At the rate technological advancements are being made, it was only a matter of time till wireless communications got revamped. Wireless Communications have become an integral part of our professional and personal lives. The recent development of 5G will facilitate improvements in multiple aspects of our lives such as business, healthcare, education, and technology.

What is 5G?

In the simplest terms, 5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks. It is the latest wireless communications network after 4G, 3G, 2G, and 1G. It has been designed in such a manner that it is compatible with machines, objects, and devices.

This version is designed to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users (What Is 5g | Everything You Need to Know about 5g | 5g Faq, 2017).

Why was there a need for 5G?

The range of mobile networks is becoming overcrowded. Current networks are struggling to provide a uniform experience to users. When there are too many users, there are shortages and delays in services. A prime example of the following is the pandemic era, since most people are working from home the strain on these networks is immense and networks are experiencing an overload hence cannot meet the demand and supply.

The demand it seems is not decreasing anytime soon. The current number of mobile network users is 5.20 billion! To release the pressure a new wireless communication version was needed.

How is 5G Different from its Predecessors?

To determine whether 5G is a necessity and understand how it differs, we need to compare it to the previous versions of mobile networks.

• First Generation-1G

The very first wireless communication network was released in the 1980s. It mainly delivered analog voice.

• Second Generation-2G

The second version was introduced in the early 1990s. The main difference between this and the previous version is that it had a digital voice (CDMA-Code Division Multiple Access).

• Third Generation-3G

The third variant is where things got interesting essentially revolutionizing how we used cellular networks. 3G was released in the 2000s and it brought the era of mobile data. (CDMA2000).

• Fourth Generation-4G

This is the current version of the wireless communication network in use. This particular variant was released in the 2010s. Another groundbreaking invention that ushered in the era of mobile broadband.

• Fifth Generation-5G

5G is the latest creation in the mobile network world. It promises to transfigure the wireless communication world into something never seen. It is a unified and more capable interface designed with an in-built capability to adapt to future inventions.

It is the fastest version of all its predecessors, it is extremely reliable and has minimal latency.

It has been predicted that 5G will impact every industry. It will make complete automation of vehicles possible, healthcare will be easily accessible, agricultural activities can be carried out with extreme precision, and much more.

Features of 5G

• Speed

5G is said to be significantly faster than its predecessor. It will go beyond 4G LTE and the predicted speed up till now is 10 Gpbs which is about 100x faster than 4G. You no longer have to wait hours to download a movie or clip, 5G will download high-resolution videos in just seconds. The ultra-fast download means you can quickly download movies to watch on your commute even if you are late for work. This is providing us with a strong alternative for fast broadband connections.

• Latency

In the simplest terms, Latency means how long a signal takes to go from its source to the receiver, and then back again. 5G is said to have lower latency than its predecessor, the time is less than five milliseconds.

The only limitation is the human reaction time. 5G will make it possible to control devices remotely in real-time.

Reduced latency means that users will be able to have a seamless and immersive experience with virtual and augmented reality due to the decreased lag.

• Enhanced Capacity

5G is a step up from 4G in all aspects, it will have 1,000x more capacity and will open the door for IoT (Internet of Things) development. If it wasn’t obvious, this version of mobile network will redefine how wireless networks along with the internet are used.

5G has the capacity for hundreds of thousands of devices to operate effortlessly. It provides people with the opportunity to develop new applications, honestly, the sky’s the limit with this one. Every industry can make use of this technology and flourish.

• Increased Bandwidth

5G could transfer large amounts of data. The update allows greater optimization of network traffic and shortages can be handled swiftly. Remember when you wanted to stream the concert you at but couldn’t since the network used to lag in a crowded space? Well, with 5G you can stream from concerts to Football matched with ease. While a business can handle large amounts of data with ease.

• Coverage

Since 5G is relatively new, it is not widely available. In countries such as the USA and China are deploying 5G networks in major cities but the coverage is vastly limited as of now.

How will 5G affect the Global economy?

Tech moguls all over the world are adapting their ventures to 5G. The newest smartphone models of Apple and Samsung have 5G chips in them while the Chinese company AutoX is working on completely automated vehicles that will operate on 5G.

The true potential of 5G has not been tapped, it has been predicted that 5G’s full economic effect will possibly be realized worldwide by 2035. It will support a wide range of industries, hopefully integrating the fifth-generation network into every aspect of our lives hence enabling up to $13.2 trillion worth of goods and services. It will also create about 22 million jobs.

The Verdict: Does the world need 5G?

It has been said that 5G will usher in the fourth industrial revolution by changing the economy. It surpasses its predecessors by a long shot and would create a new era for technology. The possibility to connect millions of devices seamlessly at an ultra-fast speed is astonishing. Moreover, the sheer possibility of achieving complete automation of houses and vehicles is another major win. 5G will also help in 3D and hologram technology plus mission-critical services.

5G seems to be the right direction however we will not understand all of its implications till it is available for the masses.