Having a fast internet speed is very important! Because we are constantly connected to the internet through our smartphones, watches, tablets, laptops, cars and other devices, we require an increasingly stable internet connection.

So what’s on the horizon for mobile internet? You may have heard of 5G. We’ll cover off a few key points about 5G, including a bit of history, what it does and when to expect it.

What exactly is 5G?

5G is the "5th Generation" of Wireless Phone Technology. 1G began in the 1990s, 2G enabled people to text between two devices, 3G brought us the ability to browse the internet on our mobile devices, and 4G heavily improved on the features that 3G added. Currently, we use 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution), the fastest version available. 5G will still provide all features currently available, with dramatically increased speeds, and be able to upload and download extremely large files.

How does 5G work?

Mobile phones operate as a 2 way radio. When you call, text, or send anything to another person, your data is converted into an electric signal and is transferred to the nearest phone tower through radio waves. As it is bounced between towers, your friend receives this on their phone. When a new mobile wireless technology is added, it is given a higher frequency. Currently 4G has a frequency of 20 MHz. 5G is expected to be up to 6 GHz. 5G will occupy a much higher frequency, so that data can be moved at a significantly faster speed.

How is 5G better than 4G?

Not only do you receive an improved speed, you also get vastly improved download rates. Currently 4G LTE has top speeds of 1 Gigabit (125 Megabytes) per second. This means that you can currently download a small HD movie within an Hour’s time. 5G will have 10 Gigabits per second, enabling you to download a full HD movie in a matter of seconds. You will also have faster load times with 5G.

When will 5G be available?

At the moment, 5G is currently in the trailing phases, and is currently being tested in the United States. Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing 5G for some time, as it is currently predicted to be fully operational until at least 2020. The good news is that we can look forward to an improved internet connection in only a few years.

Find out more about 5G internet here