Chris Costello, Director at Sync, discusses what 5G is and the impact the technology will have on both our everyday lives and for businesses.
We’ve probably all become well-acquainted with using 3G or 4G. However, it won’t be long before we have 5G smartphones in our hands too.
5G has been on the agenda for some time, and while 2018 saw initial testing of the new super fast internet, 2019 is the year 5G goes mobile and mainstream.
Life before 5G
Before we dive into the excitement of what 5G technology will bring to our lives, here’s a bit of background into what came before 5G. 1G was the very first wireless telephone technology, originating in the 1980s, and used analogue radio signals to transmit voice calls. 2G arrived in the 1990s, and used digital signals which enabled phones to send text and picture messages.
In the early 2000s, 3G came in which allows us to be able to video call others and use the internet from our phones. Then came 4G in 2010 which allowed for faster mobiles speeds that made browsing the internet and streaming video a breeze. 5G will have some similarities to 4G. However, it will have more reliable mobile connection speeds than ever before, as well as the ability to handle thousands of connections without a compromise on connection quality.
5G technology is rumoured to be arriving in some countries later this year. However, the UK might not be getting 5G until 2020 according to a recent report released by the government.
How will 5G compare to what came before?
5G promises an average download speed of 10GB per second. That’s around 1000 times faster than what 4G currently delivers. To put this into perspective further, you could download an entire HD film in less than a second. It will also have a response time of just 1 millisecond. In comparison, 4G has a response time of between 15 and 60 milliseconds and 3G around 120 milliseconds.
What impact will 5G have on our everyday lives?
As well as dramatically improving our smartphone connections, 5G will transform every individual communication within our lives. No longer will we just be able to connect to other people around the world. Every object and thing will be connected too. This includes everything from being alerted about potential collisions whilst driving your car, to your coffee machine being linked to your alarm clock so that it has a drink ready as soon as you wake up.The impact it will have on businesses will be enormous too. From healthcare workers being able to monitor and react instantly to the progress of their patients with wearable technology, to the end of 9 to 5 working hours as workers can seamlessly work from home and respond as instantly as if they are physically in an office all together.
It’s clear 5G will take over the world and turn it into an ‘always connected’ and ‘instantly reachable’ environment.
Chris Costello
