How is 5G technology impacting app development?

From Augmented Reality to Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to Beacon, several new trends and technologies are impacting the mobile app development industry. These technologies are shaping the market and determining how apps are built, distributed, used, and marketed.

5G belongs to the same league of advanced technologies and it has already started influencing how we develop and scale our mobile apps. It is not just smartphone and mobile app users that are hyped about 5G technology coming into play in its full vigor. Developers and tech-centric industries are equally enthusiastic about it.

In today’s piece, we will discuss what 5G is and how it is impacting the development of mobile apps. Also discover the key characteristics and features of 5G and know where the future of app development is headed to.

In this blog

The evolution of cellular technology

Let us start by taking a walk down the memory lane and briefly discussing the evolution of cellular technology. Know how telecommunications has evolved over the years and what came before 5G by going through the list below:

1G: Analog Voice was the first generation of wireless communication that was introduced in the late 1970s. It mainly supported calls between mobile phones and the data transfer speed was around 2.4 kbps.

2G: This was the first digital cellular network that came into existence after more than a decade. Users were given the facility of internet connection and text messages along with voice calls and data transfer speed of around 50 kbps.

3G: The third generation of cellular technologies triggered the smartphone revolution, and it came into play in the early 2000s. Users could now send images and make video calls as it ensured data speed of around 2 Mbps.

4G: The LTE generation was launched in the year 2007. It is currently the standard and the most popular wireless technology. It opened the gate to several possibilities like live streaming, gaming, data-rich apps, and more, and ensures data speed of around 100 Mbps.

5G: 5G is the future of telecommunications. It ensures data transfer speed in gigabits or Gbps. It utilizes three spectrum brands (high, mid, and low) to ensure better connectivity across regions. The technology is powering next-gen app development and enhancing the wireless communication infrastructure.

5G technology: Important statistics you should know

5G technology was introduced to the world in the year 2019. Ever since then, it has continued to wow people across the globe and influence several realms and verticals apart from the telecommunications industry. Here are some interesting statistics and facts about 5G that you must know:

Currently there are around 240 million 5G subscribers around the globe.
The number of 5G subscriptions worldwide is expected to be around 4.8 billion by the end of 2026.
A total of 220 commercial 5G services were launched by August 2022.
Despite a drop in the sale of non-essential items due to COVID, the sale of 5G compatible smartphones is growing and it is likely to gain a market share of 69 percent of total smartphone shipments this year.
Samsung is leading the 5G smartphone market alongside Apple and Xiaomi as the biggest contenders and players of the industry.
By 2030, the economic impact of 5G is expected to reach 227 billion US dollars in the manufacturing industry alone.
Consumer electronics and automotive applications are both estimated to have a 21.7 percent share of the 5G infrastructure by 2025.

The statistics clearly indicate that 5G will revolutionize several sectors around the globe and play a deciding role in the development of many technologies and industries like autonomous cars, smart homes, healthcare, and more.

What is 5G technology?

Currently, 4G or the fourth generation of cellular technology is providing connectivity to most mobile phones and smart devices. 5G (Fifth Generation) is its more advanced and powerful successor that is changing the global mobile industry for the better.

5G is a huge leap and advancement in the realm of telecommunications as it ensures performance and connectivity like never before. In fact, cellular phone companies have already started deploying 5G and it will soon be powering billions of devices around us.

Some also believe that 5G will bring an industrial revolution as it has the potential to transform businesses, expedite processes, fasten data transfer and communication, increase connectivity, and more.

It is changing how mobile apps are created and used as it is powering and bolstering other technologies in demand like Metaverse, GPS, IoT (Internet of Things), AR/VR (Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality), AI (Artificial Intelligence) and predictive technologies, among others.

With 5G, many new avenues of app development and use cases will come into play. Therefore, it is highly likely that there will be an increase in the demand for mobile app development. 5G will also influence how apps are developed, used, marketed, and scaled over time.

Key characteristics and features of 5G technology

To clearly understand the impact of 5G technology, you must be aware of its key characteristics and features. Here are some key highlights of the same:

Lower latency

Network latency is the delay in network communication, or the time taken by data to get transferred across the network. In layperson terms, the lower the latency, the better the speed and performance. The typical latency of a 4G network is around 50 milliseconds. With 5G, it will be around one millisecond resulting in reduced interferences and delays.

Enhanced connection density

Connection density is the ability of a network to successfully transmit data in a densely populated area. As the number of devices per user is increasing due to the availability of smartphones, wearables, gadgets, etc., the network must be able to connect and serve the nodes smoothly. 5G will come with enhanced network density and ensure the same.

