FOR years, we've been hearing about the Internet of Things (IoT). Up till now, it has always been some distant reality featuring self-driving cars, drone-delivery, Smart TVs, AI-powered personal assistants and a fridge that stocks itself when the milk runs out.

Not anymore. With 5G networks on the horizon, it's only a matter of time before the IoT becomes a part of our everyday lives. Why is that so? Unlike today's 4G networks, the next-generation 5G mobile networks expected to be up and running by 2020, will have high bandwidth, low latency, and are virtually lag-free. This means that the networks will be able to seamlessly support the flood of affordable, simple devices that will be brought online.

Asia might have adopted both 3G and 4G far later than the West, but with 5G, the third time just might be the charm. According to an Ericsson Mobility Report, Asia-Pacific (along with North America) is poised to lead 5G adoption, making smart homes an imminent reality. In fact, The Visionaire, a 632-unit executive condominium in Singapore, was marketed earlier this year as one of the first smart homes in the city-state.