Think 4G connection is the best invention since sliced bread? Prepare to be blown away by 5G.
The Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) has recently announced it’d be facilitating efforts to introduce 5G services and technology later this year. One such effort IMDA is undertaking includes rolling out real-world trials with potential partners to evaluate how 5G will work in Singapore’s business environment.
The Evolution of 5G
So what is 5G? The ‘G’ stands for generation, and 5G refers to the upcoming fifth generation of mobile network technology. Currently, in most parts of the world, mobile devices are running on 3G or 4G.
When the world first entered into the smartphone phase in late 90s, 3G technology was developed to enable us to connect to the internet. But as we get hooked on downloading our favorite Korean dramas and the world of Youtube, we began to demand for faster internet connection.
Fast forward to 2010 – 2011, we started upgrading to 4G, which is about 10 times faster than 3G in terms of download/upload speed. But now barely a few years later, we’re already starting to demand for an even faster connection.
Just how much faster, you ask? Early preliminary results from US-based mobile carrier Verizon shows 5G can achieve download speed of between 30-50 times faster. That means you can download an entire HD video in just about 15 seconds!
Technology For The Future
5G has been deemed necessary due to the Internet of Things (IoT). The world’s leading tech companies and manufacturers are racing to create interconnected devices and appliances, and research company International Data Corporation (IDC) has predicted there will be 30 billion connected devices by 2020. Because of this, seamless and fast internet connectivity is needed and that’s where 5G comes in.
But 5G is not just for mobile devices. Experts are saying the technology can be adopted in other industries, such as transportation and surgery. This is possible due to its low latency rate which refers to the time it takes to transmit data from source to destination. Because of this, it’s possible to design autonomous vehicles that can avoid collisions or create robotic arms to perform remote surgery.
Some Drawbacks
But as exciting as 5G sounds, here are some things to consider though.
1. Costlier Plans
As what happened when we transitioned from 3G to 4G, you can expect 5G services to cost far more than 4G. And remember how we went from 12GB of data plan to a mere 2GB per month? With 5G’s blazing speed, would it mean a further slash in data plan?
2. Lower Adoption Rate
Even though we all want faster connection, price would certainly be a deciding factor. If 5G network is going to cost us a bomb, not many people would be willing to switch from 4G.
Also, IoT devices and appliances are created with 5G technology in mind, and again, price plays a role. If only a handful can afford these IoT items, then the adoption rate for 5G will also be affected.
3. Higher Expectations On Businesses
Like it or not, technology has made us impatient; we expect things to be fast, we want to be attended to promptly, and we have short attention span.
With 5G, businesses will struggle to keep with us as we demand more out of them due to faster connectivity. At the same time, we will also be overloaded more than ever with information that can now be released faster than before.
What’s Next
5G will only be commercially available in 2020, which is why trials are being run across the world in different industries. The data collected will be used to formulate standards and framework, and the final decisions will then be presented at the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC).
So let’s be patient for another three years. In the meantime, maybe we can start saving up a fortune so that we can afford 5G!
