Five Things to Know About 5G

There has been a major increase in the number of devices that are part of the Internet of Things (IoT) and in consequence, a need for a far more efficient level of wireless Internet. The critical piece of technology required to meet the demand created by these devices is the fifth generation (5G) of wireless technology.

The new networking standard is not just about faster smartphones. Higher speeds and lower latency will also make new experiences possible in augmented and virtual reality, connected cars and the smart home, any realm where machines need to talk to each other constantly and without lag.

Imagine you’re sitting at a red traffic light. The light turns green, allowing you to proceed. As you take your foot off the brake, however, your car senses that a vehicle approaching the intersection is moving too fast and will likely run the red light. In response, your car applies the brakes to keep you safe as the scofflaw blasts through the intersection. 
Your car didn’t see the other vehicle using motion sensors or cameras, which is how today’s crash-avoidance systems work. Instead, your car was talking to the other car wirelessly via 5G. It knew the direction of travel, the speed, and whether or not the driver was braking. Your car saved your life thanks to the power of 5G.

In the brave new 5G world, you will probably get a fully interconnected car and definitely need to buy a new phone, but it won't be all about cars and handsets.

Here are some important facts about the technical aspects of 5G. 

1) The Internet of Things 
The phrase "Internet of Things" was first used in 1999, attributed to Procter & Gamble's Kevin Ashton. This term is used to describe a network of objects that have the capacity to assemble and share information electronically, and it includes the vast array of smart devices that access the Internet. 5G is a faster and smarter way for devices to connect to the Internet, so the devices must also be faster and smarter as well.
The IoT is poised to include updated and smarter appliances that will make use of 5G technology, including washers and dryers, cars, traffic cameras, and roads. Analysts predict that over 20 billion things will join the IoT in the next decade, and the 5G technology is anticipated to be the thread that connects this unimaginably larger network of devices.

2) Increased Bandwidth Capacity 
Analysts predict that 5G will address the need for connection capacity brought about by a world of smart devices. 5G is expected to have a bandwidth between 100 and 1,000 times greater than the current 4G network.

3) Super Speed 
The speed for the 5G network is set to be faster than any technology the world has seen to date. Samsung's early trials of the technology in 2014 set a speed record with mobile technology, transmitting nearly 8 gigabytes of data per second. 
The consensus estimate is that 5G will ultimately be able to transmit 10 or more gigabytes per second in its initial stages of use, and transfer rates could reach nearly 1,000 gigabytes per second in the future. Analysts posit that such speeds will revolutionise the global technology sector worldwide.  

4) Unbreakable 
The most striking prediction about 5G is that it will be unbreakable, that it will remain consistently reliable and above-average in its effectiveness. The 5G network is expected to have a latency of just one millisecond. This factor is one of the most significant because of its implications for the possibilities of use. A flawless interconnected system makes new devices and concepts possible in the future. 

5) Release Is Imminent 
The release of 5G technology is imminent. However, the date and location of 5G's rollout is highly speculative. Consumers in the United Kingdom, for example, don't expect to see the technology until 2020 at the earliest. The CEO of Nokia, Rajeev Suri, suggested that a rollout as early as 2020 would likely be only a trial release, and that the network would have many kinks yet to work through. Still, the release is touted to be unlike anything the world has ever experienced.

Various companies have different timetables when it comes to rolling out 5G to the general public. Each of the major companies are working on their own networks. While it won't be available nationwide for a few more years, both Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) have plans to begin setting up the network for testing and deployment this year. 

Verizon has a plan to begin offering 5G as a home broadband service (basically WiFi) in three to five cities by the end of 2018. While it hasn't been revealed which cities will be getting a visit from Verizon, it can be sure that all major telecommunications companies will be watching this test run closely to see if the internet-of-things age really takes off. 

The release of this new, faster system is expected to be transformative in many ways, but one of the most promising is the effect 5G is likely to have on transportation. 

The future of vehicles manned by technology is no longer reserved for major motion pictures. Remote traffic management, real-time navigation, automatic braking systems, and preemptive collision detection and prevention are just a few of the possibilities that the implementation of this technology is capable of making a reality. 

The impact that such advances will have on personal and commercial transportation is truly revolutionary.

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