Until relatively recently, most businesses in the United States and beyond were rooted in one place, tied to a physical location, and only able to take payments via fixed cash registers. However, in an increasingly digitized world, a new breed of business is utilizing the latest technology to offer more mobile ways of working. Today, remote working and mobile payments have become part and parcel of ordinary daily life for many.
In the United Kingdom, research reveals that, by 2022, just 51% of businesses used landlines compared with 96% in 2016. Among UK businesses with between 50 and 249 employees, 77% are now using mobile for business purposes, a survey from Ofcom reveals. 5G connections are enabling businesses to not only cut costs, but set up more quickly, getting to work without the significant sums involved in opening a physical office.
Reshaping the business environment
5G is changing the business landscape all over the world today, reshaping the way that businesses work. Operating up to 10 times faster than 4G, 5G networks are not only quicker, but facilitate many more connections, paving the way for futurist technological concepts like the Internet of Things to become a part of daily life.
5G has facilitated new working practices that drastically improve operational efficiencies for businesses of all sizes, operating in all industries. 5G speeds enable 4k video conferencing and almost instant video downloads, enabling colleagues to collaborate seamlessly without the need for a cable or fixed WiFi. 5G has also revolutionized the world of digital payments, with stores increasingly leveraging 5G WiFi connectivity to support roaming POS technology, enabling retail teams to accept payments throughout their stores without customers needing to queue at the checkout.
Impact of 5G
For smartphone users, 5G is the power behind the latest generation of technology, providing scope for development of phones and digital devices with enhanced performance and connectivity. However, the impact of 5G extends far further than mobile phones, with 5G technology poised to transform multiple industrial applications, opening up new capabilities.
Providing advancements in speed, capacity, reliability, and latency, 5G is revolutionizing everything from manufacturing and marketing to the metaverse, providing improved Internet access to a new generation of digital nomads, enhancing collaboration through global data delivery, and driving rapid growth of AI.
5G presents scope to deliver unparalleled experiences, presenting profound opportunities for carriers, software designers, chip designers, and equipment manufacturers. Nevertheless, realising the full potential of 5G requires significant infrastructure investment and innovation.
Rapid adoption
Since the launch of the world’s first 5G network in 2019, its adoption has spread rapidly, although some countries do seem to be falling behind. T-Mobile US was the first company to launch a commercially available 5G network. Upon its launch on December 2, 2019, the network initially covered some 200 million users located across 5,000 US cities or towns. Since then, the global rollout of 5G networks has grown exponentially and at a rapid pace, with Ookla’s 5G map tracking more than 114,000 5G deployments across 225 operators worldwide.
Asia, and in particular Japan, India, and the Philippines, are at the forefront of the global 5G network rollout in 2023, according to data from the leading US networking tech provider, Cisco. Meanwhile, despite being perceived as a leading force in the global 5G rollout, the United Kingdom is falling behind other nations, according to some experts. Despite being an early adopter of 5G technology, the UK is failing to lay the proper foundations for service telecommunication network service providers to deliver. Providers need to improve the operational efficiency and performance of their networks, facilitating more responsive applications and a superior user experience.
Evolving consumer needs
In the realm of app development, developers are consistently striving to meet evolving consumer needs against the backdrop of rising numbers of smart device users and an explosive increase in technology adopters. In addition to transforming the mobile device industry, 5G is also poised to have a massive impact on app development, taking the user experience to the next level due to its enhanced features and drastically increased speed.
5G networks are paving the way for the seamless implementation of the Internet of Things, connecting all different types of devices, including wearables, small gadgets, and sensor-based equipment. Experts believe this will drive a smarter and more connected user experience, enabling companies that keep ahead of the curve by developing robust 5G-based technologies and apps to differentiate themselves from the competition, boosting both brand awareness and revenue.
Progressive technologies
5G-powered apps will provide smartphone users with access to progressive technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, UltraHD videos, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. 5G provides a firm foundation for the future of communications, posing the potential to disrupt entire industries by presenting seamless connected experiences far superior to those that can be achieved via fixed broadband networks. Little wonder then that mobile app developers are scrambling to adopt this high-end technology, maximizing the benefits and opportunities it presents.