All of a sudden, there is a lot of talk about 5G. Many of us still don’t know what it is. Of course, we all know that it is an upgrade to our existing 4G technology. We have all heard about the unequivocal speed upgrade it is going to give us. But if someone asks you to explain 5G, what do you say?
Apart from the obvious answer, that it is an abbreviation of the 5th generation of wireless technology. Yes, you might be aware that the President has expressed his wishes regarding the technology on Twitter. You might even be aware that it may improve internet plans. What do we really know about it?
What is 5G Technology?
Let’s start with the basics. 5G is the proposed replacement for the existing 4G technology. The difference between them is that 5G technology works over three bands. The lower band usually offers speeds up to 100 Mbps. The mid-range band offers speeds of up to 1 Gbps. But it is not as strong at penetration as the lower band. The high-range band is also called the millimeter-wave. It offers speeds up to 10 Gbps but has a limited range.
When your phone is receiving signals over all three bands at once, things get interesting. The 5G capable devices can combine all three bands and offer you a seamless experience. They will be able to offer wireless speeds as we have never experienced before.
How 5G Technology Affects Us
You might be wondering what these higher speeds really mean. Well, here is the simple answer. If you have tried downloading a full-length HD film, you know that it can take close to an hour. And that too, if your connection is really good. Now imagine being able to download the same file in a matter of seconds. The advantages of 5G go much deeper. It will improve our broadband services, sure.
But it is also a platform that our devices can use to improve.
When 4G technology launched, it gave developers a platform to improve. Look at the difference between pre and post 4G apps. The older apps were low-tech. Some were no more than a link to websites. Similarly, 5G technology will act as a driving force for developers to improve what apps, IoT, and devices can do.
Think about what this would mean for data-heavy technology like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). The gaming industry would improve drastically. SVOD platforms like Netflix could even offer us entire movies in AR or VR. And these are just the improvements 5G can allow on existing technology. We haven’t even started to comprehend what this technology can offer in terms of new technology.
Why Is There So Much Publicity around 5G?
The simple answer to this question is that people need something to focus their attention on. 5G is the new technology that everyone has started to bank on. The fact is that while this technology offers a lot of potentials, there are many obstacles in the way.
Firstly, developers who are working on this technology have been over-promising and under-delivering. The technology is still in the testing phase. But companies need to create hype around it so that they can keep making money. The US especially has reached a plateau in innovation in mobile technology.
Tech companies and mobile manufacturers need to give consumers a reason to buy their products. Creating hype around groundbreaking technology, companies can gain the trust of their consumers. This means that we will keep buying new smartphones, gaming consoles, and AR/VR technology.
What are the Obstacles for 5G?
As with any new groundbreaking technology, there are going to be more than a few obstacles. The main one is infrastructure. Our current communications infrastructure is not nearly as sufficient. 5G technology needs more advanced cell sites. Not just that, it also needs way more cell sites towers than are currently in use.
This means that the infrastructure required to cover a country like the US is going to cost a lot. Additionally, there is another problem. This has less to do with money and more to do with the current state of the technology.
5G signals can easily be blocked. Unlike 4G, 5G signals are not strong enough to transmit through walls. In testing, it was discovered that the signals can go through a few barriers under the right conditions. But there will be a lot of issues for people living in apartment buildings. Especially high-rise towers that have stronger building materials.
As you can imagine, this is a big concern. It will take some time for developers to bring this technology to a point where it is actually useable.
Currently, there is a bill in Congress, Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019. The focus of the bill is “To require the President to develop a strategy to ensure the security of next-generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure in the United States and to assist allies and strategic partners in maximizing the security of next-generation mobile telecommunications systems, infrastructure, and software, and for other purposes”.
So, already there is 5G legislation in process to develop the infrastructure required for 5G. With 5G infrastructure, the bill also requires the security protocols to be put in place. That way, by the time 5G technology is useable in real-world applications, the infrastructure will exist. And more importantly, security protocols would be ready to be implemented.
Should You Invest in 5G-Ready Devices?
This is probably the most important question of them all. Tech companies and manufacturers will have you believe that you need to be prepared for 5G. They make it sound like this technology is going to be all over the world in just a year or so.
Of course, it might. And if it does, that great. But you should still not buy into the hype and invest in getting the first 5G-ready devices. Even if 5G technology is implemented country-wide soon, the device technology might have issues. All new technologies have issues. It is best to wait a while before you go spending money on 5G devices. wait at least until the technology is implemented.
Conclusion
It is likely that in a few years, if you search for internet service, like internet near me, you will get 5G options. The new technology has a huge potential. But 5G has still not reached the stage of global or even national implementation. That means you need to give the developers time.
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