Before delving into 5G, there is a need to understand the internet technology that is soon to take over the world and possibly improve high-speed internet in rural areas and urban areas.
The term 5G stands for “fifth generation” cellular technology. Generations are used to describe the minimum speed, connectivity, and reliability of each network. The higher the generation, the faster the connection. 1G allowed us to make calls, 2G brought text messaging, and 3G introduced broadband and internet connection.
The recent 4G/LTE made an advancement from 3G and made the internet connectivity a lot faster. It made it possible to provide high-speed internet in rural areas. 5G is the set of standards adopted as the next step from 4G LTE connections. We expect 5G to be rolled out in 2020 and revolutionize the way devices connect to the internet and to each other.
From a peak speed perspective, that is when the connection has no interference and performs at its optimum, 5G is about 20 times faster than 4GLTE. 5G connections will have speeds of up to 20 Gbps while 4G LTE provides speeds of about 1 Gbps a second.
Apart from speed, 5G has a low latency rate which refers to the amount of delay between sending and receiving information. The current 4G has about 100-200 milliseconds of latency while 5G is expected to get the latency rates down to 1 millisecond, that’s almost a real-time interaction.
With high-speed and low latency rates, this is how 5G will change the way we use the internet.
Gaming and streaming will never be the same as 5G will bring real-time feedback, and a lag-free experience. Videos will stream seamlessly and movie downloads will be 20 times faster. Social media browsing, gaming, and music streaming will be instant.
With 5G, users will not necessarily have to download programs and apps, since 5G will allow usage of web apps, saving storage space on your devices. Usage of web-based apps will become smooth and instant and data can be easily saved on cloud-based services, requiring little storage on your device.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality require fast and reliable connections to handle the processing of massive amounts of data for a safe and immersive experience. 5G will drastically improve AR and VR experiences with its reliable and lag-free experience.
In situations where time and distance would normally hinder healthcare practices of The Internet, 5G will break the time and distance barriers. Imagine, surgery performed by robot surgeons controlled by a surgeon across the world who couldn’t travel in time for life-saving surgery.
On the other hand, the healthcare industry holds massive amounts of data from detailed patient records to research and images. The Internet’s 5G’s low latency will enable huge amounts of data to be transmitted instantly and without affecting speed.
Wearable health monitoring devices will send real-time patient health data to doctors. Your heart rate, blood sugar, etc will be monitored and your doctor or family member will be alerted in case your vitals change to unsafe levels and need immediate attention. The Internet’s 5G offers the possibility that one day we might be able to save time and money with remote medical examinations.
5G brings the dream of self-driving cars closer to fruition and wide-scale adaption. With a real-time connection, cars can communicate with each other. The result is that cars are able to self-drive without the risk of accidents as they will be able to tell in real-time where other cars are and read road information such as traffic lights, and road sensors; literally, read data from anything that has a connection.
Not only are we going to be able to move faster, but driving will also be safer. Opportunities lie in other modes of transportation such as remotely controlled cargo ships, delivery trucks, trains, and airplanes. It may still be a long way for commercial air travel, but the possibilities are there.
We saw a rise in online shopping with the rise of 4G/LTE. 5G will enhance the online shopping experience with faster transactions, automated delivery systems, and faster online payment methods. With lag-free VR dressing rooms, you could virtually try an outfit from the comfort of your home.
Bank queues will become a thing of the past with 5G. Banking transactions from back-end operations to customer engagement will be accelerated. Users can make banking transactions remotely and instantly on their devices.
5G will bring a revolution in how factories operate. With robots and machines performing tasks effectively and wirelessly controlled over 5g, smart factories will eventually become a reality. 5G will create flexibility and efficiency in manufacturing industries with improved safety and lower maintenance costs. Factories can make use of sensors for real-time monitoring and data collection for faster and automated manufacturing systems.
They could also use AR to support training, construction, maintenance, and more. While drones are already being used now, 5G will amplify their effectiveness in various applications, whether in distributing pesticides over fields of crops or dropping humanity supplies over disaster-struck areas.
Agricultural processes such as water management, livestock safety, and crop monitoring are already making use of internet technology to increase profitability, efficiency, and safety. With the right sensors, crops can be watered when needed, and animals will be fed on time as you receive real-time updates on your device.
The current technologies are not enough to provide the speeds and data handling capabilities that are required for smart farming. 5G will open doors by bringing high-speed internet to rural areas. It’s expected to increase the adoption of connected devices to provide real-time data for farmers to monitor, track and automate their agricultural systems.
5G will unleash smart solutions in the production, distribution, and usage of energy and utilities. Energy and other utility lines will be connected and hence simplify their management in order to reduce waste. Real-time monitoring of utility plants and assets will support the lowering of energy and utility costs through early detection of risks.
Overall, the possibilities are endless with 5G. Once in use, users can discover more ways to take advantage of 5G connections. For developers, 5G is an avenue to create programs and apps beyond our imaginations. As usual, the fastest internet company in Tanzania is always ready to serve you and your business in this ever-changing world.
