The 5G network is the future of the fifth generation of communication between mobile devices. Some devices are already compatible with this technology, but it is still a ways off, so we will look at all that this new network has to offer.
What will be the advantages of 5G speed?
With 5G speeds, we will be able to have faster browsing on our devices and less latency, so the time it takes to connect to the network will be as short as possible. In addition, the most remarkable thing that many people appreciate about the new communication network is its low cost of consumption, which according to data can reduce power consumption by up to 90%, thus extending the life of our smartphones and other devices that want to connect to the network.
Technically, the 5G network will reach speeds of up to 1,250 MB/s and latency of 4 milliseconds. In addition, it will be possible to connect up to 100 devices per cell at the same time, which will increasingly improve outdoor coverage. All of these are mere numbers a priori, but they can lead to functionalities of technological devices that we have yet to conceive of. They can play a role in the more elaborate and diverse use of technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality.
Of course, such an ambitious technology will take time, even though cellular companies are already trying to market it as a panacea: building a 5G network is very difficult because it requires more points than 4G LTE and the signal cannot easily pass through buildings. However, despite the benefits it brings, it is important to remember that marketing is important to acquire consumers to bring the 5G network to the world.
And this brings us to the big question: when will 5G networks become a reality, and while there are compatible models such as the Huawei Mate X, the infrastructure is not yet in place. The biggest optimists believe that the technology will be introduced in 2020, remembering that even if you buy a 5G-capable phone today, it will not be available, as it will not be actively used for several months.
It is also worth noting that if you want to enjoy this technology but not change your phone, there will be a number of devices that will «convert» the network from the 5G node to the phone itself, allowing you to take advantage of phones that do not support native 5G. In fact, Vodafone and others have already announced these devices.
How is 5G different from 4G?
5G technology provides faster data transmission and lower latency than 4G technology, known as 4G LTE. Some 5G services have data transfer speeds up to 100 times faster and response times that are nearly instantaneous. With 4G, for example, it can take nearly six minutes to download a movie from a movie theater. With 5G, on the other hand, the same movie can be downloaded in 15 seconds. From a technical standpoint, 5G is expected to support speeds of up to 300 Mbps or more, whereas 4G currently supports speeds of about 12 to 36 Mbps.
