5G is a groundbreaking new technology… or is it?
We live in the digital age so anything new will always seem exciting to potential users. However, just because new technology is introduced, it doesn’t mean it will be life changing or better. A recent example of this is 5G. John Brandon wrote an article on Fox News about the pros and cons of 5G and although it’s an exciting new tech, it still has a long way to go before we deem it “life-changing”. Brandon shares that the idea of 5G is that it will be integrated everywhere, in everything we use – our phones, TVs and even our lawn mowers. He remarks, “It’s often touted as one of the most important milestones in technology and, as Verizon ads suggest, it offers “unprecedented power” for consumers.” Some of this excitement and hype is warranted. 5G will definitely be a faster tech and provide near real-time communication. “This will unlock new potential in the smart home industry under the Internet of Things (IoT), and could set the stage for further developments in self-driving cars thanks to quicker communication speeds allowing for quicker decision-making abilities for cars on the road,” he says. However, there are a few downsides (or things that need significant improvement). A main concern is the availability of 5G and if you don’t like in a big city, you’ll probably have to wait a long time before 5G reaches you. Cost would also be an issue, increasing phone/cable bills for people wishing to have 5G networks. As of right now, 5G won’t be life changing unless you’re using it for things like streaming, entertainment or gaming. It’s too soon to know if 5G will be the next life-changing thing like satellite communication or Bluetooth, so we’ll have to wait and see.
