“By 2025, 5G networks are likely to cover one-third of the world’s population. The impact on the mobile industry and its customers will be profound”, according to The GSM Association, an industry organization that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide. 5G means much more than just a new generation of technologies; in fact, 5G will allow people to become increasingly connected. 5G will allow the mobile phone networks who adopt it to become better positioned to change customer experience, whether business or general society, throughout the next decade. 5G provides ultra-high speeds and very low latency and better bandwidth. 5G mobile networks performance will allow for the consumer’s personal needs to be met through a tailored approach. 5G is said to enrich people’s digital experience and will be revolutionary for the Telecom Industry.

The introduction of 5G to any country is a capital-heavy investment. In many countries to date, carriers have launched their first version of the 5G standard using single wireless 5G frequency band. However, it has been noted that other telecom operators have begun to move ahead by offering 5G on multiple spectrum bands, or they use mmWave technologies to offer really fast speeds. In some countries, such as North/South America and parts of South-East Asia, wireless carriers have been met with a limited availability of 5G-suitable variety.

In an article documenting how Europe is significantly behind in the global 5G race, Tech Central states: “4G remains the dominant cellular network technology for most regions, accounting for 78% of mobile subscriptions in Western Europe, 80% in the Gulf countries, 83% in North East Asia, and 89% in North America. In Central and Eastern Europe, only 50% of subscriptions enable 4G technology, with 36% still reliant on 3G.” However, since businesses are rapidly generating more data and leaning more towards the tech side, they will continue to be reliant on internet-connected technology, otherwise known as the Internet of Things (IoT).

With this in mind, it is clear that 5G will be able to assist with the upcoming challenges that these shifts in society will present. In order to meet current demands, faster and more reliable internet connection will be required, especially in the telecommunications sphere. With the implementation of 5G on a global-scale in the near horizon, it is clear that this will take over the old generation of network connectivity by continuing to power new technologies like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, smart cities and future technical endeavors. As it stands, for many internet and telecom operators, the building of 5G infrastructure is underway.

As captured by Forbes, “Tech experts say that with its significantly faster upload and download speeds, 5G has the potential to revolutionize how we live and work.” With the lifestyle changes that the Covid19 pandemic has instilled globally, 5G will be a welcome addition to those continuing to ‘work from home’. Due to the high-speed wireless internet that 5G will allow, there will be a positive and welcome knock-on-effect for people’s work and life quality. 5G is already acting as a change agent across a number of industries globally and will continue to drive change moving into the future. However, the widespread momentum of 5G being rolled out is not expected until 2025, which means we can continue to see 4G being prevalent for the moment. “While 5G demand is still gathering momentum, 4G will remain an important part of the wireless ecosystem,” said Tata Communications COO John Hayduk. “But it’s expected that by 2025 investment and innovation in 4G will slow down as 5G takes prominence. In tandem, older 2G and 3G systems will begin to disappear from some markets altogether.”