Next Evolution of Mobile Data? The 5G!

The next evolution of mobile data could be the last step-change we see in mobile data transmission.


Mobile data use has rocketed over the past five years – increasing 74 per cent alone in 2015 – taking the overall global figure to around 3.7 exabytes per month.

A filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US recently revealed Apple is testing next-generation, 5G wireless technologies, suggesting a future iPhone will run on the advanced connection.

WHAT IS 5G?

Next-generation mobile networks are expected to handle more data, connect more devices, significantly reduce latency and bring new levels of reliability. 5G has been designed to meet these needs by pooling bandwidth to boost range and speed.

According to a recent report from the National Infrastructure Commission, "5G means seamless connectivity. Ultra-fast, ultra-reliable, ultra-high capacity transmitting at super low latency. It will support the ever larger data requirements of the existing network and new applications from augmented reality to connected vehicles and the Internet of Things, and many more, as unknowable today as the 4G services we take for granted would have been a decade ago."

WHY IS 5G SO IMPORTANT?

By 2035, when 5G's "full economic benefit should be realised across the globe", a Qualcomm-led study claims the industry could produce up to $12.3 trillion worth of goods and services enabled by 5G.

5G itself could potentially generate up to $3.5 trillion in revenue in 2035 and support 22 million jobs. The study continued that, over time, 5G will boost real global GDP growth by $3 trillion dollars cumulatively from 2020 to 2035, roughly the equivalent of adding an economy the size of India.

WHEN IS IT EXPECTED TO ARRIVE?

As it stands now, 5G is expected to start rolling out globally in 2020, with Ovum's figures suggesting there will be 24 million 5G subscribers by 2021. It says that less than 10 per cent of those connections will be in Europe though. It could be even fewer if operators follow through on threats to delay 5G rollouts if strong net neutrality laws are adopted.

With live deployments not yet under way and technical terms still not yet defined, there's still time for everything to change again before 5G actually arrives – and of course, there's still time to introduce another completely new acronym.

Credit: Wired