The much-hyped network upgrade called “5G” means different things to different people.
To industry proponents, this is the next big innovation in wireless Internet. For the U.S. government, it’s a key technology of the future that the U.S. will compete with China for control of. For many ordinary people, it is just a mystery.
What exactly is 5G wireless and will you notice it when it comes online?
What is 5G?
5G is a new technology standard for wireless networks, the fifth one of course, and promises faster speeds. The delay when connecting to the network, or “delay”, is reduced. And the ability to connect many devices to the Internet without interruption. 5G networks will ideally be able to better handle more users, more sensors, and higher amounts of traffic.
Wireless companies and phone manufacturers will need to upgrade before we can all use it. Your phone will need a new chip and radio antenna to work on the new network.
Wireless companies are preparing. They are revamping network equipment, purchasing pieces of radio spectrum to carry 5G signals, and installing new 5G antennas on cell phone towers, utility poles, and streetlights. Wireless providers plan to invest $275 billion in 5G-related networks in the U.S., according to industry group CTIA.
When will it be available?
Full-scale mobile deployment in the US began in 2019, but significantly faster networks are still sparse. Nationwide adoption will take several years, but many more rural areas of the country will no longer be covered by millimeter wave frequencies, which promise the highest data speeds and capacity, said wireless consultancy Signals Research. Group CEO Michael Thelander said. .
But beware of confusion. Wireless carriers have a history of rushing to slap the latest and greatest labels on their networks, and this time is no exception. AT&T has already applied the name 5G to a service that is not actually 5G.
Once your network is ready, you’ll need a 5G-enabled phone to connect to it. The Android version has been out for a while, and on Tuesday Apple launched its first 5G iPhone. However, you can continue to use your 4G phone. You won’t be able to connect to 5G speeds if they are available.
What can we do with 5G?
There’s a lot of hype around the promise of 5G. The industry group says it will promote smart cities by connecting sensor networks that can manage traffic and quickly identify street light outages. 5G has the potential to connect self-driving cars and facilitate new applications in virtual and augmented reality. Its high-speed connectivity could enable better remote surgeries and other telemedicine, help companies automate their factories, and provide businesses with dedicated high-speed internet lanes.
“5G speeds and increasingly faster home broadband means existing applications will get richer, but it also means new applications will emerge, such as the new Flickr, YouTube, and Snapchat. It remains to be seen whether it will happen,” Benedict Evans, a partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, said in a 2019 blog post.
The direct impact on consumers is much smaller. Faster download speeds for movies and other videos. Thelander said cell phone internet works better in crowded places like stadiums.
What are the security concerns?
5G networks are one of the front lines of rising tensions between the United States and China. The US government has excluded Chinese technology from its telecommunications networks due to security concerns and is pressuring other countries to ban Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from building 5G networks.
U.S. officials have long suspected that the Chinese government could use Huawei network equipment for espionage. Huawei rejected such accusations.
