What is 5G and How to Use It
The upgrade to 5G seems buzzworthy lately. Whether you’re hearing about compatible personal devices, the possibilities or the towers, there’s a lot of chatter. How specifically does 5G affect you? Here’s a brief overview of 5G and how to use it.
What is It?
5G is the next generation for broadband cellular networks. The towers started going up in 2019 and it’s the planned successor to 4G. 4G provides connectivity to most cell phones now.
5G is a cellular network, like 4G and 3G before it. 5G wireless devices are connected to the Internet and phone network through radio waves. Though it is similar to 4G in theory, 5G provides huge advantages.
The Upgrade Process
Though there are many advantages, one disadvantage involves the need for new technology. Older devices and hardware aren’t compatible with 5G. This means to truly gain all the advantages, you need to upgrade to 5G compatible devices—a pricey endeavor for companies that want to take advantage of the capabilities.
Many cellular companies are currently offering great deals if you trade in your old device for something 5G compatible. If you own a business looking to upgrade, 5G core policy management can have a huge impact. It can help operators manage their 4G and 5G network policies in a consistent manner, while enabling internetworking and migration between 4G and 5G.
Preparing for 5G will take more than investing in a new network. You’ll also have to learn to manage it. This is especially true for businesses. Not only should you think about what 5G can do for you or your business now, but what this investment does for your future. Can your business benefit from AI or machine learning? Start planning for the future now, so you’ll be competitive when these changes make their way into your industry.
Faster Download Speeds
So why go to all the trouble to upgrade? The advantages are well worth it. For one, 5G means faster download speeds. This isn’t just a little faster, but an extreme upgrade. Speeds have the potential to be 10-20 times higher with 5G than what the world is used to now.
This change has the potential to make a significant impact. Any change in speed means a change in productivity and efficiency. With this increased bandwidth, cellular service has the potential to be used as a general internet service provider for computers, making it a potential competitor for today’s most common ISPs, such as cable internet.
Faster download speeds also means potential for real life use of technologies like AI. Increased bandwidth means more potential for the internet of things and machine-to-machine learning. This means that technology could take over more of your day-to-day tasks quickly and efficiently, making the immediate future look very different than the present.
Better Network Reliability
In addition to faster speeds, 5G also means better network reliability. 5G allows for more devices to be connected to a network at once without sacrificing speed. On a personal level, this means that when you attend a big event, you’re more likely to continue having service. Can you imagine going to a professional football game or big concert and being able to share with your friends in real time? What an exciting possibility!
For businesses, this has a big impact as well. An organization will have better ability to transfer data without the loss of quality. Plus, there’s less need to troubleshoot network problems due to device overload.
Lower Latency
5G also means lower latency. Latency means the lag between when you send something and when someone receives it. If you’ve stood by a colleague and sent an email, and they don’t receive it for a couple minutes, you’re experiencing latency. The lower the latency, the more productive your day becomes.
5G means big changes for individuals and businesses in the way the internet is interacted with and used. 5G will help streamline the way technology operates. Where will the 5G future take you?
