Imagine being able to download a whole DVD to your smartphone in four seconds! Conceptually, that is what a 5G network can do for you.

Nobody downloads DVDs anymore, but you get the point. — 5G can be fast!

Next-generation 5G mobile networks are being rolled out across North America and the rest of the world. Even if you are a non-techie, it’s probably a good idea for you to try and get an understanding of the 5G basics.

If you are wondering what’s in it for you, read on.

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry is rife with acronyms, standards, and protocols. Whether you understand them or not, you deal with a lot of acronyms in everyday life.

You cannot buy a fridge without talking about IoT (Internet of Things). Smartphones come with AI (Artificial Intelligence). And your furniture store lets you try out furniture using their AR/VR (Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality) app.

What the heck is 5G?

As acronyms go, 5G is less complicated. It represents the 5^th Generation of cellular networks.

The “G” denotes the “Generation” of the cellular network. 5G follows the 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network currently prevalent in North America and other parts of the developed world. Cellular generations 1-3 preceded the current networks.

5G is kind of a big deal.

For a start, it promises to deliver significantly higher bandwidth with minimal delay (latency). We are not talking about small increments here. Theoretically, 5G download speeds can be as high as 20 Gbps. That is over a hundred times faster than what most subscribers have today.

According to a recent study by Ericsson, by the year 2024, 5G will attract 1.5 billion subscribers. That accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global population.

Soon, you will be faced with the choice to move to 5G or not.

Know what you are getting

While 5G services have been launched in a few countries, not all such services are made equal. Within North America itself, major carriers have used the 5G moniker with their own twist.

The services that they offer vary significantly based on the frequency spectrum their 5G networks operate at. The Carriers operating at the higher-end of the frequency range, deploy new technologies such as millimeter-waves and New Radio to deliver blazing speeds within a limited coverage area. The providers who built 5G leveraging their existing LTE network operate at the lower end of the frequency spectrum to provide broader coverage at moderately improved speeds.

If you are switching to a 5G service, make sure that you know what you are getting.

So, how will 5G impact you?

Faster speeds and seamless streaming on your mobile devices will become the norm.

Once it becomes generally available, you may no longer need to offload traffic to a Wi-Fi network. If 5G delivers in-building connectivity at higher speeds with no additional usage charges, there would be no requirement for a Wi-Fi network.

5G as an option for in-building mobile networking is well within the realm of possibility.

Wireless access for Internet connectivity

A potential swap out of your landline in favour of a 5G-based Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) may be something to consider in the future. Service providers in developing countries often lead with wireless Internet access to circumvent last-mile landline limitations. The rollout of 5G would potentially make such a service superior and well worth exploring.

It’s not all about you

If you already have enough bandwidth to binge-watch Netflix shows and play online video games, you should know that 5G is not entirely about you, the consumer.

5G development efforts are primarily focused on machine-to-machine communications.

For industries that generate Massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC) and IoT traffic, 5G’s ability to scale quickly and cover geographically diverse areas will be transformative. Edge computing applications that generate and process data from smart sensors, and autonomous vehicles that require Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) stand to benefit from the responsiveness and availability of low latency networks.

The downside

If you live in a rural area, you may be out of luck: 5G will likely drive digital inequality. Business-driven service providers will focus on building new infrastructure in lucrative markets within densely populated cities.

It may cost you an arm and a leg: The cost of building and maintaining a next-gen infrastructure will be high. This will translate to higher service fees for services. You will also need to replace your smartphone with a 5G-capable mobile device which will come at a cost.

Cross-compatibility: Carriers will need to ensure that mobile devices work across 5G deployments over different frequencies while also guaranteeing backward compatibility to traverse legacy networks.

Network Security becomes crucial: A security breach to an autonomous vehicle is not likely to end well. Real-time traffic pertaining to mission-critical applications have to be extra secure.

There, you have it.

5G networks are less about you and more about the machines. These 5G basics will hold you in good stead.