What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of mobile internet connectivity. This means super fast mobile streaming, uploads, downloads and hopefully wider coverage. Broadbench loves it when a plan comes together and if the 5G trails of this year have gone to plan the outcome should be very promising. 5G should bring us broadband equivalent speeds to mobile phone network suppliers, meaning the time for pages to load or videos to download and play will be a thing of the past. It’s particularly significant for the makers of driverless cars who require vast amounts of data to be transferred super fast.
What’s the difference between 4G and 5G?
Two words; radio technology. The recent upgrades in this area will initially be used by the network operators to enhance volume on existing 4G networks. This will hopefully provide a better service for customers but you might not notice the higher speeds at first because this largely depends on which spectrum band the mobile operator runs the 5G on, not to mention how much investment has gone into the transmitters and masts from your chosen supplier.
Will I need to upgrade my mobile device?
In short, yes. But, upgrading to a 5G-ready device might not be the wisest move initially without a network that supports it. Some larger providers including Vodafone, AT&T and Verizon are already testing 5G networks, with Vodafone currently trailing 4G and 5G before it makes the leap over to full 5G networks. AT&T have gone for a more ambitious approach and hope to have developed fully operational 5G networks by the end of 2018.
How much faster is 5G?
The American telecommunications and semiconductor company, Qualcomm, predicts 5G has the potential to increase download and browsing speeds by 10 – 20 times, much faster than 4G’s current 45 megabits per second (bps). That increase would mean being able to download a full high definition film in around a minute.
2018 has seen mobile networks trialling 5G around the world in preparation for the release of the first 5G ready smart phones, estimated for release in the early part of 2019. The reason we don’t already have 5G is because there are so many processes and standards involved. The device or hardware manufactures have to be on a level playing field with the technology providers, ensuring the finished product is a cohesive success.