5G is the upcoming generation of wireless technology that will not only provide faster connections but better speeds for your devices. It’s expected to help power smart cities, self-driving cars, augmented reality, virtual reality, immersive gaming experiences, increased entertainment options, and more. As it rolls out in the United States and around the world, many are wondering what types of benefits they’ll be able to reap from 5G once it takes off.
Why Is 5G Necessary?
In short, 5G will change everything. For consumers, it will unlock truly futuristic capabilities, from real-time translation to augmented reality. For businesses, it could boost production and efficiency with its ability to provide better quality data management. And for infrastructure, it will offer developments, like facilitating the implementation of new digital road signs and lights in vehicles and equipment in a manner that makes driving safer for everyone.
What Are the Advantages of 5G?
5G will be the next convergence of wired and wireless networks, which means it will be fast enough to carry lots of data — more than anyone could ever possibly need. Plus, 5G will enable a host of new devices, such as smart toothbrushes and self-driving cars.
With 5G, your cell phone (or another connected device) will be able to make a request from a server and get a response virtually instantaneously. It’ll be easier to connect to cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure, too.
How Does 5G Work?
5G relies on different frequencies of radio waves – low, mid, and high bands – to connect with devices. Wireless signals travel in a straight line, so higher frequency bands don’t travel as far as lower ones do. Mid-band frequencies don’t travel as fast, but they do better at traveling through objects than other bands can. When building out 5G networks, it’s important that these bands are tailored to the specific environment to ensure optimal coverage and reliability.
How Can I Use 5G?
You’ll require a smartphone and a data plan with 5G capability to access 5G. For now, most 5G networks will only offer the service in select areas — generally big cities — but that’s expected to change as carriers expand their coverage.
That means you can download HD movies in just a few seconds. It also promises to be highly responsive, which will streamline the experience of using things like virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence apps.
