7 Ways in Which 5G Will Transform The Mobile App Development Industry

One technology that is making the headlines is 5G and rightly so. It turns the dream of high speed mobile internet into reality. To give you an idea about its blazing fast speeds, you can download a full-length HD movie in a couple of seconds with 5G connection. That’s how fast it is. Although, the technology is still in its infancy but it surely has a lot of potential.

According to a prediction, 1.4 billion devices will be running on 5G networks by 2025. What does it mean for mobile apps and how will it impact mobile app development? If it does, in what ways? If you are interested in finding answers to these questions then you are at the right place.

In this article, you will learn about seven ways in which 5G can revolutionize mobile app development.

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of wireless mobile broadband technology that delivers speed of fiber optic network without wires. The frequency spectrum of 5G can be divided into three main categories.

• Mid Band
• Low Band
• Millimeter waves

Millimeter waves are the fastest, delivering speeds up to 1 gigabits per second while the low band is at the other side of spectrum, delivering similar speeds as 4G networks. In the middle is the mid band, which delivers speeds of upto 400 megabits per second and is widely deployed across different countries around the world.

4G Vs 5G: Why is 5G Better Than 4G?

There are many reasons why 5G is better than 4G. Some of them are given below.

• Low Latency
• Higher Connection Density
• Better Battery Life
• High precision

Low Latency:

4G networks have an average latency of 50 milliseconds. 5G takes things to a whole new level by drastically cutting down the latency to one millisecond. The higher the network latency, the more delays and interference you will face. This means that you will experience little to no interference. Low latency can come in handy in bandwidth intensive AR and VR based mobile applications.

Higher Connection Density:

Another major difference between 4G and 5G is of connection density. 4G networks let you connect 2000 devices within a 38 square miles radius. On the contrary, you can connect upto 1 million devices within the same radius with 5G. This can prove to be a handy feature for IoT mobile app developers and business owners, as they can fit in more devices in a limited space.

Better Battery Life:

One of the biggest advantages of lower latency is that it reduces battery consumption. This means that you will experience much improved battery life, which allows you to use your favorite mobile apps for a longer period of time.. Whether you are using a mobile device or an IoT device, you can get up to 10 times better battery life as compared to 4G.

High Precision:

5G networks use higher radio frequencies and shorter wavelengths than 4G networks. It works in the 30-300 GHz frequency range. Due to this, 5G has a clear advantage over 4G networks when it comes to precision and accuracy. With pinpoint accuracy and higher precision, 5G can prove to be a huge asset for navigation based apps that rely on GPS.

7 Ways 5G Will Revolutionize Mobile App Development

Here are seven ways in which 5G will transform mobile app development.

1.     Blazing Fast Uploads, Downloads and File Transfers

By far the biggest advantage of 5G connectivity is its lightning fast speeds. Whether you are uploading a file, downloading a file or sending a file, you will notice the difference in speeds especially if you come from a 3G or 4G network. With mobile apps relying on data transfers, 5G will result in faster data transfer, leading to more immersive mobile app experience. There would be no lag and delays and everything will be buttery smooth. With 5G using electromagnetic spectrum instead of radios, you can experience some very short file download, upload and transfer times, which improves the user experience immensely.

2.     Immersive User Experiences

When 2G was first launched, it was only capable of handling text messages and calls. Rich media like high definition video streaming was out of question. This continued till the advent of 4G but it will change with the implementation of 5G networks. App developers can take advantage of faster speeds and deliver a richer, multimedia heavy experience to its users through their mobile apps, which was not possible before 5G. This allows app developers to drastically improve the aesthetics and visual appeal of their app user interfaces as well. Mobile app development companies are creating 5G ready app user interfaces.

3.     Personalized Chatbots

Even though, the day when chatbots will completely replace humans is not near but the introduction of 5G networks will surely make it easier for businesses to deliver real time feedback to their customers. 5G connectivity will also pave the way for tactile internet, allowing users to control and receive haptic feedback from machines. It will change the way we use to look at machines and will force developers to think differently. App developers who use this to their advantage can make their app a roaring success while those who don’t will struggle to stay relevant in the long run.

4.     Navigational Mobile Apps

With 5G connectivity, users can enjoy the perks of uninterrupted communication on the go. This will open new avenues for navigational app development. This will prove to be a game changer for industries like tourism where mobile app developers can create apps that contain all the popular historical places while offering new and unique features allowing users to immerse themselves in the atmosphere around the location. All that can be experienced by users without leaving the comforts of their rooms. It will surely see its applications in other industries as well and lead to the development of innovative apps.

5.     3D Modeling

3D gaming, Virtual Reality and Augmented reality all require a lot of resources to work properly. Before the advent of 5G, we were left with inconsistent 3D gaming, VR and AR experiences. That is about to change with 5G. Faster speeds will deliver a much more immersive gaming and VR/AR experiences. Moreover, users can also be able to connect 5G mobile apps with cutting edge 3D printing and create amazing 3D objects. Such apps will see its utility in industries like construction and manufacturing and will bring about a revolution in those industries. As new and more applications emerge, we will see its wider adoption as well.

6.     Lower Dependance on Device Hardware

When you are able to transmit GBs of data in seconds only through network, who needs expensive hardware? 5G connectivity will reduce our dependence on hardware. This means that even if you have mediocre hardware but have high speed 5G connection, it can still run apps flawlessly because they are less dependent on processing power and more dependent on network capabilities. Data centers with best dedicated servers in physical locations or cloud will do all the processing. This means that you no longer require a top of the line processor and hardware to run everything smoothly.

7.     Multiple App Versions

5G is currently restricted to few cities and few carriers but that will change as the time passes. As 5G implementation goes mainstream, we will see another problem emerge. App developers will have to create separate apps for 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G because some users will be using high speed 5G while others might be lingering at other side of the spectrum on 2G or 3G. This will create a disparity amongst users and lead to fragmentation. How app developers overcome this challenge will define how app development will evolve in future and what the future of app development will look like.

New Use Cases and Applications

Blazing fast speeds, low latency and high device density will open up new avenues for businesses. This will lead to new applications and use cases being developed, which would speed up 5G adoption.

There are a number of different use cases and new applications for 5G technology. Some of them are given below.

• AR/VR
• Industrial IoT
• Connected Cars
• Smart Cities
• Control and Automation
• Location Tracking
• E-Healthcare

Conclusion

There is no denying that 5G has immense potential but that potential needs to convert into something substantial for 5G to become a game changer. Mobile app developers will have to adapt and take advantage of this technology and create 5G ready apps. If used correctly, 5G can change the face of mobile app development as we know it today. From blazing fast downloads, uploads and file transfers to media rich experiences, we can enjoy it all even while we are on the go. Lastly, we will see new and innovative applications of 5G emerge in different industries, which would shake up those industries as well.

How do you think 5G will impact mobile app development? Feel free to share it with us in the comments section below.