There has been a lot of buzz around the release of 5G from many technology and cellular service companies. What exactly is 5G? Let’s break it down.
The fifth generation (5G) of mobile wireless communications promises to lower latency, offer greater stability, the ability to connect many more devices at once, and move more data thanks to faster speeds. These features have the potential to supercharge business, and that’s one of the reasons 66 percent of businesses plan to deploy 5G by 2020, according to a study by Gartner.
Basically, 5G takes advantage of higher-frequency bands in the radio spectrum that have a lot of capacity but shorter wavelengths. Cisco estimates that by 2020, 5G will generate three times more traffic than the average 4G connection, and those connections will make up 3 percent of total mobile connections. This means faster data on your smart phone.
Many industry experts believe that 5G networks alongside existing 4G LTE networks will be 10 to 20 times faster than 4G when fully deployed in the real world. Standalone 5G could reach gigabit-plus browsing speeds, making mobile internet as fast, if not faster, than hardwired fiber connections.
There is a catch… you will eventually need a 5G compatible phone. However, these phones should be able to switch between 4G and 5G to find the most stable service. Importantly, there will be more than faster Netflix downloads and 5G-compatible phones, businesses will also benefit.
Not only will 5G be instrumental for many industries, including retail, entertainment, automotive, manufacturing, and logistics, but it will also help speed up tech advancements. These advancements will enable connected cars and autonomous driving; smart cities with connected logistics, transport, and infrastructure; enhancement in connected healthcare from robotics to blockchain use cases to wearable telemetry; industrial internet of things and smart factories; and the more extended use of augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality.
5G technology could help businesses increase efficiency, production, and innovative breakthroughs as well as reduce costs. Unfortunately, Barclays’ polling found that only 28 percent of businesses understand 5G or the practical business possibilities it could offer. Now that you understand what 5G has to offer, you can help inform your peers who still have questions!