The time flies by because 5G is already here, and in a few years, we are about to experience its full power. 5G stands for the 5th generation mobile network. It follows the five generations of the standard global wireless Internet of 1G, 2G,3G, and 4G networks.
So what is so special about 5G? 5G is going to introduce us to a new kind of network where everything and everyone will be connected. It means that 5G will also connect machines, objects, and different types of devices with each other.
Of course, it also means that we are about to rethink the way we imagine web development and mobile development. 5G web development will introduce us to new layers and functions in the online world that we couldn’t even imagine. So, your website, more than ever, will be a key to your successful marketing campaign.
But before we jump into 5G web development, let’s clear out some definitions and general concepts:
What is 5G?
Let’s get into the more technical definition of 5G.
The wireless technology of 5G is designed to deliver multi-Gbps peak data speed and more reliability, low latency, extensive network capacity, along better availability.
One of the most common questions people ask is who is the inventor of 5G. Well, the answer is no one. There is no single person or company who has invented 5G and now entirely owns it.
However, there are several companies in the mobile ecosystem that have contributed to the development of 5G. For instance, Qualcomm has helped to invent many foundational technologies that make a big part of 5G.
Another common question is how 5G is different from other networks. To understand it better, let’s go over each of the networks one by one:
- 1G: Designed in 1980s, 1G’s main feature was that it delivered an analog voice.
- 2G, or the second generation, came in the early 1990s and introduced the digital voice. The example of it was CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
- 3G is the third generation that came into play in the early 2000s. It finally brought the mobile data, the example of which is CDMA 2000.
- 4G is the network that we commonly use today. It was developed in the 2010s and brought the new era of mobile broadband.
The fifth-generation or 5G is already developed but is expected to become the new norm by 2025, with more than 2.8 billion people using it on a daily basis.
The four main qualities of 5G include improved speed, latency, connectivity, and bandwidth.
Main qualities of 5G
1. Speed
The speed of 5G is said to overpower 100 times the current LITE in speed, being incomparably faster than the 4G. 4G Lite is the fastest mobile technology available today, so imagine how fast will be 5G! It will transfer 300 megabits of data per second which is a pretty impressive number.
According to research, 5G will deliver up to 3 Gigabits of data per second, increasing 20 folds in the future, becoming 10 Gbps. What it means is that you’ll no longer have to wait for hours for a high-resolution file to be downloaded. It will be done in an instant.
2. Latency
5G will also bring the Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication, also known as URLLC. It enables the data to be delivered in just a millisecond. This minimal network interface will allow the mobile apps to deliver real-time data. In short, it is reducing today’s average latency of 50 milliseconds substantially.
3. Connectivity
Here too, 5G will bring unimaginable improvements. It will offer connectivity to up to a million devices. This increased connection will help to implement IoT in mobile apps smoother.
If you want to feel the difference, consider that 4G is connecting to only 2000 devices at a time. 5G will be able to handle colossal network traffic while still allowing seamless communication between the hardware and apps.
4. Bandwidth
5G will be able to perform across a diverse array of bands. It will work perfectly for all the bands, no matter it is the Low band (below 1 GHz), the Mid band (1 GHz to 6 GHz), or the High band, which includes millimeter waves (mmWave)
Now, when the general definition and concept of 5G is cleared out, let’s understand its relation to the web development world.
5G Web Development
With all these advantages of 5G mentioned above, it is clear that 5G Web Development will be a huge change in all of our lives. Just imaging scrolling through websites that load instantly and admiring 4K videos, interactive elements, and even VR components.
Although some of these aspects are already being practiced, they heavily impact the website’s speed, making visitors anxious and leaving the page before the 4K video starts to load.
So once 5G with steps into the game, all of these aspects will be automatically improved.
Here's what to expect from the 5G web development:
Better security
As we’ve already mentioned, 5G will increase the current bandwidth standards. This will lead to an improved data transmission which in its turn help to simplify the network slicing and aim towards more trusted computing. In addition, it will open the door for many alternative ways to handle user identities and turn the web into a more secure place.
Better user experience
We all talk about how user experience is the key to a successful website. In the end, we make a website for our users, and if they find it hard to navigate through it, or the webpage bores them out, you can say buy to your conversions and leads.
5G will allow web developers and designers to endlessly experiment with the interface, ensuring that their website turns into a fun and exciting experience for their users.
5G will help you to improve the browsing experience, add next-level video and audio streaming and enhance your website with rich media elements. Yes, we are talking about 4K videos and high-resolution photos.
