If you have a mobile device, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of 4G. 4G is currently the global standard for wireless mobile communication technology and it follows 3G as a faster, more powerful technology. Recently, however, mobile communications companies have announced that they will be switching to 5G – a new network system that is even faster and more capable than our current one. Read on to learn more about 5G, the players involved in developing it and how it will affect your mobile technology experience.
The 5th Generation
The “G” in 5G stands for fifth generation. That’s because it’s the fifth generation of mobile communications system that has been developed since the invention of mobile technology. The first generation – 1G – was an analog cellular system. The following three have been digital systems.
Global System
While 5G has not been released yet, some of the world’s biggest telecom companies are working to create it and the standards around it. Verizon and AT&T are currently testing 5G in the United States. Ericsson and Nokia have also announced that they are steps away from creating their own 5G wireless networks. Despite steps to create the powerful network, many of the most trusted mobile telecom experts don’t believe that the network will be widely available to consumers until around the year 2020.
The Fastest System Yet
When
5G is first released, experts believe that it will likely average speeds of about 100Mbps. That is faster than current 4G-LTE systems, which offer about 30-50 Mbs. 5G is faster than previous systems because it splits data into two bands. Then, it aggregates the two bands of data, combines their bandwidth and offers a much more powerful, capable and speedier mobile data experience. 5G will also offer a better mobile experience than 4G because it will not be interrupted by signals from other devices in the vicinity. 4G is rarely able to reach its maximum speed because it’s often interrupted by things like microwaves, WiFi signals and more. These signals, however, will not affect how 5G functions.
Better Media Streaming Experiences
One of the best parts about 5G is that it is going to allow users to use their mobile devices to download, upload and stream media easily — even things like Ultra HD and 3D videos. 5G will allow for seamless streaming and let high-end mobile device users take full advantage of the capabilities of their devices.
Completely Connected World
Recently, technology experts dubbed the era we are currently living in
“The Age of the Internet of Things.” Devices that currently do not incorporate any Internet connection are now becoming “smart”; we have smart refrigerators, dog collars, bathroom scales, sports bras and more. 5G is going to continue this era of internet connectedness, making it easier for more and more devices to connect to the web using cellular data. In fact, a
study by Gartner predicts that by the time 5G becomes widely available, more than 20.8 billion devices will be connected to the web.
5G is still a technology in development, but from what mobile experts understand about what it will entail, it is expected to revolutionize our world as we know it. With billions of connected devices and more people working and communicating on the go, 5G will help ensure that those communications happen seamlessly — and extremely fast.
LG Spirit by Kārlis Dambrāns is licensed under Attribution License
