What is 5G?

Recently, 5G has received a lot of criticism from people worldwide, especially due to the conspiracy of the network’s involvement in spreading COVID-19. While that proved to be false, the threats regarding the technology are real.

Similar to Wi-Fi 6, 5G is the fifth generation of cellular technology. 5G is built to enhance current mobile speeds, reduce latency experienced on mobile devices, and advance wireless mobile networks’ adaptability.

5G is designed from the ground up, assuring lower latency and upgrading the performance of day-to-day business applications and dozens of digital experiences such as self-driving cars, online gaming, Internet of Things (IoT), videoconferencing, and so much more.

The hypersonic ‘fifth-generation 5G’ mobile internet is expected to launch as early as next year in some countries, while the technology is launched in parts of South Korea. 5G promises download speeds will be 10 to 20 times faster than we have currently.

According to Ericsson, the company that manufactures 5G infrastructure, by 2024, there will be over 1.5 billion of us connected to the 5G network.

What is 5G technology?

5G does not change how we communicate and do work, but it surely takes it to a new level. Present-day cellular technology, such as 3G and 4G LTE, focus on just maintaining connectivity. On the other hand, 5G ensures connectivity and provides a connected experience like never before.

With 5G in place, the need for a re-authenticating network connection when you move in and out between wireless connections becomes void. 5G simplifies cellular and Wi-Fi access, whether you’re in a building or running out to get groceries from the store. The idea is that you’re always connected with a high-speed internet connection.

Free Wi-Fi offered in public places may not be secure as you may think, read more..

The upcoming Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard, also known as 802.11ax, has similar qualities to 5G, which to focuses on enhanced performance. With 5G networks in place, you should see drastic improvements in connectivity and coverage, especially in deprived areas where usage and demand can easily exceed today’s capacity with 4G technology.

How does 5G technology work?

5G technology is expected to bring advances all over the cellular and broadband network architecture. 5G antennas will come equipped with technology known as massive MIMO (multiple inputs, multiple outputs), which allows multiple transmitters and receivers to transfer more data at the same time, meaning a better internet experience for you.

5G framework will be designed in such a way that it will be a software-defined platform. This means any networking functionality will be managed through software rather than hardware. We can see further improvements through software updates rather than upgrading to new hardware altogether.

5G offers the ability to enrich our digital experiences through machine-learning (ML)-enabled automation. With improved download and upload speeds, the demand for response time reduces down to just fractions of a second. Hence, you save time and can expect to carry out more complex tasks.

Machine learning will greatly benefit self-driving cars as they require 5G networks to register automation with machine learning and, eventually, deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Automated provisioning and proactive management of traffic and services will reduce infrastructure costs and enhance the connected experience.

When will 5G be available, and how will it develop?

While the 5G service isn’t available globally, it is still available in some parts of various countries.  The current 5G technology available in these regions builds on the existing 4G LTE network infrastructure. With little to no 5G supported devices, you’ll observe a refined internet experience on your current devices.

Since 5G will be faster than 4G LTE, to truly make use of its speed and performance, you’ll need to upgrade your devices to ones that support the 5G network. 5G technology should start becoming available by 2020 and be widely available by 2022 in nearly all parts of the world.

What are the benefits of 5G?

As with any other technological improvement, the most noticeable benefit you’ll encounter with 5G is speed. 5G is projected to offer anywhere between 80-100Mbps. This means that you’ll get to experience a home broadband-like speed as long as you’ve got 5G coverage.

It might be difficult to understand how fast it’ll be, but know that you’ll be able to download TV shows, movies, and much more within minutes, if not seconds. That’s whopping fast as it’ll improve the way you share large files, play video games, communicate online (Facetime, Skype video call), and much more. Some people might ditch their home broadband internet network altogether.

We’ve all got our cloud setup, and either we backup our data manually or set it to backup automatically. While cloud services have made our lives easier, they tend to take up time when we’re backing up data. With 5G in place, you can quickly backup your data.

5G vs. 4G

When compared with 4G, you’ll get decent downloading speeds instead of uploading speeds on a 4G network. However, with 5G, the high-speed internet network will be able to process the downloading and uploading of data much more efficiently as you have better latency speed.

5G and Augmented Reality

5G will aid in developing augmented reality experiences, giving users a smooth and uninterrupted experience like never before. On the other hand, PC and mobile gamers will benefit from low ping and zero lag connectivity.

5G in Crowded Areas

Like Wi-Fi 6, 5G will offer improved coverage and connectivity to the masses. This means you’ll be getting an excellent internet service whether you’re on the move in a train or car and when you’re mobile in a rural area. The most significant benefit will be when you’re in a crowded area such as a stadium where hundreds of people connect to a singular network.

5G and Autonomous Cars

Perhaps the most anticipated development of 5G is for the automobile sector. Autonomous cars will greatly benefit through 5G as it’ll allow efficient communication between autonomous cars remotely, and cars will communicate with each other promptly so that traffic congestion is reduced.

5G and IoT

One of the most exciting and critical traits of 5G is its influence on the Internet of Things. Although we presently have sensors that can communicate with each other, they incline to require a lot of resources. They are quickly draining LTE data capacity. 5G will provide higher bandwidth and a fast connection, which will significantly improve IoT in all aspects.

What is the common effect of 5G?

As opposed to merely providing high downloading speeds, 5G aims to improve network performance and speed and offer new connected experiences for users.

5G in Healthcare

In the healthcare industry, 5G and Wi-Fi 6 technology will enable doctors to monitor their patients through connected devices that repetitively send second by second data on the patient’s key health indicators, such as their heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, and much more.

5G and Auto Industry

5G will greatly benefit the auto industry as with machine learning algorithms. Cars will share key information on the traffic conditions if there’s an accident, how’s the weather in other areas, and so much more.

5G enables sharing information with other vehicles and devices on roadways to seem like a breeze. Hence, making safer experiences for drivers and others on the road.

Who’s excited about 5G? Let us know in the comments!