Faster speed and performance

From waiting hours for downloading an mp3 file to downloading full-length movies in minutes, we have come a long way. 5G will take the experience several notches higher and allow users to download apps and content within seconds. In-app purchases, payments and other processes will also get expedited and the speed and performance of apps will increase.

Better bandwidth

Bandwidth is the measurement that indicates the rate of data transfer across a given path. 5G will ensure more bandwidth and better connectivity with higher radio frequencies and shorter wavelengths. Again, it will smoothly connect multiple devices and ensure smooth interactions even in crowded areas.

Increased battery life

Lower latency, minimum interference, higher speed and performance, and smooth connectivity help in reducing battery drainage of devices. As 5G ensures these features, it will also indirectly contribute to increasing the life of smartphones and IoT devices. Moreover, users will be able to use apps continually for longer hours.

Impact of 5G on mobile app development

5G is changing the landscape of the industries that are mobile centric and paving ways for creative developments in the mobile app industry. Here’s how 5G technology will impact mobile app development:

Powerful data transmission

Stronger cloud compatibility with strengthened data transmission can create a conducive environment for data-rich and scalable applications. Storing and accessing large volumes of data will become easier with 5G.

It will reduce the burden on the technical infrastructure and make computing more cloud centric. In fact, file transfers to the cloud will be quicker and simpler because of the phenomenally high transmission speeds and users will be able to access data smoothly.

Faster connectivity

As the dependency on hardware will reduce, the tangible constraints will no longer disrupt connectivity. This will enhance real-time networking and communication and allow users to connect with others instantly.

Building scalable smart city apps and connecting citizens to a centralized monitoring and maintenance system will become seamless. Governments will also benefit from it as launching high-performing surveillance apps and enhanced citizen connectivity will make administration easier.

Enhanced gaming experience

The gaming app market is the biggest among all app categories. The industry is worth billions of dollars, and it continues to grow by the second. With 5G in play, more gaming apps will enter the market as speed and performance constraints will get diminished.

Users will be able to enjoy console-quality gaming on their smartphones. Especially the games that rely on internet connectivity and to-and-fro user interactions will be easier to launch and play. The gaming experience will go several notches up.

Smooth video streaming

Just like gaming, entertainment apps have also become a popular category on the app stores and most entertainment apps rely on powerful audio and video streaming. In fact, even eCommerce and education apps, among others, are using video content to communicate and interact with their customers.

It will become easier to create media rich apps and deliver a frictionless video streaming experience to users with 5G. High resolution live streaming with better battery life and faster transmissions will make video viewing a bliss.

Seamless integration of IoT

IoT (Internet of Things) has been the buzzword for years now. The technology enables us to connect to a myriad of things, gadgets, objects, or people. Thanks to IoT, creating smart-homes or even smart workspaces with digitally powered devices has become a breeze.

Now with 5G in picture, connecting multiple IoT powered devices and transferring data will become easier than ever. The application of IoT will become more extensive, allowing developers to come up with more ideas for apps that ensure connectivity and smart-living.

Better AR/VR experience

Gaming to healthcare, eCommerce to real estate and finance to education, the AR/VR technology (Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality) is being leveraged in every industry. From allowing users to take virtual experience of products and properties, to bridging the gap between physical and real, AR/VR is nothing short of magic.

As 5G will ensure less latency issues, better bandwidth and enhanced performance, the magic of AR/VR will truly come into play on a large scale. The range of application of AR and VR will also broaden as immersive technologies will see a new high in the mobile app industry.

Improved GPS performance

GPS technology is powering many apps around us. From food-delivery to taxi booking, on-demand services to location-centric content customization, it enables several functionalities across verticals. 5G will likely increase the demand for such apps and enhance the performance of existing ones.

With robust speed and connectivity, 5G will enable delivery of precise data in no time. Tracking shipments and orders, getting accurate location of people and goods, and other similar processes will become easier and smoother, thereby creating space for more such applications and services.

Wrapping up

Ever since its inception, 5G has been the center of public attention across the globe. While it caused some controversies and conspiracy theories, it continues to inspire and shape development. In fact, many hardware manufacturing companies are focusing on creating and popularizing 5G enabled devices.

Evidently, 5G is impacting hardware and software development on many fronts, including mobile devices and apps. Above all, 5G technology is creating more room for creativity and scalability and allowing developers to think outside the box as they create and launch apps that power humankind and make our lives easier and better.

With no-code app builders simplifying mobile app development and 5G powering our devices, creating mobile apps is surely going to be smoother. The app browsing experience and user-interactions will also enhance and eventually contribute to the strengthening of mobile commerce and other mobile-based businesses and services.

If you thought this was an interesting read, do not forget to check out our other blogs and learn more about mobile app development, marketing, and maintenance. Also, let us know your views on 5G technology and how it will impact and change the course of our future.

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