Despite quickly adapting to 4G mobile web browsing capabilities, tech enthusiasts have now set their sights on the upcoming ultra-fast fifth generation (5G) technology, predicted by industry insiders to be a game-changer by 2020. The primary demand for this leaps-and-bounds improvement is fuelled by the surge in ‘smart cities’ and the expanding landscape of appliance automation.
According to prevailing predictions, the European Union and several nations in Asia are poised to pioneer this drastic shift, with South Korea leading the global race. Sensing the potential of 5G technology, the EU committed a substantial investment of 700 million euros ($899 million) over the next seven years towards infrastructure development, further solidifying their partnership with Seoul in 2020.
5G technology, given its exponential speed, could drastically reduce download times, enabling a user to download a one-hour high-definition film in a brief span of six seconds! This groundbreaking advancement is seen as the crucial life-source for the digital economy globally, supporting the expanding network of devices under the ‘Internet of Things’. Everything from smart meters to autonomous vehicles could directly benefit from this faster, more efficient service.
“We perceive 5G as significantly more than just a new radio access network; we envision it to be the primary infrastructure for a digitally advanced society,” states an industry expert.
The global Internet of Things (IoT) market is projected to skyrocket to $7.1 trillion by 2020, a massive increase from $1.9 trillion recorded in 2013. Tech corporations are following these trends closely, recognizing the significant opportunities this expansion creates. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei and South Korea’s electronics giant, Samsung, have already made significant strides in developing integral infrastructure components for 5G, albeit without the related device technology such as smartphones.
Conversely, experts caution that most IoT-connected devices are not currently 5G-compatible, meaning consumers might need to invest in new appliance models to make full use of the upgraded technology. Manufacturers are likely to race to ensure their devices hold the first-mover advantage as the technology improves, but this process is fraught with challenges. Manufacturers not only have to meet consumers’ expectations regarding performance, but they will also need to strike a balance in terms of pricing.
_Source: CNBC_
*This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.*
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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