The Sunday Mail
5G, or the fifth generation of mobile networks, will revolutionise our day-to-day life in ways that few people today can understand. It will connect many more devices to the internet than just the phone and computer.
5G, or the fifth generation of mobile networks, will revolutionise our day-to-day life in ways that few people today can understand.
It will connect many more devices to the internet than just the phone and computer.
That is what makes the control of 5G technology so crucial for the world’s two superpowers — US and China.
No wonder, the two countries are engaged in a fierce competition to be the first to reap the benefits of 5G breakthroughs. A look at this next-generation game changer.
What is 5G?
To be clear, 5G is not simply “4G on steroids”.
From a consumer perspective, 4G essentially boils down to a richer, faster experience on hand-held devices.
Not only will 5G be faster, but it will also enable any device that has a chip in it to be connected to the network all the time.
Whether that’s a smart-phone, tablet, television, home security system, refrigerator, car, traffic light, parking meter — you name it.
The delay on a 4G network is about 50ms (milliseconds), which is unsuitable for the quick response times needed by driverless cars.
That could be the difference between life and death.
With 5G, that delay could drop to 1ms.
For industries and tech companies, the low delay and constant connectivity of 5G will open doors to new technologies.
Transport
Driverless cars require 5G to exchange data between vehicles and fixed infrastructure to avoid collisions.
Vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infra and intelligent transport demand much higher data speeds than 4G.
Healthcare
It would support wearable devices to monitor patients, secure online consultations through high-definition video, remote procedures like robotic surgery and use of smart pills.
Automation
5G mobile technology is expected to enhance how factories remotely control and operate machines, monitor their supply chain, and communicate with external systems, while keeping their costs down.
VR & AR
Besides gaming, 5G could also drive the use of virtual reality and augmented reality in other practical applications, such as telemedicine, education and manufacturing.
The countries that adopt 5G are expected to experience disproportionate economic gains compared to those that lag behind, which goes a long way to explaining the tussle between US and China centred around Huawei, seen widely as a leader in 5G tech.
For the world at large, the potential economic benefits of 5G will soon become a key differentiator for cities looking to attract and retain businesses and residents. – Economic Times India
