5G will get here soon, starting with fixed wireless access and moving on to full mobility in the years ahead. How is it going to impact your life once it rolls out?
- Faster internet speeds. First and foremost, this kind of data transmission will lead to blazing fast internet speeds—we’re talking upwards of 10 GB per second. That could, hypothetically, enable you to download multiple high-definition movies in a matter of seconds, or live-stream a fully immersive VR experience from across the country with little to no lag. We’re already enjoying reliable streaming audio and video, so this leap forward could make information availability even more ridiculously advanced, eliminating lag for all basic functions almost entirely.
- Changes to home internet plans. With 10 Gbps internet speeds, your mobile internet could end up faster than your home-based Wi-Fi—and cheaper, too. That’s going to require an extensive overhaul by internet companies to keep up with and compete with the new standard in connectivity. Don’t be surprised if you start seeing new hybrid internet plans, with much faster speeds, more competitive prices, and a blurred line between home and mobile internet packages.
- Increased IoT attention in various industries. You might be enjoying a smart thermostat, or a smart home speaker in your personal life, but the internet-of-things (IoT) is impacting big industries in big ways. Take, for example, the use of smart technology in the field of medicine and nursing; with cheaper, faster connected, and more portable devices, patients will have access to better care, and caregivers will have access to more patient data (so they can make more informed decisions). Faster internet is just one more reason for hospitals, warehouses, and other industries’ organizations to upgrade.
- Security issues. That faster internet is going to lead to more devices, heavier internet traffic, and a larger number of connected customers—which unfortunately means we’ll collectively face far more security threats. Every point of connection is a vulnerability, and the more connections we have, the less secure we become. Fortunately, software and hardware engineers are working hard to prevent these security threats from becoming a real issue.
- Newer devices. Finally, we’ll start to see the emergence and popularization of devices capable of taking full advantage of these new internet speeds. 4K video may finally take the place of 1080p video, setting a new standard, and we may see rapid adoption of VR technology, now that full experiences can be transmitted without delays. We’ll also likely see the emergence of hardware and software we haven’t even imagined yet—designed almost exclusively to take advantage of these ridiculous speeds.
With internet speeds up to 10 times faster than what we’re currently using, this could open the door to countless new technologies (and unthinkable convenience). Still, try not to get your hopes up—there’s still much to be done before we can start enjoying the benefits of this ultra-high frequency data packaging.
