CV Dropoff

Job Basket 0

Your basket is empty.

Search Site

Filters

Select a Salary

Per Day
Per Hour

What Does 5G Mean for the Oil & Gas and Engineering Industries?

The next big thing in wireless technology is upon us; 5G mobile technology has launched.

But how can 5G communication be used to benefit the Oil & Gas and Engineering industries?

5G Communication in the Oil & Gas Industry

Oil & Gas markets are expected to grow over the next 6 years, with gas consumption growing at a rate greater than that of oil consumption.

In an effort to meet the increased demand for Oil & Gas, exploration is expected to push further from the shore, increasing isolation and the dependence on network communications for project staff. Daily requirements of offshore exploration includes large data transfer, logistics and supply of equipment – areas which will benefit from faster and more reliable communication.

Under current methods, Oil & Gas exploration involves communicating via a number of very expensive satellite links, each vessel depending on this satellite requires links of their own, with each link costing up to $15,000 per month to run. It is also worth noting that these links provide voice communication only, excluding scope for large data transfer, video and internet connectivity, and have a very limited range.

In addition to the much higher speeds, the other benefits of 5G are versatility and ease-of-use. Whether 5G connectivity is ultimately delivered via cell towers, satellites or both, it means more-or-less ubiquitous, blazing-fast connectivity all over the globe, often without the hassle of setting up Wi-Fi.

5G will enable all facets of a site to communicate more reliably, bringing faster connection speeds and creating more dependable IoT (Internet of Things) structures, which will ultimately benefit the progress and safety of ‘high-risk’ off-shore Oil & Gas projects.


Engineering company Doosan’s new 5G Excavator Project leads the way

While the benefits of 5G technology are largely seen as faster internet speeds and transfer of data, some companies are already finding new practical uses for 5G, particularly within remote communication.

The benefits of 5G remote communication are evident in a new 5G excavator project being led by engineering company Doosan, who are the first manufacturer to use 5G technology for worldwide ‘TeleOperation’ of construction machines.

Coining the term ‘TeleOperation’, Doosan recently debuted their amazing use of 5G tech; which enabled the remote operation a 40 tonne crawler excavator located in South Korea, over 8500km away from the operator’s booth in Munich, Germany.

Take a look at Doosan’s 5G ‘TeleOperation’ in action here:

Raising concerns over 5G cyber security

Although an amazing feat, projects like this raise many concerns over the cybersecurity of remote communication and work.

There are a number of IT and cybersecurity risks involved in the advancement of remote communication and 5G connectivity, such as vulnerability to hacking and the increased risks involved with network interruptions.

For more on the information on how to reduce the IT security risks of remote work, read our previous article here.

Concerns over 5G cybersecurity are not unfounded, as according to a recent report from the Gartner Research Circle, many business owners and organisers are intending to use 5G technology for improving their IoT communications.

When asked about their expected use of 5G-capable networks, over half of respondents responded that ‘IoT communications’, with many also intending to use the technology for location tracking and fixed wireless access.

Gartner Research Circle - Expected Use of 5G capable networksExpected Use of 5G capable networks by 2020 from Gartner Research Circle members

Why is 5G important to businesses?


Opening up a new world of possibilities surrounding the Internet of Things (IoT) in industry and across everyday life. What remains to be seen however, is exactly how 5G technology will impact the networks on which we operate, and the global industrial environment.

O2 UK COO, Derek McManus discussing how 5G will enhance industries at the O2 Blue Door Conference.

Promising download speeds 10 to 20 times faster than those that we have now, and designed to support ultra-reliable, low-latency communications on a massive scale. 5G will enable new methods of operation for businesses across industries such as construction, engineering and energy – most notably in long-distance and off-shore projects.

Put simply, “Whatever we do now with our technology, we'll be able to do faster and better," according to Ian Fogg, VP Analysis of mobile data analytics company OpenSignal.

"But what's really exciting is all the new services that will be built that we can't foresee."

