With mobile technology rapidly advancing and the introduction of 5G on the not-so-distant horizon, how will the next evolution of mobile data impact us?
That’s a good question, and with 5G being prepared for UK-wide rollout in the next few years, it’s one that many are contemplating. So, what is 5G? Will it really make surfing the web on our mobiles that much faster? And why is it so important?
Mobile data has skyrocketed over the past five years, with global figures reaching a staggering 3.7 exabytes a month. Mobile users now expect to have constant access to a high-speed data connection in order to use their favourite apps and streaming services easily. With such high demand, 4G is struggling to cope, and 5G is needed more than ever.
5G is a form of mobile network technology that has been designed to handle more data and connected devices. In turn, users should notice significantly reduced latency and increased reliability. The technology involves pooling bandwidth to boost mobile range and speed and should give users seamless, ultra-fast, ultra-reliable and ultra-high-capacity connectivity.
The 5G rollout will enable the UK, and the rest of the world, not only to cope with and support ever-larger data requirements but also to make new applications such as augmented reality, connected vehicles and the Internet of Things a reality. These are tasks that 4G is struggling with and failing to bring fully to fruition today. It will also impact the development of IoT devices.
So how much faster will 5G really be? Well, experts predict that it will be able to reach speeds of up to 100Mbps in real-life conditions and in lab conditions, it could handle a theoretical maximum of up to 450Mbps depending on device and connection. Compare just how fast this is with previous internet technology below.
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Now that you’ve seen just how fast 5G will be, you’re probably wondering when it will be arriving. Currently, 5G has no set date for a nationwide rollout in the UK, but experts are expecting it to start globally in 2020.
