What have you heard about 5G? With the announced arrival of the iPhone 12 ready for 5G, it’s certainly in the news, especially with the telecommunications industry positioning 5G as a boon to consumers and businesses.

As an indication of its power, supporters of 5G say it will let you download a full HD movie to your phone in seconds. In the age of remote working, any improvement in communication skills will be seen as positive for the economy.

But some are wary of new communications technologies, with their fears fueled by wild online conspiracy theories about foreign interference in UK affairs and even the spread of disease.

The truth is actually a bit prosaic – 5G is just the latest communications standard, following in the footsteps of 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G, and the name just means fifth generation. It is currently being rolled out across the UK on various telephone networks.

So it’s not a new technology that is invading the world. Rather, it is the latest version of the technology that has been with us for more than four decades. But that doesn’t mean it won’t turn out to be revolutionary. Insiders are excited about the possibilities offered by 5G, although many consumers cannot access it yet.

Andreas Müller, Head of Communication and Network Technology at Bosch Corporate Research, says: “For the first time, a mobile communication standard has been developed that does not focus on connecting people, but communicating between people. sensors, devices, machines, etc. the so-called internet of things.

So what does 5G have to offer? For starters, it advertises higher data transfer rates of 20 gigabits per second, which is up to 20 times faster than that provided by 4G.

But speed isn’t just about improving games or downloading movies in seconds, it also offers greater security. It can transfer data virtually instantaneously with a time lag of a millisecond and is allegedly reliable up to 99.9999%.

This is reassuring for people concerned about the safety of using their phones on the go, including the millions of people who have already switched seamlessly to banking and paying bills through their smartphones but remain wary of them. vis-à-vis public networks.

Obviously, 5G will also have a huge impact on businesses that rely on the safety and security of rapid data transmission, as 5G enables critical real-time wireless communication for the first time, as explained. Mr. Müller: “Even applications that have to run absolutely reliably. and can be done safely wirelessly with 5G. This applies, for example, to a remote-controlled crane as well as to a manufacturing facility.

Communication evolution

The journey that brought the world to the edge of widespread 5G communications began in the late 1970s and early 1980s with what now looks like raw analog and 2G automated cellular networks. Since then, new and improved communication technology has been released every 10 years or so.

Anyone old enough to remember having a cell phone from the 1980s will remember its enormous size compared to today’s models. But the connection was also problematic, being generally very patchy. Even when you logged in, it was difficult to understand what the caller said as the analog signal often interrupted.

Digital networks not only improved clarity, but also introduced security by allowing encrypted phone calls for the first time, which meant that other people couldn’t just listen to your calls like they would with analog. .

It also introduced data services for mobile phones, which saw the first SMS – Short Message Service – send text messages.

Revolutionary offer

It sounded revolutionary at the time, but 3G heralded the true revolution in mobile communications by offering much faster data transfer with speeds starting at 200 kilobytes per second. While this is only a tiny fraction of the speeds 5G will offer, it has allowed people to access the internet from their phones for the first time, heralding the on-the-go information culture of today.

The first 3G networks were introduced in 2001 and hit the UK in 2003. It is interesting to note that many people in the UK still rely on this network from the early 2000s to be able to use their phones, especially in remote patches where 4G remains unavailable.

4G was an upgrade to 3G which landed in the UK around 2012 and offered significantly improved speeds. It was the first to offer fully IP (Internet Protocol) networks, which offered mobile phones download speeds of up to 100 megabits, which meant you could download a movie to your phone in minutes. And now we have 5G.

According to the EE Network, which launched 5G in the UK in May 2019, it’s not just about replacing 4G, but rather adding another layer to the network to deliver a faster, smoother mobile experience. and better.

In fact, 5G phones need 4G networks and coverage to establish their initial connections. But 5G introduces three new aspects: faster data speeds, lower latency (which means greater stability), and the ability to connect many more devices at once.

Mass participation

One way we will notice the benefits of 5G is after the pandemic crisis is over. Then when sporting events and festivals start again, 5G fans will notice that their connections won’t weaken or slow down, even with thousands of other people using their devices at the same time.

5G will also usher in new possibilities for augmented and virtual reality experiences via a handset, whether gaming, entertainment or advertising.

Examples of new uses for the technology include the world’s first augmented reality concert, which saw a performance by UK band Bastille in Birmingham aired simultaneously on 5G in Liverpool and Edinburgh.

A different use was when a remote controlled ultrasound was undertaken from a 5G connected ambulance.

But what about the alarmism that accompanied the arrival of 5G?

Some conspiracy theorists believe 5G (and its communications infrastructure) is at the heart of the COVID-19 epidemic, even though their claims have been continually refuted by well-known fact-checking organizations.

Their theories were built around fear of new technologies and new diseases. They claim that 5G helped spread the coronavirus by attacking people’s immune systems, although there is no evidence to support this idea.

Safe technology

Scientists say 5G in its current form is not harmful to people. Like 4G and other communication technologies, it uses radio signals to transmit and receive voice and data by communicating with base stations. These are fixed radio transmitters with antennas mounted on masts or buildings.

The radio waves transmitted by base stations are no more powerful than those found in Bluetooth devices, but are technically called microwaves, which may be where conspiracy theories started. Those with longer memories will recall the fears that surrounded microwave ovens when they were introduced to the UK in the 1970s, but those fears turned out to be completely unfounded.

5G radio microwaves are different and so weak that they will not pass through leaves, walls, glass, cars, clothing, and most importantly, skin. In short, conspiracy theories are sorely lacking in facts to back them up.

Looking ahead, 5G could help UK businesses recover faster once the pandemic is over, according to Vodafone. He said investing in high-quality 5G digital infrastructure will allow people to continue working remotely, which will help make cities and towns across the country more attractive to live and work, as well as create new new jobs and business opportunities.

Nick Jeffery, UK boss of Vodafone, said: “5G will play a vital role as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. It will provide exciting new opportunities for businesses of all shapes and sizes and across industries. “

According to recent research from WPI Economics, 5G could add up to £ 158 billion to the UK economy over the next decade.

Limited availability – for now

If you want to be a part of it, you’ll need a 5G phone. But since not all carriers offer 5G yet and even those that only offer 5G in certain regions, you may have to wait a bit longer depending on your provider.

5G is still being rolled out across UK networks and regions. Therefore, if you buy a 5G phone and go to an area where the technology is not yet supported, your device will automatically switch to 4G. So, before you jump into a 5G device, verify that you can use the technology or find out when it is expected to be introduced in your area.