Although 5G is still an emerging technology for most sectors and 5G adoption is still low, the ‘financial and time savings that 5G connectivity offers could prove crucial for project managers”, according to cloud-based management company CEMAR.

What does this mean for IT security and infrastructure professionals?

Kevin Riley, IT Recruitment Manager at First Recruitment Group, has seen an increase in the need for IT security and infrastructure professionals in the last 6 months. 5G job opportunities are increasing to include 5G deployment, wireless communications engineers, 5G design and verification, solutions architects, systems architects and test engineers. Kevin commented:


“The advent of 5G adoption is an exciting one for the technology industry but it doesn’t come without concern for businesses worldwide. Many firms across the construction and energy sectors are being urged to adopt ‘5G enabled’ technology in their networks, under the promise of increased efficiency and network reliability.

“As appealing as this, especially those businesses with long-distance and offshore operations, 5G isn’t right for everyone and has to be right for their particular project.


“5G technology is still in it’s infancy within the construction and energy sectors. With such high safety risks involved in their projects, many firms are analysing the IT security of their existing networks and prioritise the strengthening of their cybersecurity defences, before looking to introduce 5G into the mix. It’s an exciting time to be working in the IT industry.”

Making the call on 5G – What should businesses do?

Though the arrival of 5G communication brings exciting prospect for businesses within the Oil & Gas and engineering sectors, the adoption of such technology should not be a rushed process.

Businesses are advised to assess all the benefits as well as all the risks when integrating 5G communication into their projects.

By consulting heavily with their own IT teams or external IT security professionals, businesses can work to ensure the safest adoption of 5G technologies within their own operations, whilst advancing their IoT and project capabilities.

If you are looking to strengthen or develop your IT security, First Technology Recruitment have a team dedicated to finding and hiring the best individuals for your IT projects.

To discuss your IT requirements, contact our IT recruitment manager Kevin Riley on +44 (0)1925 909243 or e-mail kevin.riley@firstrg.com


Testimonials

“We have required a number of Quality Assurance/Quality Control candidates within the Nuclear Industry. Since early 2016 First Recruitment Group have provided a number of QA/QC professionals in locations across the UK.

“We have been very pleased with both the quality of supply and the customer service demonstrated and will continue to use their professional services in the future.”

Bureau Veritas

“I have worked with First Recruitment Group as my partner of choice across a number of large and challenging Oil & Gas projects internationally over recent years.

“First are a high performing business who are built on credibility, honesty, expertise.

“As we push the frontiers of projects and move in to more and more challenging and locations, First will continue to be my partner of choice to help us deliver our projects with confidence.”

TechnipFMC

"I have had the pleasure of working with First Recruitment Group over recent years and we have formed a great working relationship. Their understanding of our exacting requirements is outstanding.

"The First team are highly experienced and knowledgeable across the recruitment spectrum and operate in the manner you would expect of a professional outfit of their stature. Their attention to detail and approach is faultless and their commitment and drive has helped our business with unique, complex and difficult recruitment requirements.

"Sarah, our Account Manager, is an incisive thinker as well as hardworking, diligent and reliable and has an extremely helpful and flexible approach to her work. This reflects in her team and with their ability to communicate at all levels in an honest and trusted consultative manner and gives us great faith in their ability to identify candidates who can help us to drive forward and achieve our business goals.

"I have no hesitation in recommending First as a recruitment partner and feel they would be worthy of selection for any engineering or manufacturing business looking for an intelligent and innovative solution."

Nuvia

“There is nothing negative about the service that we’ve received from First. Without fail they have produced positive feedback. The fact that they have placed a diverse range of skills from PA's to Engineers, just goes to show that they have the core skills, intelligence, and initiative that make them great recruiters, and preferred partners.”

Multi-Sector Client

"It’s great to work with a recruitment agency we trust. The team at First Recruitment Group are friendly and straight talking and they continue to provide an excellent service. We’re proud to still be working with them after 20 years."

Simon Carves Engineering Ltd

Read all Testimonials

Help us with our survey
Do you feel the jobs market has picked up?

Our Specialist Sectors