5G Network in Asia : What To Expect
Eight years ago, the world was introduced to 4G networks that enabled faster and more reliable communications than older generations. Since the revelation of 4G, people have wondered what comes next after that. Many predicted that 5G would be available ten years from the release of 4G. However, here we are with the advent of 5G networks looming well ahead of schedule.
Firstly, note that 4G was developed to replace 2G and 3G, but 5G does not replace 4G. They will instead work together. Following the expectations and a bit of hype around the upcoming 5G networks, now that 5G is here, how will it affect Asia?
The most obvious sector that will be impacted by 5G technology is wireless communication. Take a look at the internet of things (IoT), for example. Networked devices running on 3G and 4G technology currently face the issue with data flooding. However, 5G technology will improve here immensely as it gives the IoT; it is like a missing link. 5G will speed up communication across the network.
Most importantly, 5G technology will make IoT mature, and this will ultimately make IoT more popular and accepted. 5G technology is not only set to impact tech-related industries. Everyone wants to get their hands on this new technology and cannot wait to explore its possibilities. It will impact businesses, homes, and individuals. Many industries will gain an advantage, as 5G boosts their innovation and efficiency. In the agriculture industry, for instance, 5G test drones have been used for gathering data on farm conditions, such as water level and soil state. With the help of 5G technology, amazingly, these drones take shots of these and return the hi-res images in real time.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
These 5G drones also work effectively in a few other areas. 5D drones with their regular, real-time reporting have been tested for monitoring traffic and crowd congestion. Start-ups will fully leverage this technology, as it will enable them to grow their business. Singapore, Indonesia, and a few other countries in the region have already okay some 5G drones trialing.
Interestingly, most of the Asian cities such as Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, etc. anticipating the 5G network do not yet enjoy quality 4G network. The speeds of their 4G networks are not even up to the global average today. Brunei has the highest mobile penetration in the continent, but they anticipate a fully-implemented 5G technology by 2021. Another top-ranked country Singapore expects theirs by 2020.
Therefore, no matter what technological revolution 5G will bring with it, it will take a while for the technology to be wholly adopted. More so, even when it is, thanks to the astronomical costs of 5G deployment, without strong government backing, this 5G technology would be inaccessible in low-brow areas. These are the exact problems that other regions will face with 5G technology. Therefore the relevant government and telco bodies must provide the infrastructure to small landlords, factory owners, schools, rural providers, and so forth and not just the big mobile carriers. With these Asian countries will reap the fantastic benefits of 5G technology.
