Wednesday, February 20th, 2019

With 5G, Mass Connectivity is Here

Jonathan Blum

In the new digital era you have to constantly adapt to new societal needs—one of which is improved connectivity. This translates into reduced latency (temporary delays in internet connections), better network support -so more users can connect at the same time-, faster download speeds -to accommodate large files- and improved networks that make applications -such as videogames- run faster.

5G is the solution to our connectivity problems, and there are a lot of expectations regarding this technology. For example, traditional mobile telephone users and brands stand to gain:

  • Faster data transmission speeds.
  • Higher resolution (4K to 8K) for advertising visuals.
  • Better web connections.
  • More simultaneously connected devices.
  • Support for augmented and virtual reality, which are currently limited to connection speeds.
  • Real-time remote control over millions of internet-connected devices.

But some of the best news with the launch of 5G is its implementation in smart cities, where it will be used to manage traffic lights, security cameras, etc. in real-time to help avoid accidents. This network will let major cities, such as Tokyo, London and New York, provide better internet connections and drive use of new technologies to improve the purchase process for public transportation tickets and access to online books at schools, among other benefits.

5G is expected to be launched in the U.S., United Kingdom, China, Japan and South Korea in 2019, but the rest of the world will have to wait until 2020 for prep work to begin.