AS WITH EVERY new standard before it, 5G wireless technology promises to be the new gold standard in terms of speed, coverage, and reliability, and has the potential to become our dominant mode of wireless connectivity. 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) was a major leap forward from the 3G technology that preceded it, but LTE really hasn't stopped evolving. Engineers continue to make improvements to LTE, and rather than viewing 5G as a successor to 4G LTE, it should be understood that LTE serves as the foundation on which 5G will develop. The Promise Of 5G Consumers will, of course, be excited for the speed and reliability that 5G will provide, and carriers will surely tout those aspects of their networks. 5G will, however, improve the connections between loT (internet of things) devices and make the technologies behind smart cities and smart homes more efficient. "5G, because it is looking to address many different use cases and not simply mobile broadband, will provide support for lower latency-that is, how much time it takes to get data through the network and back-as well as higher reliability," says Ken Ruben, principal analyst with 451 Research. 5G brings to the table bandwidth and speeds that are massive compared to what we are accustomed to now, and it does so by using different areas of the wireless spectrum. It's also worth noting that in some cases additional small cell equipment will be required. Dividing a network into multiple virtual networks. This enables smarter networks that could, for instance, provide greater bandwidth for devices and applications that require them
Verizon:
Verizon has been one of the major drivers of 5G technology since announcing its development a couple of years ago. In fact, Verizon was the first U.S. carrier to complete 5G radio specifications, which means that it started pre-commercial trials before other carriers in an effort to better understand how 5G can work in various settings. Of major interest to Verizon is the idea of leveraging 5G capabilities to improve the performance of smart cities and connected devices. The goal is for people to be able to go anywhere within a given city and always have reliable network access, plus the ability to connect multiple devices together for unique experiences. One example of this in a smart city context might involve deploying environmental sensors to monitor conditions in multiple areas at once, and using the data those sensors collect to determine ways to reduce pollution or even noise levels. Although we're merely on the cusp of these technologies taking shape, Verizon stresses the important role 5G networks will play in making these types of connections possible. Verizon is also investing in the idea of putting 5G in the home or office rather than going directly to the broader mobile use case. The goal, according to the company, is a future where instead of digging trenches in yards to deliver faster internet speeds, Verizon can simply improve the performance and speed of its network to the point where 5G can be used in place of traditional broadband internet. Then, once that application of the technology is well-established, 5G coverage can be expanded to support widespread use of smartphones, loT devices, and almost any other wireless device imaginable. As a kick start for these efforts, Verizon recently announced plans to launch a pilot program by the middle of 2017 that will give 5G access to 11 market across the United States. Verizon customers in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Denver, and other locations in between will serve as test beds for 5G technology As company tries to get one step closer to a wide-scale rollout
