Emerging technologies such as AI, IoT and AR/VR are about to hit their stride within the next decade. While these are certainly very exciting, we cannot forget the supporting technology that will enable them to reach their maximum potential, or even function properly! This includes for example, cloud / quantum computing and 5G.
The massive number of devices and applications being brought online every day are demanding more and more data. 5G will be especially important for reducing lag time while providing ultra-fast speeds. Running thousands of self-driving cars and drone deliveries will demand the capability that 5G brings to the table (see the recent Forbes article: Autonomous Cars Won’t Work – Until We Have 5G).
Where we Stand Today
Our society will soon be transformed by the 5G rollout. 5G networks will be on average 100 times faster than the 4G wireless networks we have today. Our current networks are already under immense strain, so they will need an upgrade sooner rather than later. Just consider that:
- From 2015 to 2017, 4G broadband errors were up 40%
- Average load time is 22 seconds for mobile websites according to a 2017 Google study – but 53% of visits taking more than 3 seconds are abandoned
- Slow connections and calling problems are experienced by wireless customers 16% of the time
- 75 billion – number of devices connected to the internet
The issue is too many devices are already trying to access the internet today. There just isn’t enough bandwidth to go around. The devices and applications of the future are only going to be that much more data hungry.
Impact of 5G on Society
Certain technologies such as autonomous vehicles simply cannot fully function at scale without 5G. For example, see how much data Intel believes autonomous cars will require in the infographic below:
Intel Autonomous Cars Data
Just one car is estimated to collect the equivalent of 1,000 HD movies’ worth of data each day. Beyond autonomous driving, 5G is going to enable:
- Lightning-fast downloads with smooth streaming and lower latency
- Vastly increased broadband wireless speeds (10 – 20 times faster than current speeds)
- New connections to Internet of Things (IoT) networks
Clearly, to take the next giant technology leap forward as a society, we must embrace the 5G rollout. Up to $12 trillion in wealth creation is up for grabs. 5G will definitely transform our world – it’s not just an evolutionary technology but a revolutionary one.
5G and National Security
Much like AI, whomever leads the race in 5G will gain massive economic and security benefits. These technologies will not only enable billions of dollars of growth and increases to productivity, but not being at the leading edge risks possible defeat on the battlefield. This is of particular concern to the United States, China and the EU. There is a new war brewing, and that is to dominate in the field of emerging technologies.
President Trump recently tweeted that:
I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible. It is far more powerful, faster, and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind. There is no reason that we should be lagging behind on………
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019
….something that is so obviously the future. I want the United States to win through competition, not by blocking out currently more advanced technologies. We must always be the leader in everything we do, especially when it comes to the very exciting world of technology!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019
And Ang Cui, CEO of security firm Red Balloon, made a powerful statement on winning the race to develop 5G infrastructure:
“Whoever gets to dominate 5G infrastructure will become the owner of the next generation of the world’s telecoms infrastructure.”
Building out 5G networks is quickly becoming a top priority for companies and governments worldwide. This is evident by the recent spat between the U.S. and China’s preeminent 5G provider, Huawei. In fact, Trump recently signed the House bill H.R. 5515 into law, banning Huawei telecom equipment from being used by government agencies in the U.S. He has also ordered his administration to free up spectrum for 5G U.S. tech companies. Trump is pushing for the buildout of the network as quickly as possible.
5G Rollout Map
The 5G rollout in the U.S. has just begun, but should expand rapidly over the next few years. Given its importance, I have developed a Tableau dashboard to start tracking the progress of the rollout by the major wireless carriers.
You can view a map of the United States where coverage is supposedly now and being planned, filtering and highlighting by different criteria. I say “supposedly” now, as coverage in many areas that are alleged to have 5G will remain limited and spotty until the networks are further built out. In fact, you’ll have to be careful about whether you are getting true 5G service or not, as recently seen in the dispute between Sprint and AT&T. Don’t forget, you also have to buy a 5G capable phone first, which are currently in short supply!
Enjoy playing around with the dashboard below, and be sure to check back every so often for updates.
Bonus – AI Gives a 5G Overview
Now that you have read my explanation of what 5G is all about and why it will be so important, I thought you might enjoy seeing what an AI content generator comes up with as a 5G overview. The following was created by Article Forge. What do you think of the AI’s description? My opinion is it still needs some work, but overall it’s really not that bad! The AI even added in the image and video. Be sure to comment below with your thoughts.
As you may be aware, 5G isn’t just about faster broadband and lower latency. With its high speed and very low latency, 5G will have the ability to support new innovation. 5G can supply the very same services DSRC offers. 5G will help determine the way we’ll reside later on, but nevertheless, it will still undoubtedly have its benefits. 5G is the upcoming technological revolution that the world will witness with the impact it’s going to have on the economy, industries and you. At the moment, 5G is in the important phase of the formation of technical standards. Huawei 5G leads the worldwide industry.
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As you may be aware, 5G isn’t just about faster broadband and lower latency. With its high speed and very low latency, 5G will have the ability to support new innovation. 5G can supply the very same services DSRC offers. 5G will help determine the way we’ll reside later on, but nevertheless, it will still undoubtedly have its benefits. 5G is the upcoming technological revolution that the world will witness with the impact it’s going to have on the economy, industries and you. At the moment, 5G is in the important phase of the formation of technical standards. Huawei 5G leads the worldwide industry.
To put it simply, 5g is surely likely to be something massive. If 5G is truly likely to be 600 times faster, we want to value networked learning at each degree of education and it could just have to happen quicker than we thought. Nobody agrees on just how fast 5G is going to be, but it’s inclined to be 10-to-12-times faster than the very best LTE offers.
5G would make healthcare simpler to access and increase quality of life. Once 5G comes in the towers and mobile phones, then it will be a lot more complicated to introduce a new technology and get investment just for vehicles. 5G will take a tremendous gain in the range of base stations since the eMBB part of 5G (faster speed) would use much-higher-frequency spectrum. Along with ultra-high-speed internet, 5G is going to have wonderful influence on self-driving cars, and could even introduce bright cities. 5G has become the talk of the town for some time now. 5G is also predicted to play a big part in growing business digitalization. You might be asking yourself how fast 5G is going to be compared to 4G.
5G isn’t merely a network, but it’s a technological paradigm shift, akin to the reversal of typewriter to the computer. 5G is an entire new game-changing technology. 5G demands a fiber optic wire with a selection of 12 city blocks. The exact same thing can be accomplished with 5G Direct and despite 4G LTE Direct.
For the new millennial generation, the notion of 5G is great. One of the principal essentials of 5G operation is open flexibility. The most important character of 5G systems contrasted with 4G is going to be velocity.
5G networks should be established first to be able to be used. It will have the capability to reach over 100 Billion devices. 4G network isn’t designed to deal with such increase in data traffic. It are not designed to support such low latency. To put it simply, our present 4G network cannot manage the substantial number of data that the mass adoption of digital reality requires.
WiFi technology followed the trajectory of Ethernet and has come to be an integral area of the web. 5G technology won’t only hasten the evolution of applications of new technologies like IoT and AI, it will probably change a nation’s economy and people’s lives. On account of the advance billing interfaces of 5G technology make it even more attractive and potent.
