Earlier this month, Upskill U covered the gamut in IoT from the business drivers to security to understanding the immense growth opportunity of industrial IoT. At BCE, we're connecting the dots to 5G and mobile video.

Not only will 5G networks have the capacity to cope with IoT, but 5G will also enable high-definition and ultra-high-definition (4K) video to smartphones and tablets due to both improved scale and new benchmarks for low latency. (See IoT 101)

With 5G services predicted to begin launching in 2020, the time is now for service providers to begin preparing. Join Upskill U for a complimentary hot breakfast and presentation on "5G: Are We There Yet?" with speakers Gabriel Brown, Senior Analyst at Heavy Reading and Gerry Flynn, Director of Network Infrastructure Planning at Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), on May 24 at 7:00 a.m. CT at the BIG Communications Event in Austin, Texas.

This course will discuss the current state of requirements for 5G, and how SDN, NFV and other industry trends, such as mobile edge computing (MEC) and big data analytics, will all play an integral role in the delivery of 5G services. (Register here.)

Figure 1: Director of Network Infrastructure Planning at Verizon

Since two breakfasts are always better than one, Upskill U is hosting another breakfast session on May 25 on "Mobile Video: Finding a Solution," presented by Alan Breznick, Light Reading, and Upinder Saini, VP, Wireless Product Management, Rogers Communications Inc. (Toronto: RCI). As viewers, and in particular Millenials, seek alternatives to conventional TV, mobile operators are tasked with leveraging mobile video content and exploring new approaches to monetizing it.

Figure 2: Upinder Saini, VP, Wireless Product Management, Rogers Communications

In this course, participants will gain an understanding of how mobile operators are delivering a high-quality video viewing experience while making the cost of carrying video commensurate with the revenues from mobile TV services. These new approaches have the potential to deliver on improved relationships with content providers, diversify and grow subscribership, and boost revenues from mobile video services.

Attendees to these Upskill U courses will be equipped with must-have industry knowledge plus a free Upskill U headlamp to light their way. If you can't attend BCE, grab a cup of coffee and tune in to the live stream for an opportunity to ask presenters your pressing questions on 5G and mobile video. I'll see you on the chat boards! (Register for live stream.)

— Kelsey Kusterer Ziser, editor, Upskill U