5G or fifth-generation wireless network will increase data transfer speeds, reduce latency (the ability of one device to communicate with another), and will have greater bandwidth. It has amazing potential and will transform the way we communicate with the cloud, with other devices, how we do business, how we navigate healthcare, travel, and work.
5G network improves on the 4G LTE connection but works a little differently. It runs on three different spectrum bands or frequencies. The low band covers a wide area but is slower. Mid-band offers decent speed and coverage or reach. High-band frequencies have super-fast speeds but don’t penetrate obstacles. Speed, quality of the service, and latency depend on what spectrum you use.
Tech experts have been finetuning the efficiency of 5G wireless service for about a decade now and the US oversaw its initial launch to consumers and businesses in 2018. Both global conglomerates and countries are in a race to make sure this service is accessible and fully functional. Getting it up and running is crucial to launch new and essential technologies like augmented reality and self-driving cars as well as optimize industries and businesses and improve defense applications.
Consumers can expect a lot out of 5G too. Wireless industry trade group GSMA figures you can download a two-hour movie in 10 seconds! Besides, the greater bandwidth will mean you won’t ever have to face spotty service. 5G will also boost the potential of IoT (Internet of Things) so consumer tech like smart toothbrushes and intuitive alarm clocks will flood the market. Most network providers in the US will offer 5 G networks to consumers alongside 4G LTE. As of this writing, superfast networks are being deployed city by city since it relies on carriers building small cell sites on poles, towers, and buildings. Consumers will be able to access the service via 5G enabled devices. Tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Motorola are already rising to the occasion, manufacturing 5G laptops, tablets, and phones faster than consumers can snap them up. It might take us a couple more years to adopt 5G wireless in any significant capacity, but new developments in tech mean that we’re looking at a nationwide 5G rollout by the year 2025.
