Will 5G change your life?
The thing is, many people aren’t sure exactly what 5G is, and how will it be different from the current network.
Put simply, 5G is the next step on from 4G – the current technology – that will enable download speeds between 10 and 100 times faster than present rates, by cutting down on latency due to its advanced network design – though in real-life, once the potentially thousands of extra devices have been connected, the speed is more likely to be 10 to 20 times faster. In terms of our user experience, this means that VR technology will be more reliable, video games can be streamed online, or a 4K film will download in a fraction of the time it does now.
5G does this by adding significantly more radio spectrum at higher frequencies. In the UK this will initially consist of a 3.4GHz – 3.8GHz spectrum, though Ofcom plans to auction off ultra-high frequency of roughly 26GHz, 37-43.5GHz and 66-71GHz.
However, even when it does become available, you won’t be able to use 5G unless you have a compatible mobile phone with specially designed modem chips that can pick up 5G signals – and whilst some models have been announced, hardly any of them are available yet.
As well as faster mobile network speeds, 5G will enable the development of new products and technology like remote surgery, factory robots and driverless cars.
But, what about security? The arrival of 5G will create thousands more access points on the network, meaning that many more areas can be exposed to cyber-attack. As some of these access points will be connected to vital technologies like power stations or driverless cars, it’s certainly a concern.
One way or the other, it looks like 5G will change your life – but when and how remain to be seen.