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Published On: Thu, Oct 23rd, 2014

Is The World Ready For 5G To Come Out

Smart devices were pretty slow when the first generation of mobile data was launched. Now many people’s phones and tablets in countries such as the U.S., Korea, and Japan are running on 4G or 4G LTE. But is that fast enough? In places where 4G LTE is already the norm, some people would say, “No, it isn’t fast enough.” Faster is always better, right?

photo Oregon Department of Transportation

photo Oregon Department of Transportation

But other locations around the world — such as Europe — are still implementing 4G, the fourth generation of mobile data. So the answer to “Is the world ready for 5G?” is closer to no, not yet. However, some people are indeed already working toward 5G. Take a look below to see what the future holds for 5G data technology.

At What Stage Is 5G Technology?

While many consumers might be ready for faster connection speeds, the technology simply isn’t there yet, but it could be coming as soon as 2017. Reports say that South Korea is investing $1.5 billion in the 5G network. A trial network will likely be available by 2017 with full implementation by 2020.

This technology could mean that users could download an 800-megabyte video in just one second, says The Guardian. Under ideal conditions, it could mean download speeds of more than 1 Gbps. There’s even talk of theoretical download speeds of 10 Gbps with rumors saying that 5G would be 1,000 times faster than the current 4G data.

When 5G does roll out, we won’t have to worry as much about what the rumors say, though. Europe’s 5G PPP group and Korea’s 5G Forum have signed an agreement to work on a standard definition of 5G technology. Since that definition is still in the works, though, there’s still confusion over what 5G will actually mean.

Who Is Researching and Testing It?

South Korea isn’t the only country with its hands in 5G data technology. According to reports about 5G, other Asian countries and companies are ahead of the game, too. Along with South Korea, Japan also began testing 5G data earlier in 2014 and has their own plans for real-world developments by 2020.

Furthermore, Korea has been performing tests with Samsung, and SK Telecom has already announced a 225 Mbps LTE-A system that’s three times faster than regular LTE. They’re using this as a way to build up to 5G speeds.
With North American countries such as the U.S. and Canada leading in 4G technology, one can only expect North America to study 5G. And they are. In fact, the Chinese company Huawei will be investing $600 million in Canadian research into the technology.

When Can You Expect 5G Speeds?

As mentioned, 5G speeds could be coming to us as soon as 2020. However, it could be longer before it hits your doorstep. Manufacturers must create smart devices that can access the 5G network, and it can take much time to spread to your neighborhood.

So while you may still feel that your 4G LTE is slow at times, 5G isn’t likely to get to market for another six to 10 years. If you can’t wait that long, consider switching to one of the best 4G network plans on the market to get better service now.

So, Are We Ready?

The answer is simply no, we’re not quite ready for 5G. For one, many countries — such as those across Europe — are still lagging behind in 4G LTE. And yes, even though they’re jumping ahead and focusing on 5G — in fact, several companies are working at the University of Surrey to develop 5G in Europe — the technology is not there yet. Not only that, but there aren’t yet standards in place to regulate 5G, so it’s still years off from commercialization.
Right now, many areas are still building up their 4G LTE networks, and those that have that are already working on implementing the faster 4G LTE-A. But it still makes perfect sense that we’re looking toward 5G for the future. Hopefully, 4G LTE-A will satisfy consumers in the meantime.

What do you think? Are you ready for 5G to come out?

Guest Author: Lolita Di

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