How Fast is 5G?
Everything you should know about IoT, and other silly questions that aren’t silly at all... So, here we are in 2021, the Business world poised to benefit from the kind of high-speed connectivity that has previously been the stuff of dreams. Not anymore, this vision is about to become a reality. In this blog post, we investigate what 5G is, how it works, and what it’s likely to deliver to businesses and consumers alike.
What is 5G?
5G, or 5th generation as it’s also known as, is the very latest in Mobile Communication protocol. In short, it uses MIMO technology which stands for multiple input-multiple output, which might explain the proliferation of antennas across the UK during the last year. Comms infrastructure work to support the rollout of 5G has been progressing in earnest over 2020 and 2021.
It may appear to some that it couldn’t have come at a better time, with the COVID19 pandemic ravaging economies throughout the globe and forcing businesses to adopt more advanced communications technology to keep their enterprise running. 5G will become the solution for modern business in a vast number of ways, the goal broadly being higher speeds, higher capacity for device and data volume, and lower latency than the now ageing 4G technology.
What Will 5G do for Commerce?
The next generation of Mobile Connectivity heralds the arrival of many SMART industry applications, connecting devices, machinery, and transport infrastructure to revolutionise the way that things such as healthcare, buildings and even cities operate.
In addition to impacting the corporate world, it’s inevitable that we end-users are going to see some tangible paradigm shifts in the way we work, communicate, interact with technology, and live our daily lives.
What is IoT?
IoT is 5G’s best friend, both are intrinsically linked, and the full potential of this technology can’t be realised in a ‘one without the other’ scenario. It’s probably fair to suggest that without the Internet of Things, 5G is rendered useless, and vice versa.
IoT in brief, is the reason that 5G has been developed. It’s the door that the 5G key opens in terms of what it does to transform our world of connectivity.
Pop a Sim Card inside a piece of machinery, and hey presto, you’ve connected to the vast network of AI (Artificial Intelligence) based applications that is the Internet of Things.
This means that devices and in fact whole industries can not only operate autonomously and remotely, but the technology can actually ‘learn’ how to enhance or improve it’s own performance. The possibilities really are limitless, and the early years of 5G application will merely be the beginning of an interconnected world of AI driven technologies that will change the shape of our Business world unrecognisably.
Everything from finding a parking space in town when it becomes available before you’ve even got there, to a farmer’s combine harvester sending critical crop and soil information to a reporting platform, to coastal and estuarine buoys reporting data on weather conditions around the UK, connected ambulances, remote surgery and even virtual fitness training, the applications that IoT and 5G will utilise to enhance our lives are literally endless.
So, Back to the Original Question
How fast is 5G? It’ll achieve speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G. It’s designed to work at speeds of 150-200Mbps, and at it’s very peak, can deliver 1Gbps. But what does all this speed actually mean? Does it mean that you can just download faster? Or is it much more than that?
The kinds of things that AI and IoT are capable of demands processing power and data… Lots of it. So, 5G isn’t just about making everything happen in a speedier fashion, it’s more about the computing capability that’s required to achieve all of these marvellous things – and here we are, sitting right on the precipice of it all – rather an exciting time to be using technology!
The distinct lack of latency or ‘data lag’ reminiscent of 4G will be a thing of the past, with all connected devices being able to exchange data in real-time.
Businesses, Networks and Mobile Solution Providers, including of course Next Communications in Southampton are paving the way for 5G ready Sim Cards and IoT applications becoming available for businesses that need them.
Which 5G Provider is best?
That’s not an easy question to answer, but we’ve listed some boxes you’ll want to tick when doing your research. In order to answer the question, you need to decide what’s important to you. The checklist below might help…
We’ve compiled a helpful Quality Provider Checklist to support businesses in some of the key considerations when looking for an alternative supplier of Telecommunications. Click here to view the checklist.
< Back to all Blog posts
Why choose Next
Communications?
Personal Service
If you need a professional, local service that looks after your interests for the long-term then get in touch. Benefit from the best value, most reliable options available to suit your requirements. Receive honest and expert advice so that you can make informed decisions. Established in Southampton in 1988, we have built trusted relationships with hundreds of clients across Hampshire and the South, who value our honesty and integrity.
Quality Products
Next Communications are unsurpassed in our industry for both service and implementation and therefore we will only work with suppliers that match our own high standards. We are proud to be a Vodafone Partner, and a fully authorised reseller for O2, EE, NEC, Gamma, Wildix, Apple and many more technologies. Working with these manufacturers we can deliver the very best that telecommunications technology can offer.
Exceptional Value
We’re passionate about delivering the best value for money to our clients, always offering competitive prices ensuring you benefit from the most cost-effective solutions. To achieve that, we consistently review the marketplace to find the best value options to suit your needs. And this is our lifetime commitment to you. Building long-term relationships relies on trust, and we will regularly check that you’re receiving exceptional value.
Get Our Expert Advice
Click to book your FREE Telecoms Review with one of our Solution Specialists and learn how we can help to enhance your business communications and reduce costs.
