With the trade war between the US and China causing havoc for the mobile companies Huawei and Apple, the stakes couldn’t be higher to be the first to provide 5G to their customers. Whoever brings a new product to the table with 5G capabilities will have a major advantage on the playing field of technology ahead of all the over vendors.
With every upgrade to the mobile internet spectrum we know its faster for every user who turns on their data to get out to the internet. 5G is no different, along with wider coverage and more stable connections.
For the more technical people reading this and wondering how fast it’s going to be 4G mobile networks offer around 45Mbps (Megabits per second). Chipmaker Qualcomm reckons 5G can achieve browsing and downloading speeds about 10 to 20 times faster in the ‘real-world’
The Race for 5G
Now, the need for this 5G is not because the faster the better. We have millions of mobile devices connecting to the internet via 4G and all the other spectrums bellow. What we are seeing is more and more people consuming data every year, mainly in video and music streaming. The spectrum bands that we use now are now getting congested, leading to breakdowns in services. 5G is much better at handling thousands of devices simultaneously from anything to video cameras, to people using their social media on the go.
So, will I need a new phone?
Unfortunately, yes. For smartphones to handle 5G they will need new computer chips as standard. However, when 4G was introduced in 2009/10, compatible smartphones came onto the market before the infrastructure had been rolled out fully, leading to some frustration amongst consumers who felt they were paying more in subscriptions for a patchy service. This time, phone makers are unlikely to make the same mistake, launching 5G handsets only when the new networks are ready. These next-generation phones will be able to switch seamlessly between 4G and 5G networks for a more stable service.
With the upcoming months getting closer and closer, we will soon see who comes out on top over the battle of new technology.
