5G networks will make rubbish signal at train stations and concerts ‘a thing of the past’
SMARTPHONE users will soon soon find connection woes in busy areas like train stations and stadiums are a thing of the past.
That's because 5G networks promise massive capacity boosts as a single mast is capable of connecting to a million phones at once.
Britain's existing 4G network can only handle around 100,000 devices per square mile.
EE launched the UK's first 5G service in May followed closely by O2, Vodafone and BT.
Each promises download speeds ten times faster than 4G, allowing you to download a 4K movie to your smartphone in seconds.
However, not many people have picked up on the tech just yet.
That's in part due to pricey contracts as well as poor availability, with 5G only working on certain phones and in certain cities for the time being.
Speaking to this week, Kent Wu, of Australian telecomms firm Optus, explained the benefits of 5G.
He said the tech will boost capacity in crowded areas like stadiums or music venues.
That extra capacity means you won't have to fight with other fans trying to access the web at the same time.
"Once installed in crowded venues such as stadiums, 5G technology is expected to provide much wider bandwidth, higher speeds and higher overall capacity," Kent said.
"That means it will be able to accommodate more users simultaneously.
"When looking at a confined venue such as a stadium an in-building coverage solution needs to be built which ensures the 5G signal is able to travel throughout all areas of the venue."
5G is the "fifth generation" of mobile internet, and introduces significantly faster download speeds.
What is 5G?
Here's what you need to know...
- The term 5G stands for 5th-generation, and is simply the next "version" of mobile phone networks.
- The world's network operators have settled on a new method of delivering mobile internet to your phone, making it possible to offer far higher download speeds.
- Early figures suggest you'll be able to download 4K movies in a matter of seconds, and buffering video will be a thing of the past.
- But 5G also promises low "latency" – the physical delay in transmitting data – which is a major boon for gamers, who desperately need their online actions to be sent and received as quickly as possible.
- EE is first across the line in the UK, with 5G live in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham or Manchester.
- The good news is that EE plans to roll out 5G in a further 10 cities by the end of 2019: Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry and Bristol.
- Vodafone has also switched on 5G in seven cities: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, and London.
Early tests by The Sun on EE's network have revealed speeds in central London of around 400Mbps (megabits per second).
That's in contrast to typical 4G speeds, which would usually fall around 20Mbps to 50Mbps.
It's only available in a few cities for now, including London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Leeds.
Different networks operate in different urban patches, so make sure you check before signing up to a contract. They currently cost upwards of £50 a month.
You'll also need a 5G-ready phone, such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G or OnePlus 7T Pro.
Apple is not expected to launch a 5G iPhone until September 2020.
However, as 5G coverage expands across the country, and phone-makers release more 5G phones, more people are sure to jump on the bandwagon.
Sky, Three and Virgin Media have promised to set up their own networks in the near future.
TOP STORIES IN TECH
In other news, BT recently launched its 5G network in the UK following rolls outs by Vodafone, EE and more.
The Sun put Britain’s first super-fast 5G network to the test earlier this year.
And, here's how to tell if you have 5G in your area.
Do you plan on trying out 5G? Let us know in the comments!
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]