According to GlobalData, a research and consulting firm, 5G networks will take over most of Asia and the USA by the year 2020 while the European countries might just have to make do with the current 4G network.
A new report by the company claims that within the next five years, more than half of the mobile subscribers in South Korea would be able to operate on 5G networks as opposed to just 7% of subscriptions in the whole of Europe.
Elaborating on this report, Upin Dattani, Senior Manager - Europe for GlobalData Technology, said, “Some mobile markets, such as South Korea and Japan, are well-suited to 5G, with widespread fiber availability, small cell deployments, advanced 4G networks and supportive regulators.
“In Europe, operators are keen to obtain a good return on the substantial capital expenditure made in 3G and 4G investments. While European operators see benefits from more reliable and responsive next generation networks, technological progress will likely be at a more measured pace. ”, he explained further.
Although a few pre-standard 5G networks are currently being tested worldwide, the actual 5G services won't commence until 2018 for commercial purposes. Meanwhile, we might witness more and more operators racing up to take the 5G lane by launching these services in the immediate future.
All the wireless generations, until now, have been focused on increasing bandwidth and capacity and the 5G will do just that. The future of 5G networks is not too far from sight, and it will be the first time that a network will come with added low latency, high density, and high reliability. These features are sure to open doors to new possibilities and predominantly business-oriented services such as smart cities and self-drive cars. Not only this, but 5G is also expected to be operator-friendly with new, adjacent revenue streams, including the IoT (Internet of Things), fixed-mobile integration, and digital content.
Another GlobalData member, Peter Jarich, Chief Analyst, added that “Hopes are running high for the potential of 5G to truly transform mobile business models, and tap new revenue opportunities moving beyond consumers and into diverse digital industries. The implications go beyond any individual operator to impact national and regional competitiveness.
“Despite this, for all the efforts to fast-track early 5G deployments, it’s important to recognise that 5G rollouts will take years to complete; no region or country has won or lost the race to 5G yet.”
