4G has delivered exciting experiences including fast internet browsing, high-quality video streaming, and online gaming. Mobile infrastructure takes a leap every five or ten years and keeps enthralling consumers with new exciting features. With 5G deployment on the cards, we can expect faster mobile internet and its benefits are not only limited to it. It is obvious that 5G due to its fast internet speed will have a significant impact on mobile app development. Not only it will fasten the browsing and improve the quality of video streaming, but it will also give instant solutions for the consumer’s problem – in a blink of an eye.

Is 5G really fast?

As compared to 4G, 5G will be much more faster. 4G has a speed of 100 megabits per second (Mbps), 5g will top out at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps). That makes 5G a hundred times faster than the current 4G technology.

For example, if you download a two-hour movie on 4G, it will take 6 minutes and on 5G, the same movie can be downloaded in less than four minutes!

EE says to expect the average speed of 100-150 Mbs more than on 4G. While Vodafone says to expect 5G speeds of around 150-200 Mbps on average, topping out at around 1Gbps.

All in all, 5G will be something better than you couldn’t imagine before or unprecedented in mobile infrastructure. The mammoth files that once took hours in transferring or downloading, on 5G they could be downloaded in a blink of an eye. 

Bandwidth and Latency in a 5G network

5G is incredibly fast. Each operator in 5G owns a block of the spectrum – a range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used to transmit sound data. This spectrum is added together to create a total network capacity that determines how fast they can transfer data.

Now comes the latency, that is much less in 5G than we have in 4G currently. That means, data will be transferred in real-time.

Latency in for 4G is around 30 milliseconds, while in 5G it is likely to get well below 10 milliseconds.

Mats Norin, who is a program manager at 5G For Industries, at Ericsson Research, says,

“For consumers, this is not as important but will make things seem faster, however, for the industry – for long-distance, remotely-controlled heavy machinery, for example – it will be critical,” 

Impact of 5G in the Mobile App development industry in 2019

5G will not only improve video streaming experience and gaming speed, but it is likely to bring revolutions to other sectors as well. Including health, education, business and are not limited to it. For example, we may see automated transport and remote control surgery.

AI and ML are transforming the world. But for new ideas to be implemented successfully, a fast internet connection is mandatory.

It will also have a significant impact on the mobile app industry as well. Developers will have to devise new ways of making their apps compatible and quick responding to 5G service.

URLLC (Ultra Reliable Low-Latency Communications)

Though, real-time control machine and other mission-critical will arrive later, achieving 1 Ms latency is described as one of the major challenges facing 5G networks. 

Technologies that enable URLLC are yet to be published and deployed. Real-time virtual gaming, remote surgery, and factory line automation are some of the prominent benefits URLLC will offer. However, mature 5G standards once deployed will improve the online experience including gaming and streaming.

eMBB (Enhanced Mobile BroadBand)

Media-rich experiences are the first thing 5G will offer to developers. 5G will target greater bandwidth for faster upload/ download speed. Furthermore, latency will improve and offer a better experience than 4G.

These features will fascinate those who want to download movies faster, enjoy the real-like environment in gaming, and experience top-notch streaming.

mMTC (Massive Machine Type Communication)

Internet of things devices don’t typically require high-speed internet. Yet, they remain a specific focus of 5G infrastructure development.

mMTC, which is a narrowband access type of a large number of devices that sense, meter, and monitor allow them to use low amounts of power. That’s perhaps their primary advantage. Highlighting the mMTC as one of the three lead applications for 5G suggests changes in energy-efficient sensory devices likely.

With less latency and superior connected device density, IoT developers will definitely enjoy rich connectivity possibilities as 5G matures.