Wireless communications have existed for over a century, but it wasn’t until the late 1970s and early 1980s that it was commercially deployed for consumer cell phones. The first generation (1G) of wireless cellular technology allowed for mobile voice calls, but nothing more.
The second generation (2G) of wireless cellular tech provided improvements to voice calling and introduced text messaging via SMS (and later media messaging via MMS). Later iterations of 2G introduced data transmission, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that 3G allowed consumers to use media-rich applications like mobile internet browsing and video calling. 4G (also known as 4G LTE), reached consumers in the early 2010s and is able to reach real-world speeds of around 100 Mbps. These speeds allow for mobile online gaming, stream high-def video, group video conferencing, connected home solutions, and even emerging experiences like AR/VR.
That said, noticeable download times are typical at 4G speeds. For most consumers, this is a small price to pay for media-rich wireless freedom. But for industries like transportation or healthcare, latency (the delay before data transfer) can have a direct impact on system outcomes. This is one area where 5G could make a big difference. For example, low latency could help enable near-instant communication between autonomous vehicles — in some scenarios, a difference of even a fraction of a second could be enough to prevent a fatal accident.
Though 5G will improve consumers’ experience using their phones, it will have a bigger impact on mission-critical systems supporting major industries and will provide the infrastructure for tomorrow’s connected technologies.
1. 5G networks are the next generation of cellular technology
2. The first commercial network will launch in 2020
3. 5G networks have a much higher data rate than 4G and LTE, meaning better quality video streaming and faster downloads
4. The average person can expect to use up to 3GB per day on a 5G network, so it's important to choose a plan with enough data for your needs
5. You'll need one of these new phones - either an iPhone 11 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S10 - before you can access the service
6. Check out this article for more information about what is happening with mobile technology!
The next generation of smartphones is here and it's called 5G. The first carrier to deploy the technology will be Verizon in eleven cities across the United States, but not just for phones. The company plans on using its network as a way for people to access other devices such as security cameras, VR headsets and even cars. 5G offers speeds 10 times faster than what we're used to right now with 4G LTE which means downloading movies or video games to your phone will be faster than ever. You'll also have more data at your disposal to use on streaming services, apps or even video chats.
The first commercial network for the technology will launch in 2020 and you can expect speeds of around one gigabit per second which is about 100 times faster than what we are used to now should be much faster.