(Newswire.net — January 29, 2019) — 5G internet has been on the horizon for several years now, and experts have claimed it’s going to change the world. The standalone standard was finalized in June of 2018, and it’s generally expected that we’ll see the rollout of “true” 5G networks sometime in 2019, and that means in less than a year, we’ll all be experiencing this new digital revolution.
But what’s so special about 5G internet anyway? How is the average person’s life going to change with the rollout of this new network standard?
How Your Life Will Change
These are just some of the ways you’ll likely see a real change in your daily life:
1. Faster, more reliable internet. Of all the changes on this list, this is the one you almost certainly predicted. Yes, 5G internet is going to be faster than 4G, but we’re not talking about a marginal increase here; 5G has the potential to be nearly 1,000 times faster than its predecessor. That level of information processing is almost inconceivable; imagine streaming 1,000 different movies in 1,000 different rooms of your home, all using your phone as a tethered connection point. On top of that, the reduced latency of 5G means you could use it as a substitute for a cable-based connection. For an average citizen, we can consider that to be infinite-speed internet.
2. More high-quality video content than ever. That untapped streaming, downloading, and uploading potential means more people are going to take advantage of video content. Already, video management platforms are starting to become more popular, and demand for video content is surging. In the near future, video volume is going to increase further, and everything’s going to migrate conveniently to 4k definition and beyond.
3. 360, VR, and other immersive content. Visual content isn’t going to be limited to a 2D, external screen, either. Increasing internet speed multiple times over means you can start streaming much more immersive experiences—namely, 360-degree videos, VR experiences, and similarly engaging forms of content. Expect to see a slow rollout of more immersive, detailed content that takes advantage of 5G’s capabilities.
4. Big changes to home internet. One of the most interesting aspects of 5G is that its high speed and low latency means it’s strictly better than most existing home internet plans—even ones based on a cable. Internet companies are certainly taking notice of this, and consumers will as well. Consumers may soon start consolidating their plans to a single mobile internet package, rather than having separate plans for home internet and mobile data. In response, telecom companies may get creative with their offerings—leading to some interesting options and considerations for consumers.
5. More, better connected devices. IoT has come to a bit of a standstill, with smart speakers dominating the market, and other smart devices (like refrigerators and ovens) lagging in terms of true innovation and sales. But with the dawn of a new mobile internet, it’s going to become faster and easier to create local interconnected networks. The rise of 5G may lead to a resurgence in interest in IoT, from the perspectives of both consumers and developers—which would mean you can expect to have a much wider range of connected devices to choose from, and a sense of being immersed in your connected environment.
6. Changes to hardware and software. The availability of 5G internet is going to open up new options for both hardware and software developers. The UIs of streaming apps and websites are going to adapt to take advantage of the massive bandwidth available to most consumers, and devices are going to take on new shapes and new roles. It’s hard to predict exactly how these changes will manifest, since much depends on the creativity of developers, but the steady trajectory of technological progress we’ve come to expect is almost certainly going to be disrupted.
7. Security risks. Now for a less positive potential change. The increased availability of mobile internet means publicly available hotspots are going to become more common, and the increased efficiency of IoT means you’re going to have more connected devices than ever before. In total, you’re going to have more points of vulnerability—and cybercriminals are going to have more opportunities to attack.
Bracing for Change
Though the earliest network rollouts for 5G will begin in 2019, we may not see a wide number of connected users for the next several years, and of course, there will likely be some kinks to work out before it functions the way we envision. That said, we’re still on the verge of one of the biggest breakthroughs in mobile internet, and if you want to make the most of it, it pays to be prepared.