After a ton of hype and years of anticipation, the fifth generation of wireless networks is starting to become a reality. There is a belief that 5G could have an effect on our lives more drastic than any technology shift since the Internet became a thing.
How can this be? Well, low latency, speed, and ubiquity are just a few of the ways. A mature 5G network will operate at shorter ranges and higher frequencies than 4G predecessors, relying instead on a dense infrastructure of “towers” that are shoebox-sized, one every few hundred feet.
This will allow them to support billions upon billions of devices with almost no latency at all — and all of this with speeds up to 20 times faster than those of 4G. Not only that, but 5G will consume less power; this makes it better for connecting smaller, battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
The Impact of 5G
Having 5G readily available in our lives means that it will make some of our daily tasks and activities all the quicker. Imagine being able to stream video from multiple devices with far fewer buffering or playback issues.
With the transition from traditional cable into on-demand streaming services, 5G becomes almost essential. The same goes for the growing gaming world. With 5G, being able to stream live games with players from around the world will be more seamless than it has ever been before.
As we begin to consume more and more of our entertainment through digital means, the transmission and receiving of those things becomes more difficult. But with 5G implemented, we would be able to combat bandwidth issues and see an improvement in streaming quality.
The implementation of 5G means that there will be faster connections to have a more consistent live-stream experience in online casinos, like Unibet, where you can play table games with live dealers. Users will be able to worry less about disconnections and more about the big action that they can get in on while still running other applications or services without interruption.
Smart Cities and 5G
One of the biggest growing trends of 5G will be smart city technology. This includes things such as smart lighting systems that will automatically dim when there is no one around. These kinds of lights can save millions in electricity costs.
There are also sensors that can monitor air quality in an area, gunshot-detection microphones in neighborhoods with high crime, and a ton of other things. An Accenture Strategy report from 2017 predicts that using 5G networks to manage power and traffic could save cities up to $160 billion. That is nothing to scoff at.
Maybe the broadest impact felt by 5G will be in terms of commercial and industrial IoT. The use of location beacons has already transformed how goods move not only through inventory but also from shipping to delivery.
These changes will only continue to increase once these ultra-fast wireless networks begin being installed; it is believed that 5G networks will accommodate 125 billion IoT devices by the year 2030.
And then there is the possibility of autonomous vehicles. To be fully autonomous, driverless cars will use 5G networks to communicate with the cars around them to avoid congestion and to help avoid accidents. This means talking to traffic lights, the pavement, and road signs to navigate more safely than ever.
To get these instant responses, they will use low-latency 5G networks to communicate. This could lead to streets becoming less crowded, the air becoming less polluted, and even ride-sharing becoming more common.
The possibilities presented by 5G are limitless. It will be interesting to see what the future holds.
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