4G to 5G Transition

All our everyday lives are being touched by connected technologies. The number of mobile devices has now exceeded the global human population and we will see increasing penetration of wearable gadgets and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Over the coming years our lives will be connected in more ways and this connectivity will have a profound effect on the way we live.
The next major transition in connectivity will be from 4G to 5G. There are many discussions around the benefits of 5G, the adaptation and how this will be the foundation for the next generation of connected devices, in particular wearables and IoT. Even though current devices may not need high speed connectivity, it is highly likely that future devices will.
It is extremely difficult to predict the evolution of connected products although what we do know is that all our lives are going to be touched by this evolution in some way or other. 5G will likely pave the way for a truly connected lifestyle and will have a big effect on wearables to smart homes with devices that can be controlled and accessed remotely. With technology surging forward, one of the big concerns that will need to be addressed is privacy and security as more and more devices are connected to high-speed networks.

There are many sectors that can benefit from this technology evolution. The ecosystem of our connected devices will transform the way we live our lives on a daily basis. Almost every electrical device in your home can be connected. For example, your fridge could let you know when you are low on certain items and remind you to stop off at the supermarket on your way home from work. With all this innovation and possible scenarios, we need a strong and secure network infrastructure to deliver acceptable standards of service.

It is estimated that 5G has a projected launch date of 2020 with major companies such as Samsung investing in this technology. The accessibility and affordability of 5G on a big scale will take longer. However, as we have seen with technological innovation in the past, prices will come down for consumers. These coming years will be important in the forward planning of companies intending to offer products based on new emerging technology and as consumers, we have a lot to look forward to.