Like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, 5G has been a long time coming. However, the question is just how prepared we are for the impact this development will have because it’s hardly the sort of jump that we made from 3G to 4G, but altogether more of a quantum leap. To use a transport analogy, it’s the move from steam-powered trains to jet-powered planes. In sheer terms of speed, it’s estimated that it will be up to 100 times faster than the current 4G network. It’s also set to be a great deal more reliable too with a far lower latency rate.
Which industries will benefit from 5G?
Entertainment
There are going to be obvious beneficiaries of this advancement in a number of fields. Take entertainment, such as online casinos, as an example. The speed for downloading movies is going to be put into hyperdrive. Online gaming will also find itself being transformed with games downloading faster and play being slicker and more reliable than ever before.
For sub-sectors of the leisure industry like casino games sites, which offer various online slot titles, along with other fan-favorites such as classic table games and live-play editions of poker and baccarat, it’s going to mean that on-the-go gameplay quality is sharper. In addition, there could be scope for further advancements such as the inclusion of VR facilities, which will take casino games to a new dimension, moving forward.
In summary, within the entertainment industry, 5G supports immersive gameplay for avid players and promises to vastly improve the quality all-round.
From rail to retail
Truly exciting developments are set to occur and this is likely to be best described as the coming together, more closely than ever before, of the physical and digital worlds.
The rail industry, for example, will benefit greatly from its use. For operators, it will enable them to handle and receive the huge amount of data generated by any mass passenger system. This ranges from ticketing information to up-to-the-minute network and signaling status. It will even help to monitor wear and tear on the rolling stock and other infrastructure.
For passengers, it will mean a more efficient travel information service as well as enhanced ticketing ability. Naturally, it will also mean better, faster, phone communications while they’re on the move. Entertainment items like slots or bingo will be accessible as 5G coverage increases.
It will also transform the way that we interact with the cities that many of us live and work in. Already, progress is underway to map these in three dimensions with the long-term idea being to let people use their augmented reality glasses to do everything from navigating around the streets to learning the history of a particular building or site.
The world of retail is also set to be turned on its head, putting the power in the hands of the shopper and thus attracting them back into stores. Interactivity will be the key with a wealth of product information ranging from provenance to ingredients available almost instantly – hopefully moving individuals quickly along the purchasing process. For the retailers themselves, they will see improvements in everything from stock monitoring to transaction handling, heralding a renaissance for a sector that has suffered more than many others in recent times.
So get ready to climb on board for the 5G express. It’s going to be an exhilarating ride from here on in.
