Introduction
Over the years, technology has continued to develop and has become an indispensable part of our lives. One of the technologies that has revolutionized the business and technological world is the development of wireless telecommunications.
In the mid-1980s, there was 1G in the world. By 2001, we were already experimenting with the potential of 3G, which allowed video conferencing and video transmission. Only a few years later (2007), 4G networks developed again and changed the rules of the game. This evolving trend led to the further development of 5G in early 2018, which means not only higher video download speeds, but also huge improvements in industries such as healthcare and automobiles, to name a few.
Let’s take a look at some of the trends, opportunities and worries brought about by 5G technology.
Transition from 4G to 5G
Let us see how 4G affects the world and how 5G is preparing to succeed its predecessor. 4G has several characteristics, including latency, speed, and bandwidth improvements. In addition, although 4G is struggling during peak hours, 5G is expected to allow more devices to be connected uninterrupted. For example, the 4G network supports approximately 4,000 devices per square kilometer, while the 5G network supports up to 1 million devices per square kilometer.
Industry experts say that the reduced latency and higher speeds of 5G technology are just the tip of the iceberg. New technologies will improve connectivity and power some of the most important modern communications advancements. In the long run, this means that all the devices in your home can be fully powered by your 5G network.
So why is 5G better?
Several key features of 5G technology make 4G obsolete. As mentioned above, speed, latency and bandwidth are the biggest advantages. In addition, there are more integration possibilities. Integration with autonomous vehicles, medical equipment and even infrastructure. Higher speed and lower latency also mean real-time updates to the database and anything else that requires an immediate decision-making process. This in turn means that over time, you will better understand the overall business costs and optimize these expenses.
5G will set a new standard for Internet speed and affect all industries we know. This is mainly because it is related to the new industrial revolution, the “Internet of Things”. In the healthcare industry, 5G will power telemedicine, which means that operations can even be performed thousands of miles away through virtual reality. In addition to this remote vital sign, when 5G performs its full capabilities around the world, it will also be monitored.
Another industry that will benefit from 5G is the automotive industry. 5G not only allows cars to communicate with each other, but also with each nearby device, thereby reducing the possibility of accidents, or according to other users of road 5G technology to recheck traffic patterns in real time and provide alternative routes.
5G : Rumors
Among the 196 countries in the world, only 35 countries have 5G coverage. However, not all of these 35 cities cover the whole country, but more limited access to large cities and regions.
Since the service was launched, there have been numerous protests about the security of 5G. Conspiracy theories claim that technology can penetrate the skin and cause various diseases, from cancer to the latest coronavirus. In addition, as seen in the recent news, people have caused disasters by attacking 5G infrastructure, more specifically 5G sites. “The low- and mid-band 5G is based on radio frequencies that have been in use for decades,” the expert said.
After discussing the next big thing, it goes without saying that not everything is perfect in 5G. The biggest disadvantage of 5G is that its speed is directly affected by obstacles in the surrounding area. This means that anything from trees to large buildings and walls can interfere with the powerful high-frequency short-range signals from 5G antennas. Another disadvantage of 5G technology is the high initial implementation cost. In addition to rebuilding the existing infrastructure, we must not forget the maintenance costs required to always support such high speeds.
Another disadvantage of 5G is the current equipment. Mobile phones, tablets, and any other 5G-compatible devices do not yet have the battery capacity to maintain this connection, and those with battery capacity are very expensive.