There is a lot of buzz building around 5G technology. It is the 5th generation of mobile internet technology and will deliver many times the speed of 4G LTE. Progress is good and we must embrace it.
What is 5G?
5G refers to the next generation of mobile technology after 4G. In other words, the 5th generation. It offers much faster speeds and a more robust service than older mobile technologies.
How Fast is 5G?
The theoretical download speeds for 5G connections are in the range of 1-20Gbps. For the heaviest internet tasks that you and the average mobile consumer engages in, you do not need more than 5Mbps in internet speed. And 4G delivers that already. And 4G technology keeps improving, with some of the most recent capable of speeds up to 2Gbps. Whether you are downloading a game or streaming a 1080p video, 5Mbps is more than adequate. Of course, heavier downloads will run faster with faster internet, so nobody is going to frown at a 30Mbps download speed. Again, 4G has you covered there too. What do you really need 1Gbps internet speed for? I can tell you: for the future.
5G Is The Future
Have you noticed how higher quality video formats keep being created? Or how apps keep getting heavier with each passing year? Media just gets heavier and heavier, and we can expect that trend to continue. So, in another few years, we will have something better than 4k video. We will have heavier apps and media formats. Virtual reality and augmented reality will require more robust and faster internet speeds. Self-driving cars, flying taxis and delivery drones will also be exchanging information all the time. 1Gbps on a 5th generation network will be essential, then.
When is 5G Coming?
Having said that, you are probably asking, “When will 5G be available?” or “How soon is 5G coming?” There are a number of components to this. The first has to do with 5th generation mobile networks. Another is about the devices – routers, modems, and smartphones. Let’s talk about the networks first. How soon will we see the first 5G networks? The world’s first commercial 5G network was launched in Qatar in May 2018, followed by 5G networks in Finland and Estonia a month after. Other countries like Germany, Russia, South Korea, and Spain have pre-commercial demonstration networks up and running already too. Others like the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Indonesia are at different stages of rolling out 5th generation networks. At least 3 US carriers have committed to rolling out their first 5G networks by the end of 2018. The first 5th generation smartphones and modems are being expected in 2019. On the device’s end, the first set are expected to hit the market by early to middle 2019.
The Transition From 4G To 5G
For now, 4G is all you need, and it is all that most people will get for years to come. 4G has been around for about a decade (the first LTE network was launched in December 2009), yet many countries are just getting 4G LTE networks. Even in the most advanced mobile markets, 4G is yet to be ubiquitous. Plus, the first 5th generation networks will run on the same infrastructure that existing 4G LTE networks use. Infrastructural capacity will be upgraded over time. So, yes; for some more years to come, 4G is all you are likely to get. The good news is that 4G is all you really need for now anyway.
Don’t miss our reviews.Follow our news on Google News.Join our WhatsApp Group, to be notified of the most important articles and deals,Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
