4 ms·

So what's the point of 5G again?

MBCook 6y ago
To buy new phones! More seriously, as more 5G is deployed it should speed up. Also I believe 5G allows more phones to use a single tower at once which should make the carriers job easier. Especially at very busy places like festivals and sporting events.
- grishka 6y ago
  I live in a country that won't see 5G soon, if ever (that is, not in the US). My point is that the existing LTE networks are plenty fast for all intents and purposes. I don't always notice the difference even between 3G and 4G. So, then, it comes naturally to ask what is the exact problem that 4G has but 5G aims to solve, besides all the marketing and change for its own sake. Especially that weird kind of 5G that can't go through your hand and has coverage area of a single tower smaller than that of a WiFi access point.
  - MBCook 6y ago
    My understanding is there are two forms of 5G. One works like 4G but faster, and the other (millimeter wave) has the limitations you mentioned but crazy high bandwidth. We’ll probably get a mix of the two deployed depending on topography, density, cost, etc.
  - goihoiholi 6y ago
    actual development and standardization uses shorter cycles than the 5G hype cycle. release 8 is slow. your phone would show 4G release 14 is super fast. your phone would show 4G release 15 will show 5G but it's just one iteration away from fast 4G. it brings some cool techniques that boost efficiency (more people in the same cell can download things, increasing the average speed) -- and other stuff. peak download rate is one of the less interesting features, but most prominent.
jbverschoor 6y ago
Latency
- Avamander 6y ago
  It entails so much more than just latency improvements.
  - criddell 6y ago
    Care to elaborate?
- gsich 6y ago
  The rest of the internet doesn't care about that. Latency improvements are from your device to the cell tower only. So probably 5ms improvement.
  - jbverschoor 6y ago
    Actually, people kind of care with conference calls
    - gsich 6y ago
      Main source of latency is not the last mile in regards to mobile networks. So yes, the rest of the internet doesn't care, as those routes are not going to change just because you now have 5G.
perryizgr8 6y ago
Well someone needs to buy Qualcom's chips.
notassigned 6y ago
I feel like phone manufacturers realized that phones are too good and there is not much to motivate people to buy newer models. Remember, you must have a 5G capable phone!

To buy new phones! More seriously, as more 5G is deployed it should speed up. Also I believe 5G allows more phones to use a single tower at once which should make the carriers job easier. Especially at very busy places like festivals and sporting events.

grishka 6y ago
I live in a country that won't see 5G soon, if ever (that is, not in the US). My point is that the existing LTE networks are plenty fast for all intents and purposes. I don't always notice the difference even between 3G and 4G. So, then, it comes naturally to ask what is the exact problem that 4G has but 5G aims to solve, besides all the marketing and change for its own sake. Especially that weird kind of 5G that can't go through your hand and has coverage area of a single tower smaller than that of a WiFi access point.
- MBCook 6y ago
  My understanding is there are two forms of 5G. One works like 4G but faster, and the other (millimeter wave) has the limitations you mentioned but crazy high bandwidth. We’ll probably get a mix of the two deployed depending on topography, density, cost, etc.
- goihoiholi 6y ago
  actual development and standardization uses shorter cycles than the 5G hype cycle. release 8 is slow. your phone would show 4G release 14 is super fast. your phone would show 4G release 15 will show 5G but it's just one iteration away from fast 4G. it brings some cool techniques that boost efficiency (more people in the same cell can download things, increasing the average speed) -- and other stuff. peak download rate is one of the less interesting features, but most prominent.

jbverschoor 6y ago

Latency

Avamander 6y ago
It entails so much more than just latency improvements.
- criddell 6y ago
  Care to elaborate?
gsich 6y ago
The rest of the internet doesn't care about that. Latency improvements are from your device to the cell tower only. So probably 5ms improvement.
- jbverschoor 6y ago
  Actually, people kind of care with conference calls
  - gsich 6y ago
    Main source of latency is not the last mile in regards to mobile networks. So yes, the rest of the internet doesn't care, as those routes are not going to change just because you now have 5G.

perryizgr8 6y ago

Well someone needs to buy Qualcom's chips.

notassigned 6y ago

I feel like phone manufacturers realized that phones are too good and there is not much to motivate people to buy newer models. Remember, you must have a 5G capable phone!