There has been a great deal of talk about how the introduction of 5G is going to transform the lives of individuals, produce massive benefits for business and be the launchpad into a new technological era the likes of which can only be imagined.

As many networks started their roll-out of 5G in 2019, we thought now would be a good time to explain what can be expected from the new service. We ask What is the difference between 4G and 5G? And in a further blog post, we will pose the question 5G: Will it transform the way we work and live?

All the claims surrounding 5G are genuine and we believe this service will ultimately not only do everything expected of it but will easily exceed those expectations. However, it will take time for us all to reap the full benefits as 5G is rolled out gradually across the whole country and it’s a good idea to try and establish what the 5G accessibility, capability and timeline roll-out is in your area.

It’s also important to mention at this point that while we go through the process of 5G becoming more accessible in different areas as availability increases, 4G will also steadily improve, meaning businesses operating in parts of the country without 5G can also enjoy the benefits of an enhanced service.

5G vs 4G

5G has been hailed as the connectivity which will completely transform the way we live and work. Here are the three key ways 5G differs from its predecessor?

Faster speeds mean you will be able to do everything you are currently doing but much quicker. The resulting increase in speed and efficiency makes it easy to see just how this will benefit business productivity.

5G will allow you to enjoy perfect video calling when you’re out and about, download a full film as you run for your train and effortlessly upload and email big files while you work on the go. It’s all about having everything you need at your fingertips to make day-to-day life as easy as possible, ensuring the smooth running of your business.

Better response times, or lower latency – the length of time it takes for a network to respond – is a real game-changer for highly sensitive jobs which involve minute inputs and real-time feedback. This will benefit things like remote surgery or a critical video conference.

In the future, 5G will have the bandwidth to comfortably handle augmented and virtual reality. This can be used to give workers the chance to train in real-life situations without putting themselves and others in danger.

Away from the workplace, it will be possible to use Virtual Reality to watch a gig as though you’re in the front row, or see a try being scored during a rugby match through someone else’s eyes. It will enhance the experience to allow maximum enjoyment from any perspective.

Improved network capacity through 5G is perfect when you’re at a packed concert, a major sporting occasion or when working remotely. It’s designed so thousands of people can stand in the same place and upload and download as much as they like.

It will mean businesses will be able to take advantage of a tailor-made network to suit demands specific to their needs and create their own private self-scaling networks without losing any quality of service.

Even if you can’t or don’t start using 5G straight away, you can still benefit and as 5G is rolled out you will notice that 4G will keep getting better. By adding 5G, networks will be able to deliver higher speeds, increased reliability and improve capacity where customers need it most.

BLOG POST 2: 5G: Will it transform the way we work and live?

If something sounds too good to be true, beware, it usually is! But every now and again the exception to this rule comes along and proves to be just as good, if not better, than all the claims heralding its arrival.

Take 5G, for example. The very latest version of cellular network technology which is going to completely redefine the way we work, live and play in the future. It’s a bold claim but one we feel is completely justified. The possibilities are endless and difficult for all of us living in a pre-5G world to imagine.

It’s true we are at the beginning of this amazing phenomena being widely available to everyone and many of the futuristic capabilities predicted still need to be fine-tuned, honed and perfected before coming into day-to-day use – but we have already started out on that journey.

With the 5G roll out starting in 2019 and set to continue into 2020, we thought it would be a good idea to share our thoughts on how 5G is going to make a difference to all of us in the future.

What are the benefits of 5G?

5G won’t just be a case of faster connectivity, which is great in itself, but will also have the potential of a tremendous impact on businesses, the lives of individuals and the country in general.

How will it benefit individuals?

There will be little to no poor connections, allowing the user to do everything they need to do via their mobile devices from any location – whether that be working, downloading, streaming, moving information about more easily or video conferencing.

Individuals will be able to ‘attend’ and enjoy sporting occasions and concerts through Virtual Reality (VR) from the comfort of their own home and the enhanced 5G network is of great benefit when actually attending events as its designed so thousands of people can upload and download as much as they want from the same spot.

And even if you are waiting for 5G to come to you, as it’s rolled out there will be a significant improvement in 4G capability as O2 continues to plough £2m per day into the network.

5G, business and the economy

Networks have been working in partnership with businesses in retail, construction, utility and transport industries discovering how 5G could be of benefit to them. These have included leaders in their particular sector, like Northumbrian Water Group and Network Rail, focusing on such things as production processes, accessing 5G centred revenue streams or creating greater supply chain efficiencies.

5G innovation spaces are being created all over the country, including our Wayra accelerator hubs. They will make 5G test environments available to any size of business, providing a great boost for our national economy. By the way, did you know it is estimated the 5G transformation of all industries will provide an economic boost of around £6bn?

Easier access to remote working will mean all business activity can be conducted from anywhere at anytime, meaning a business base, office or building may no longer be necessary – along with the associated financial costs. It will also cut down on transport costs of trips to and from work, which will also be more environmentally-friendly, and possibly lead to a shorter working week.

And businesses will be able to take advantage of network slicing, the setting up of a private, tailor-made service to meet their own unique demands.

5G and the Internet of Things (IoT)

The IoT is the technology communicating and connecting with each other using the internet. Looking ahead, 5G will be able to handle huge volumes of data and connect many devices with a low latency level. This will allow for the capture of data and application of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence in near real time.

This will lead to opportunities for smart cities with connected cars, buses and sensors, working in unison to reduce accidents and help traffic flow. 5G should also advance the introduction of driverless vehicles, something we are already seeing being tested on our roads.

And 5G will revolutionise the world of surgery with it being possible for a surgeon to carry out a procedure from a different location to the patient by means of VR, a special glove and a robotic arm at the point of surgery.

How can I get 5G?

You’ll need a 5G ready plan and a 5G phone to connect to the Vodafone, O2 or EE 5G network. If you buy a 5G phone you won’t need a new 5G SIM. You’ll also need to be in an area that has 5G coverage.