I’ve seen people asking if the phone they’re buying supports a 5G network. But does anyone know what 5G is? Sure, 5G is the latest technology, so it must be better than previous generations, but do you know what benefits it offers?

Today, people worldwide use 4G mobile networks to make calls, send messages, and browse the web. Now, plans are in place to replace 4G with—yes, you guessed it—5G! This new, fast network has the potential to transform the internet.

The fifth-generation 5G network promises lightning-fast speeds, near-zero latency (communication response time), and a massive increase in capacity.

5G wireless technology

is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds and it is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together, including machines, objects, and devices.

How Will 5G Transform Communication?

5G is a software-defined network. While it may not completely replace wired communication, it could reduce the need for it by largely operating on the cloud.

This will give us a hundred times more capacity than 4G, dramatically improving internet speeds. For example, downloading a film will take 26 hours on 3G, 6 minutes on 4G, and just 3.5 seconds on 5G!

As the world becomes more dependent on the internet, reducing time delays is crucial. A 4G network typically takes up to 50 milliseconds to respond, while 5G will only take around 1 millisecond—400 times faster than a blink of an eye.

There’s no doubt that 5G will be essential over the next 15 years. However, it’s still in its early stages, and the technology isn’t fully ready for widespread adoption yet.

Take self-driving cars as an example. These vehicles will require continuous data streams. The faster and more information they receive, the safer and more efficient they will become.

This is just one example of how 5G will connect everything—from robots to medical devices, industrial equipment, and agricultural machinery.

5G will also allow users to create personalized networks. For instance, online gamers will need more response time and higher data capacity than users simply browsing social media.

Although we can’t predict when everyone will have access to 5G, we’re seeing significant momentum. Many countries will launch their 5G networks by 2025 and beyond.