5G is Here. How Can You Benefit From This?
Mobile networks are rolling out superfast 5G services which you can't get everywhere yet. There aren't many choices for handsets but it's coming. This new connectivity has the potential to bring life-changing benefits to people and societies. So what are the benefits of upgrading to 5G? You’ll find out here.
5G in layman’s terms
5G is the latest generation of mobile internet technology. It offers much higher speeds and will require a greater use of radio spectrum to enable it. With this new technology in our smartphones, everything is going to become increasingly faster and efficient.
For example, picture a swarm of drones working together to complete search missions, fire assessments and traffic monitoring via a 5G network. Rapidly communicating with ground control stations and other drones can make these tasks way more efficient.
As per the report from Capgemini:
"75% of industrial organizations believe that, within the next five years, 5G will be a catalyst for their digital transformation – and they are willing to invest heavily to get it."
Experts predict 5G will be an essential technology for self-driving cars in the future. It would enable them to communicate with one another and access real-time maps and more accurate traffic data.
With 5G, gamers will be able to interact with their devices up to 10x faster and experience little lag when pressing a button and seeing the effects of that action on screen.
All of the videos you watch on your mobile device should load and play immediately and without errors. Video calls through your phone should look smooth and won’t experience any pixilation. It can also do wonders for your health. as wearable fitness devices will be helping you stay healthy. If anything happens, you'll know straightaway and will have the emergency services coming to your side as soon as possible.
So how is this possible?
5G is a new form of wireless technology but it presents an exciting opportunity to improve on existing networks. Operators will be able to use 5G as a tool to increase their capacity on their current networks which will allow them to provide more reliable service.
5G capacity will depend on the spectrum band the operator uses and how much your carrier invests in new masts, towers and transmitters.
There are plans to create clusters of smaller antennas (rather than taller towers, which will be expensive) that transmit millimeter waves. The higher density of these antennas will allow for access to be much better. However, this is an investment cost and large-scale companies may face.
When you say 'faster,' what exactly do you mean?
For starters, the fastest 4G networks max out at about 44Mbps but the industry is still hopeful of achieving 1,000Mbps. In comparison, 5G speeds might be 10 to 20 times faster than 4G in real life. This means that you can download a high-quality film within a minute or close to that.
Speeds and latency will be improved a lot when service providers roll out standalone 5G networks where the core network and radio network both use 5G tech.
So why should I get 5G?
Mobile devices are becoming increasingly common, and we're consuming more data than before. This is especially the case with the rise of video and music streaming services. It's no secret that the spectrums for wireless services are getting more congested. You might have already noticed that when you're in a crowded area, your phone doesn't work as well.
5G is much better than previous generations because it can handle a higher number of devices and the variety of devices it supports, which includes smartphones and sensors and cameras to name just a few.
The catch? You’ll need a 5G-capable phone
5G is compatible with New Radio technology (NR), which is not the same as LTE. As a result, if you want to access 5G services, you need to use a device that is compatible with it. In short, you'll need a 5G-enabled phone if you want to use 5G data.
But think about this: Eventually, you'll need to replace your phone, so when that time comes, it makes sense to go with the 5G version. With the advent of 5G, wireless networks are expected to stay modern for at least 10 years.
Is it available in my area?
Unfortunately, not everyone can be online. A lot of people still live in rural areas where the internet doesn't reach them because it's not profitable enough to build an expensive network there.
There are many countries which also struggle with the issue of low data speeds and signal availability in rural areas. 5G presently operates on a high frequency wave, with a great deal of capacity but short range. This is primarily only useful in urban areas for now.
Operators in lower-frequency bands (600-800 Mhz) generally cover larger areas, so they'll maintain their coverage of the 4G LTE network whilst focusing on improving their 5G service.
We have a lot of ground to cover when it comes to the internet of things. What’s for sure is that it's going to be a great new adventure that we can't wait to explore!
