Increasingly widespread use of high bandwidth and low latency 5G networks can sometimes confuse users, even SysOps, if 5G can be a replacement for GSLB.
For an answer, it is necessary to see where 5G and GSLB are implemented and what is the purpose of both technologies.
As shown in Figure 1 the main function of 5G network is to replace old 4G technology for accessing ISP networks as an entry point to the Internet. That way, 5G users have a similar last-mile connection as Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11ac) or Ethernet (1Gbps) users connected to the ISP by using fast, low-latency high-bandwidth fiber-based Internet technologies.
In contrast to the 5G network, the GSLB has a function to direct client’s request to the optimal datacenter, which still has his own and unique network distance to the ISP, despite the fact that the client uses a 5G network. In Figure 1, It is shown that the network distance between ISP and servers can vary significantly. The response time of the network service can also differ significantly from location to location, so this is an additional parameter that a quality GSLB can take into account.
According to the analysis, the answer to the question is simple: 5G gives end users fast access only to the ISP’s infrastructure and thereby cannot be a replacement for GSLB which is used for optimal server selection on the global Internet.