Last updated May 2023
The expected launch of 5G services will deliver much faster mobile internet connections in the next few years. For consumers, that means many elements of your mobile experience will be improved – you will be able to browse the Web faster, download apps more quickly and stream high-quality video without buffering.
However, 5G isn’t just about speeding things up – it is also about enabling all new services.
The next coming 5G will be focused on IoT and critical communications applications such as self-driving cars. It will play a key role in smart city digital transformation.
Here are just a few new things that 5G will bring:
eHealth
The speed and reliability of 5G will mean that a new era of telesurgery becomes possible. For example, if you need urgent specialist medical attention and the surgeon is based abroad, your only option today is to travel. However, the speed and reliability of 5G connections will enable a different solution, where the surgeon can carry out the procedure remotely by controlling a robot. This development requires both 5G and robotics technology to mature more before it becomes a reality, but once it has, the possibilities for enhanced healthcare are huge.
Autonomous driving
Early driverless and ‘autopilot’ technologies are already on our roads. However, the dream of fully autonomous cars needs 5G to become a reality. Fully autonomous vehicles don’t just need to be able to read and react to the road in front of them; they need to communicate in real-time with other vehicles and infrastructure, such as traffic lights, and respond to environmental conditions such as the weather. Again, the speed and low latency provided by 5G will be key in making these systems function as accurately as needed.
Connected Homes
The Internet of Things is already here, with devices from thermostats to hi-fi systems already connected to the Internet to improve functionality and control. However, the connected home will reach a new level with 5G, allowing all our devices to connect to the Internet and communicate. This could enable you to control any device from any other – for example, you might ask your sound system to turn the oven on or your connected car to turn on the heating.
Portable VR
Virtual Reality systems have great potential but are currently limited by the necessity of a wired connection to a computer or video game console. 5G will allow mobile devices to stream VR content at any time and place, freeing headsets from their wires and delivering VR content on demand. Related services – from virtual marketing experiences to virtual tourism – will reach new heights once this barrier is overcome.
Smart cities
Smart Cities are a new form of urban development.
They aim to improve the quality of life of city dwellers by making the city more adaptive and efficient, using new technologies that rely on an ecosystem of objects and services.
Smart cities use IoT devices such as connected sensors, lights, smart utility meters, and 5G connectivity to collect and analyze data.
Discover more about smart cities.