gives you a clear, practical understanding of 5G as it actually exists today and where it is headed next. No engineering degree required.

Fully updated for 2026, with new lectures on:

5G-Advanced and RedCap: what the next phase of 5G adds and why it matters
AI-native networks: AI-RAN, agentic network operations, and Open RAN today
Fixed wireless access and satellite direct-to-device connectivity
The road to 6G: the standards timeline and what to expect

What you’ll learn:

What 5G is, how it differs from earlier generations, and how we got here
How to read 5G deployment numbers like an analyst, and the right questions to ask your carrier
Where 5G is creating real value across key industries, and how AI is accelerating it
How the convergence of 5G and AI affects operators, enterprises, and the workforce
What 5G-Advanced and 6G will bring, and how to plan for them

Who this course is for:

Business leaders, managers, and consultants making technology and investment decisions
Professionals in IT, sales, finance, policy, or operations who work alongside wireless networks
Investors, students, and career changers who want a solid foundation in next-generation wireless
Anyone curious about the technology connecting the world around them

About your instructor:
I spent more than 35 years in telecommunications at AT&T, MCI, Sprint, and Verizon, most recently as a senior network and technology leader at Verizon responsible for nationwide wireless network quality and reliability. I have watched several generations of wireless go from promise to reality. Today I advise organizations at the intersection of AI, telecom, and strategy. In this course I share what I’ve learned from the inside: what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s coming next.

Join me, and let’s get you up to speed on 5G and the future of wireless.

Who this course is for:

Business leaders and managers who need to understand 5G and AI to make informed technology and investment decisions
Professionals in IT, sales, marketing, finance, or operations who work with telecom carriers, vendors, or enterprise clients
Telecom employees in non-engineering roles who want a clear, big-picture view of 5G, 5G-Advanced, and 6G
Entrepreneurs and developers exploring new products and services built on 5G, IoT, and AI
Investors and analysts tracking wireless carriers, network equipment makers, satellite players, and infrastructure markets.
Property owners, building managers, and public sector staff planning connectivity, fixed wireless, or cell site opportunities
Students and career changers who want a solid foundation in 5G and next-generation wireless

Understanding 5G: Networks, AI and the Road to 6G

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction to Understanding 5G5 lectures • 26min

The Evolution of Wireless Networks7 lectures • 38min

The Fundamentals of 5G Wireless Networks7 lectures • 35min

Consumer Use Cases for 5G7 lectures • 31min

Getting Down to Business in 5G7 lectures • 37min

Private 5G Use Cases7 lectures • 34min

Leveraging AI, ML, and Open-Source6 lectures • 30min

Development and Collaboration8 lectures • 39min

Conclusion and Contact Information2 lectures • 4min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: