Even though we’ve been hearing about 5G for a while now, the technology only became viable and mainstream in 2021.
What’s not to love about something that can be 100x faster than 4G?
Since day one, 5G has promised to be a game-changer, but is it really? Let’s take a look at how this new technology can change our lives. On the other hand, we’ll also explore some of its downsides.
Why Is 5G Better?
The technology behind 5G promises to change more than just our smartphones. In fact, it can be applied to virtually any field, from industries such as autonomous vehicles, cloud computation, virtual reality (VR), and many more.
Speed
Most reports estimate 5G to be around 100 times faster than its predecessor. Through 5G, users will be able to download a two-hour movie in under 10 seconds. We’re talking about a network with a top speed of 20 gigabits per second and up to 1,000 MHz of bandwidth.
With this improvement, computers and users can communicate in real-time across multiple platforms, which may empower several industries, from finance to the automotive industry.
Latency
Latency is the time data takes to travel. 5G reduces latency by several magnitudes when compared to previous technologies, which further solidifies its real-time use. The tech giant Qualcomm predicts 5G could become an 18 trillion $NZD industry.
The Uses of 5G
Besides improving our Internet connection, 5G can have a ton of other benefits, including:
- Self-driving vehicles – With 5G, autonomous vehicles can be connected at all times, improving road safety by sending information to other cars in the network.
- Live streaming – In the future, users and companies will be able to view 8K footage in real-time via live streaming apps using 5G technology.
- Gaming and VR – Many online casinos have started to get into the 5G trend, and as such, all the latest casino games have had a noticeable increase in quality. In the future, this new network will allow us to quickly access entirely virtual words at the highest quality possible.
Downsides of 5G
Despite the rumours, 5G doesn’t affect your health, according to the current research data presented by World Health Organization (WHO). On the other hand, it still has a major setback, which is coverage.
The super high-frequency waves used in 5G can’t travel very far. This means that hundreds of network towers are required to make a city 5G-ready. For now, only major cities are benefiting from this technology.
It’ll take a few years until 5G is available in remote areas.
