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Fundamentally, 5G is a mobile network like 2G, 3G, and 4G. It is a 5th generation network introduced in South Korea in 2019. It is believed to be a groundbreaking addition to internet connections that will revolutionize how the internet is used and offer a unique user experience.
The ever-increasing data growth over the last decade, especially with the advent of videos with 4K resolution and the continuously increasing content demand, is why 5G is needed. In addition, the daily rise of mobile traffic demands an internet connection that is much faster and provides a broader range of connectivity with reliable connections, all of which can be supported by 5G. This is made possible by the utilization of wider bandwidths that are available in the mm-wave bands.
5G is significantly faster than the technologies before, which means it will offer buffer-free video and the capacity to download GBs of data within seconds. Secondly, 5G usage shall be free of the burden of tower congestion, i.e., when a small area is crowded with users, the towers supporting 2G/3G/4G get overwhelmed. Moreover, the introduction of 5G means that faster internet-requiring applications like virtual reality and artificial intelligence can be supported so more devices can be launched having these features.
The greater bandwidth and faster internet come with a price of rapid battery drainage, so phones with more extraordinary battery power will need to be launched. Furthermore, complaints of devices getting overheated have also been received. Another problem with 5G is that its frequency is low, which, in simpler terms, the signal is easily hindered by structures, e.g., buildings, in its way or has less of a penetrating ability compared to 4G. To overcome this and optimize the 5G experience, the technology has been tweaked in a way that leads to greater exposure to radiation which has raised some health concerns.
If the signal strength is maintained and there is no connection disruption, 5G can reach a downloading speed of up to 20GBps; however, the upload speed is relatively low.
The individual expenses of 5G are still under debate, and the need to buy the latest devices sure does increase the load on the user’s pocket. Still, at the same time, the better energy consumption associated with 5G could mean a lower cost for telecommunications companies.
Over the next few years, we shall all benefit from the rollout of 5G technology! From improved speeds to cool new applications, I for one cannot wait to take full advantage of 5G. What about you?
