5G Technology | Read Time: 2.30 mins.
According to research by RootMetrics, only 53% of us are happy with mobile network speeds. And many say they would be happy to pay more for better connectivity.
The good news is that a new generation of mobile network speeds is just around the corner and it is guaranteed to blow your socks off!
5G is set to not only make our network speeds better, but also revolutionise technology.
So, it’s time to answer some of your questions about this new technology.
What is 5G?
The 5G network will be the fifth generation of mobile networks. It is set to be far faster and more reliable than the previous generation.
It has also been designed to allow for greater capacity and faster response times.
This means your internet experience will be quicker with websites and apps operating faster.
The greater capacity will also allow you to watch 4K videos on your handsets, meaning you can make the most of those HD screens that many new mobile handsets now come with.
But there’s more!
With the much higher data carrying capacity, 5G networks can be utilised with other upcoming tech. Self-driving cars, for instance, will be able to take advantage of the network to transmit and receive large volumes of data.
Think of 5G as upgrading your phone to superfast fibre broadband after you’ve just been using a 56K modem.
What does 5G mean for download speeds?
Let’s talk about where we are now.
Using your current 4G network, you’re probably getting around 20Mbps on average. Let’s not lie, that is fast.
But with 5G you’ll be looking at average speeds around 10-50Gbps.
That’s right. Up to 50 Gigabits per second!!
This will result in significantly reduced latency levels meaning faster load times and improved responsiveness when doing just about anything on the internet.
Latency refers to how quickly data can be transferred between two points. The latency rate for 5G is expected to be an incredible one millisecond.
To put that in perspective, the reaction time between the human eye seeing something and the brain reacting is around ten milliseconds.
This means that 5G will be the dawn of real-time applications and the true integration of an Internet of Things.
Where can I get 5G?
5G will be rolled out in the UK during 2019. The biggest UK mobile network, EE, has announced that it will launch their 5G in:
- Cardiff
- Edinburgh
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- London
- Manchester
Before moving onto a further 10 cities before the end of 2019 including Hull and Leicester.
It is likely the entire roll-out will be several years away with major population centres getting the tech first.
Is my phone ready for 5G?
Probably not. Only a handful of devices are currently compatible with 5G.
Your phone needs a specially designed chip that can pick up and read 5G signals. These chips are very rare in the current generation of phones.
However, many manufacturers have announced that they will be releasing 5G versions throughout 2019 with Samsung stating a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 coming out in the Summer.
Apple is expected to release a 5G compatible iPhone in 2020.
What networks will have 5G?
All four major network operators (EE, o2, Vodafone and Three) will be releasing and supporting 5G.
The timetable of release and the areas that are supported by it will vary depending on the network.
When can I start using 5G?
Roll-out will start in 2019 in major cities throughout the UK.
Wider coverage will continue throughout 2020, but it is likely to take a few years until there is anywhere near full coverage across the UK.
Whether you’re able to access 5G or not though will depend on whether your mobile has been built to pick up 5G signals.
