In the era of fast-moving world enabled by technology, 4G is the fourth generation of mobile network that is currently being used across the world to make calls, send messages and surf the web. Now there are plans to replace 4G with 5G – a new faster network that has the potential to transform the Internet.
The 5th Generation mobile network is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G network. 5G is a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects and devices. While it will not replace cables entirely it could replace the need for them by largely operating on the cloud instead. It shall have 100 times better capacity than 4G which will intensely improve Internet speeds and response time. Another difference is that 5G networks will be able to handle more connected devices at any time and day which means better coverage.
With high speeds, reliability, and latency, 5G will impact every industry like transportation, remote healthcare, agriculture, logistics, and many more. For example, to download a film on 4G, it would take 6 min, whereas to download a film on 5G, it would take just over three and a half seconds. The smartphone users will experience a more streamlined experience.
The 5G technology has the potential to impact the future of the work and increase productivity. It is expected to drive the engine of economic growth across all sectors. The focused industries like healthcare, industrial manufacturing, financial services, and smart utilities shall benefit significantly.
Healthcare:
The rise of medicine and other health care facilities during the pandemic showed us the importance of technology in the healthcare system. 5G can improve efficiency and productivity in hospitals through the tracking of medical devices and the application of an AI-enabled tracking system. It can improve communication among doctors and with their patients on a real time basis both within and outside hospital. This shall improve the efficiency of doctors and reduce the number and length of hospital stays. Mobile applications powered by 5G will enable faster and accurate information between health care providers and patients. 5G-enabled drones can deliver medicines, blood, and vaccines at long distances at high speed and can facilitate in the transfer of sample collections to the laboratory for further analysis.
Industrial Manufacturing:
According to industry projections, 5G application in manufacturing will increase the efficiency and effectiveness in production facilities and supply chains. Certain machinery can be replaced with wireless connectivity. 5G powered to IoT applications will allow companies to recognize their full benefits. For example, self-driving cars require continuous stream of data. The quicker the information is delivered to autonomous vehicles, the better and safer they can run.
Financial Services:
A recent study shows that 5G applications in financial services will add 85 billion USD to the global GDP by 2030. Huge bandwidth and mass connectivity of 5G will support the delivery of AI to a wide array of devices. This will not only support banks but also insurance and investment advisors. Report says that there will be reduced losses from fraud by as much as 30 billion USD. With 5G technology, customers will be able to access their accounts quickly without having to use a card and will help to make transactions more secure, subsequently reducing the risk of fraud.
Smart Utilities:
5G could become the connective matter for the Internet of Things (IoT). It is an industry that is set to grow triple by 2025, linking and controlling not just robots but also devices, equipment and machinery. With 5G enabled IoT, home automation has the ability to control domestic appliances through electronically controlled, Internet connected systems. 5G allows more efficient management of these tools, leading to energy savings as consumers make better choices with the advanced technology at their disposal. 5G will enable better use of applications like waste management through reduced solid waste and water leakage, leading to managing resources more efficiently.
Through a 5G-installed infrastructure, the global economy would generate over 12 trillion USD in economic activity by 2035. With the combination of high-speed internet and VR, the physical location constraint can be removed for experimental practices and facilitate sharing of resources with larger number of companies and institutions. It will have significant impact on the communication and public services where faster information would produce higher effectiveness at minimal cost. The growth of 5G technology may lead to development in automotive industry which will further result in more cost-effective vehicles. Connected cars will be able to communicate with each other and traffic lights. 5G technology has the potential to connect cars and cities, hospital, and homes, making all of them smarter.
With every new emerging technology, there always comes certain drawbacks. Similarly, there are some obstacles 5G needs to overcome them before we can reap all of its amazing benefits. 5G uses totally different wavelength as compared to 4G. 4G has a wavelength of ten miles while 5G wavelength have a range of about 1000 feet--not even 2% of 4G’s range. Thus, to ensure reliable 5G there needs to be many 5G cell towers and antennas installed. Many local bodies and residential societies are apprehensive in installing towers as they fear that the radiation may cause cancer. More research is required to confirm if 5G radiations will cause serious health hazards. The roll out cost of 5G infrastructure can be high as it requires the construction of new structures and maintenance of such high speed connectivity. 5G network can drain the batteries of mobile phone in turn causing the device to heat.
With enhanced technology, improved speeds, and increased capacities, 5G technology has the potential to improve the world.
