After a lot of buzzes, 5G is here. In the UK EE has already started providing 5G services in big cities. Almost all major networks will switch most of their systems on 5G in 2019. EE is the first one to launch on 30th May followed by Vodafone (News - Alert) on 3rd July whereas o2 and Three are expected to join the gang later in the year. Other countries in advanced economies have also started upgrading their systems. According to tracking firm Ookla (News - Alert), 5G networks are also up and running in parts of the US, Argentina, South Africa, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea and Australia.
What is 5G?
Most of the smartphones nowadays are 4G, it means they are equipped with the 4th generation of modem and when 4G was launched it offered much higher speed and reliability when it came to the internet connection. But now them days are long gone because the 5G has started taking over in most of the countries. It's expected to be between 5 to 10 times faster than 4G which means a movie can be downloaded within seconds rather than minutes and hours. It will change the way data is transferred today. And it's expected to get better within the next few years. It's truly phenomenal especially if we compare with the internet speed offered to mobile phone users just 10 years ago. Unlike 4G, there are few different frequencies in 5G, the higher the frequency the better would be the speed. Across the UK the 5G networks will initially be launched on sub-6GHz frequencies, primarily between 3.4 and 3.6GHz (4G operates between 800MHz and 2.6GHz in the UK). 5G promises seamless, super-fast connectivity for practically anything. Most important industries which will benefit the most are expected to be robots, augmented reality, mobile gaming and of course super-fast video downloads.
How will I know I’m on 5G?
You will have a 5G icon instead of a 4G icon on the top screen of your mobile phone. But if you are not using 5G mobile phone, you won’t be able to enjoy the speed 5G has to offer. Although most of the networks in the UK have started offering the 5G services in almost all major cities in the UK, it won't be until 2022 when the whole country will be completely transferred on 5G.
Do I have to change my mobile phone to enjoy 5G?
Do I have to sell my mobile to use 5G?, That’s a normal question nowadays, and the answer is yes. To benefit from 5G connectivity you need to have a mobile phone with a 5G compatible modem. There are few mobile phones which offer 5G connectivity, for instance, Samsung’s (News - Alert) Galaxy S10 5G, the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, Xiaomi’s Mi Mix 3 5G, LG’s V50, Oppo Reno 5G and along with a few others. Most of the mobile phones which offer 5G compatibility are expensive as compared to those which are still on 5G. But as soon as mobile phone manufacturers launch under £500-mark mobile phones with 5G connectivity every single mobile phone with 4G connectivity will take the hit as explained by a mobile phones recycling company based in the UK. Despite most of the major economies already upgrading their networks to offer 5G Apple yet has to announce its first-ever 5G mobile phone. All the iPhone (News - Alert) X series including the iPhone 11 can only support 4G. Despite their extortionate price, they do not offer 5G connectivity. It would be a very bad idea to invest in the new iPhones if you want to enjoy 5G and are thinking of selling them soon. It’s just a matter of a few months and all most all networks in the UK would be offering 5G connections. Vodaphone’s price plan won’t be affected although EE is currently charging a £5 premium for 5G.
