If I’m honest, I’ve lost my way a little when it comes to the different mobile signal speeds, all I know is that why do I still have the swirling wheel of processing when waiting for my favourite YouTuber to load...
I’ve heard for a while about the latest mobile signal 5G coming soon and admit to being a little oblivious to what it really meant until this past month when just like 4G, EE have again led the way in being the first 5G UK mobile operator in no less than 6 cities and counting but what is it and is it really necessary?
The quest for the best
I remember back to the days of the incarnation of EDGE (or 2G) back in the 90s if you are not as old as me, back to when phones “flipped out”, back when antennas needed to be pulled out to provide a better signal. Then we were blessed with 3G and the explosion of the smartphone, being able to surf the internet on the go was amazing… until your phone signal reverted back to EDGE and it would be quicker to go home and check on your home dial up internet provider. 3G did get better as time went on and just like a “poke” on Facebook became the norm, as did the fact that having internet connectivity was no longer a luxury but a necessity. The need to check your social media channels increased and photos turn to videos, GIFs and streaming on your mobile or tablet device quickly took over.
The problem though was speed, although 3G could cope with the odd boomerang, 20 second clip, anything like streaming, particularly in an era of demanding HD imagery just couldn’t cut it and the phase “buffering” became popular… or not.
Things really took off though when 4G was born, bringing fibre optic like broadband speeds to your phone thanks to higher bandwidths available. Again, EE set the tone across the UK providing the first 4G network; the fastest and also the most 4G coverage in the UK. Buffering became a thing of the past, streaming movies or TV Box sets were unlocked to the masses and the demand continued to grow.
5Gv4G
Fast forward a few more years and here we are, with 5G being rolled out. But what does this mean and why do we need it?
Better connection - Well despite 4G, there are still dead spots, times where lots of users are all connecting at once, whether that’s at a major event, like a festival or a sports final. With 5G and its extended 5G frequency, more users will be able to video call their friends without any issues at busy stadiums.
Faster speeds – We’ve all been there (well I know I have), where you are just about to board a train and think, “I know, I’ll download a quick episode from a streaming service”, as you KNOW the signal will be pretty non-existent on the train, only to find that although it's quick, it's not that quick and the train is on its way to ‘no signal town’ and you are stuck half way through your next episode. With 5G you’ll have downloaded whole seasons before you hear “tickets please”.
Future Innovations – 5G means less lag when streaming, particularly live or playing your favourite online game, those extra seconds will make so much more difference when trying to come out victorious, it also means no more blaming the internet connection for not responding or being detailed enough to be able to see in time. 😉
What about 4G though?
The good news is that unlike some mobile operators who didn’t even get their 4G service out of the block, EE had the best and will continue to run alongside their new 5G, adding another layer to make sure its customers are never without a stunning signal.
Yes, it’s true, you will need to have a 5G mobile in order to benefit from a 5G network but with many of the top brands already having 5G enabled handsets out, you are now only a new connection or upgrade away from experiencing 5G.
I’m so excited to be getting my next 5G enabled smartphone and can’t wait to experience the new era in fast and super reliable connection with EE.
Are you excited for 5G? What will you be looking to use 5Gs speed or reliability for? I’d love to hear in the comments below
