So you’ve heard about it and have seen the hype about its revolutionary developments for the technology sphere, but do you actually know what 5G is? If you don’t, you’re not alone. Short for fifth-generation wireless systems, 5G is the latest iteration of cellular technology that your devices will run its system programs off of. These developments allow for network splicing, which enables multiple channels to run on a singular network. As a result, many benefits will be brought to your use of all those devices our lives revolve around.
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5G will bring 3 main, noticeable improvements to your technology:
1. Quicker speed
2. Lower latency (more responsiveness)
3. Greater ability to simultaneously connect multiple devices
Although 5G devices will not be compatible with 4G services, these products will likely continue to run on 4G until they trade up in order to lean on its old capabilities to create initial connections with the new radio feed. In the 4G world, large, high power cell towers were required to transmit and track signals at long distances. Unlike this system, 5G will base it’s signals on a large number of small cell sites around town in places like existing roofs and light poles. This means better service for each individual. So what will users see changing in their technology?
AT&T will be the first to launch 5G in 12 cities by the end of 2018. The problem with the switch to all 5G is the lack of mobile devices that are compatible with the technology. This change will require a modification of home methodologies first and foremost which is the priority for the major companies as of now. This would drastically change the speed at which you are able to use the internet within your home, but not outside of those confines.
As the technology develops and grows, the ability to provide greater bandwidth will be crucial to our operation of devices. The current issue is that many companies are unable to see what exactly the return on investment will be on 5G. Many hope that by 2030, fixed wireless broadband services will provide a way for cheaper use of dissemination of 5G by bypassing the need to connect fiber optics to every residence, but rather installing them to local cell sites and delivering services through wireless modems to individual residences. This will increase accessibility for users and decrease costs for operators.
Imagine a world where buffering was non-existent, full-length movies would download in seconds, and your email tab appeared quicker than you could see in a blink of an eye. That is the goal of 5G. Until we learn more about how to adapt this technology to mobile devices, we will have to settle for only home applications. But don’t discount operators too quickly. Companies like Sprint and T-Mobile have made this their number one priority, even merging to create a new T-Mobile that will have the resources and capability to discover the full potential of 5G. It is easy to say that they are working tirelessly to improve upon the existing usages of 5G and will not stop until access to these services is available to the greatest amount of people in the greatest amount of places.