Super quick file transfers
With 5G, you will be able to transfer your high-quality files way quicker, without having to wait eternity until you send or download an important file.
This means that we will witness hundreds of data-intensive apps, especially mobile ones, offering transfers with rocket speed and increasing the overall app revenue.
So forget about keeping your computer turned on just because you want to download that long 4K video from Wetransfer. You’ll be able to do it in seconds and not waste your computer’s battery anymore.
Data Centers that handle heavy processing loads
With the introduction of 5G, devices will no longer be dependent on the hardware’s power. This will enable them to share information in real-time. That’s why 5G will make the communication between the devices way faster than it is now.
More VR and AR in our lives
In fact, VR is already here. We all have seen some 3D videos and images on websites and apps. Well, in the future, there will be more of them, so for almost every website we scroll, we’ll come across mind-blowing VR visuals and 3D graphics.
At the same time, 5G web development enables us to load and display these VR and AR visuals way faster, so there will be no difference between the load time for images and VR-s.
Many creative professionals will also use VR to show off their products. For instance, the interior designers might show you their proposal using VR, so you could feel how you would walk through your newly designed house and decide whether you like the feel of it or not.
More personalization with chatbots
Another sector that will benefit from the 5G is customer support. 5G promises to bring more personalization to the chatbots by allowing visitors to leave prompt, real-time feedback. The ML and AI-powered machines will be used to control the haptic feedback and provide a better response to them.
Of course, if there are so many changes to web development, you could expect mobile app development to change too, as they are pretty much correlated. And that’s true: 5G will bring a lot of enhancements to the mobile world too.
How will 5G impact mobile app development?
There’s one more burning question for developers: how will 5G impact mobile app development?
Last year the mobile app installs grew by 33%, reaching the booming number of 56.2 billion. And this number is expected to grow each year.
So it’s not surprising that mobile app developers are also excited with the emergence of 5G: it will allow them to add new entertaining features to their apps, reaching more and more installments.
Here is what 5G will bring to the mobile world:
The boom of IoT
IoT or the Internet of Things refers to the concept of billions of different devices all connected to the Internet and sharing the same data.
With 5G enabling the seamless implementation of IoT, you will connect your different smart gadgets even better. And those gadgets can be anything from wearable devices, phones, and computers to sensor-based equipment.
Who knows, maybe your coat in ten years will be able to understand when it’s about to rain and become water-proof just when you need it. If developers merge AI technologies with the power of 5G, anything is possible.
All of this will lead to more intelligent apps in the market that help you connect your phone to your coat, plant, or pretty much anything that will have a 5G internet connection in the future.
More immersive technology
5G will introduce 3D and AR features not only to the websites but also to the mobile apps. It will help design and develop more immersive games that will push the boundaries of 3D, letting you get immersed in virtual reality.
Many companies are already using this immersive technology. For instance, IKEA lets its users test how their piece of furniture will look in their room with simple touches. You can use this feature for more than 2,000 products in their catalog.
Now imagine living in a world where almost all the companies introduced VR and 3D into their apps!
Better navigation apps
Finally, 5G will also introduce new upgraded navigation apps. The GPS-based mobile apps will become more precise in their information delivery. They will provide more accurate real-time results and strengthen the performance of the navigation apps.
This improvement will also serve the automated industry, allowing the bloom of autonomous vehicles, wearable gadgets, and portable devices.
So very soon, expect to feel the full power of the new generation of wireless Internet and experience the online and mobile world.
General FAQ
When will 5G be a thing?
5G, in a way, is already here, but it is still a question of when it will truly become “a thing.”
You can expect all the changes that we mentioned in the article to happen in the future four-five years. By 2025, Qualcomm’s Amon predicts that there will be 2.8 billion 5G connections.
5G will also have a significant role in the global economy. By 2035, the full economic effect will be felt when a wide range of industries use 5G for up to $13.1 trillion worth of goods and services.
Is getting a responsive web design affordable?
As we’ve already mentioned, 5G web development will rise in the upcoming years. So you can expect all your competitors to add all the extra functionalities that 5G will bring.
If you don’t stay in tune with the updates and maintain your old interface and functionality, you’ll simply get behind the competition. Imagine all your competitors using immersive elements and 3D graphics while you’re stuck with the 2D visuals: of course, you’ll get less traffic!
So although the 5G-powered elements will not impact your websites, their absence will.
Is it possible to convert the existing website to a responsive one?
In a variety of ways: it will transform your life in all aspects, giving you faster downloading speeds, better connectivity across devices, and bringing to your life the amazing VR, IoT, and AI.
