The rollout
of 5G is well underway throughout the world and within Australia, but what
exactly is 5G and what does that mean for you?
5G is the
fifth generation of cellular network but it’s not an evolution of 4G; it’s a
full new mobile system with many improvements.
Faster
Speeds – Although exact speeds will vary depending on your individual plan, 5G
has the capacity to offer download speeds as fast as 10Gbps. This is equivalent
to the fastest NBN speed as a minimum or the ability to download a full HD
movie in under 10 seconds.
Lower
Latency – Also known as response time, the delay before data is transferred following
an instruction will be 1 millisecond whereas the response time for 4G is 45 milliseconds.
Lower latency will allow for real time control of robotics, safety systems and
autonomous driving.
Greater
Capacity and Reliability – Networks will be able to cope with more high demand
applications working at once and the ultra-reliable network means no dropped
calls or connectivity.
To get the
benefits of 5G you will need to upgrade to a 5G compatible phone and be in the 5G
covered areas but thankfully both requirements are growing each day.
