5G Network Tests in Full Swing Despite Incomplete 4G Coverage

The fifth-generation (5G) telecom network, though not anticipated to be globally available until 2020, has already picked up momentum in terms of technological evaluation. Big industry players like Samsung are investing their best minds and resources into experimenting with this new tech marvel. The tech world eagerly awaits 2018 when the International Telecom Union (ITU) is slated to finalize standards for 5G, marking the starting point for comprehensive outdoor trials across significant markets.

Samsung, for instance, made headlines back in 2014 when it announced achieving transmission speeds of up to 940MB per second in real-world outdoor surroundings, in contrast to controlled lab situations. Following this breakthrough, telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon in the United States commenced testing the raison d’être of super-fast 5G on their own networks.

5G is predicted to outclass today’s average 4G LTE connections by 10-100 times in terms of speed. Picture this – you download your favorite TV series or a high-definition video in under three seconds! Citing a USA today report, Verizon boasted that 5G would deliver up to about 50 times the throughput of 4G LTE, with latency reduced to fewer milliseconds. This unprecedented speed opens doors to downloading a full-length blockbuster in mere seconds and further powering the explosion of the myriad “Internet of Everything” devices.

“The promise of 5G isn’t a distant dream anymore,” affirmed Roger Gurnani, Verizon’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Technology Architect. “We perceive an immense sense of urgency to propel 5G forward and catalyze the ecosystem by fostering alliances with industry trailblazers and pioneers to unveil a new epoch of innovation.”

Ironically, the global 4G availability is still sketchy and inconsistent while the industry is already prepping up for a 5G revolution. As per the world time zone map below, most continents, if not all, have access to 4G services. However, a city by city and a country by country analysis presents a contrasting picture.

[INSERT_MAP]

For instance, according to a report, in Nigeria, with a population exceeding 160 million, merely two companies currently offer the 4G service – Spectranet and Smile. Unfortunately, the country’s four major telecom providers have yet to expand their offerings to encompass 4G services. A similar situation unfolds in South Africa, where despite a smaller population of about 55 million, four different providers deliver 4G services. Are these disparities because of regulatory constraints, a lack of will to invest in advanced technologies, or other reasons?

As per the latest GSMA mobile report on Africa, over half of the Sub-Saharan populace resides in rural areas, where access to these advanced services is scant. Therein lies the crux of the issue – telecom providers see little economic value in making substantial investments to set up services where the populace may not be sufficiently economically empowered to patronize the services. This problem, compounded with the lack of the necessary infrastructure, makes the situation more complex.

[INSERT DIGRAM]

Here, you can read more about how billing and cost may be a factor influencing the penetration of internet services across the African continent.