The internet has undoubtedly turned into a necessary part of an individual’s life, something that is irreplaceable. Almost everything is accessible on the internet, from essential items like clothing and food to heavy weaponry. Its undeniable presence in every global citizen’s life has prompted intensive research in the field, and new developments are put forth almost every other day.
One of the most anticipated revolutions might be the 5G, i.e., the 5th generation cell phone network. This advancement has been long-awaited since the 4G technology arrived way back in 2009. The research of seven long years finally paid off, and 5G was first introduced to the public in 2016, though on a much smaller scale.
Many countries worldwide are trying to secure the first spot and deploy the 5G network on a large scale; initially, the step portraying their power over the virtual bubble. Some of the first-world countries are leading the movement, and the process is worth documenting. They are as follows:
The United States of America — The US has always been a pioneer in producing geniuses and contributing copiously to the world of technology. The country’s 5G movement started in early July of 2016 and has since then caught pace. It was the first country to make this kind of network available for public use, and the speed documented was phenomenal. The connection speed was calculated at one gigabit per second, as also the delays that the users experienced during their initial data plans were minimized. The 5G spectrum allows more users to connect and share the network without reducing speed and markets a more significant number of modulation schemes.
Before the pandemic hit the country hard, various companies were actively distributing the 5G module in around 50 cities in the US alone. Research also suggests that the entire nation might be using the 5G technology till the end of 2025. This scenario will indeed serve as a turning point in the history of documented technological advancement.
China — China ranks second in the list of countries with 5G available in the maximum number of cities. China has already deployed 5G to around 57 cities and is gearing to provide more. As the Chinese authorities strictly regulate the stream of technological expansion within the country, it’s difficult to predict when the other under-developed parts of the country start using 5G. Based on the country’s previous track record of implementing new technology, researchers predict a slow disbursement of the nation’s data plans.
The areas where the network is currently in use, i.e., Shanghai and Beijing, have recorded excellent citizens’ responses. Faster speed, lesser delays, complex infrastructure, yet simple management procedures have rendered the opportunity lucrative. A trend established by the authorities suggests that China will have more than 460 million citizens using 5G till 2025, even with only three companies marketing the designated data plan.
Germany — Amongst the giant contenders included in this list, Germany acquires a spot since it has succeeded in verifying a massive 16 million active 5G users. Though the technology was only launched in 2019 by 2 5G technology companies, the plans offered were cheap, and it lured the public by providing much better service than their current data plan. Over 26 cities have been exposed, and many more are on the list to deploy the 5G solution plan.
There is news that a third company has entered the field and will market its own 5G spectrum by mid-2021. It has been confirmed by the Deutsch authorities, who previously auctioned the bands for more than a billion dollars. If their launch is successful, around 55 million German citizens will be using 5G, constituting around two-thirds of the nation’s population. That in itself is a massive figure!
South Korea — Without the inclusion of the biggest competitor in the field, the list will be rendered incomplete. Undoubtedly, South Korea is way ahead in the race to provide its entire population with a faster network. It has catered to around 85 cities already and is planning to bring at least 90% of Koreans, who use the internet daily, to use the 5G plan to accommodate their needs. The three major companies that have helped bring about this revolution in the country are LG UPlus, KT Corporation, and SK Telecom.
The speed that is being marketed in the South Korean market is around 3 gigabits per second, which is massive compared to the other countries. They are using an advanced system to help transmit data easier and reduce the amount of fiber that needs to be laid. Given the low price at which 5G data is available in the country, it won’t be far-fetched to imagine that more than 90% of Koreans will use the technology by 2021.
A country that hasn’t been documented well enough yet deserves attention is Australia. Even though 5G has been introduced to almost 41% of the population, the remaining still uses the 3G or 4G network. Three major companies, i.e., TPG Telecom, Optus, and Telstra, are diving into the market, and the government aims to cover at least 75% of its citizens with their help. While all the major cities have already been using 5G since last year, the suburbs might celebrate getting 5G later this year.
Key Takeaways
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed 5G deployment, but the system in various countries is rebooting and is more than merely ready to make up for the lost time. Network emulators are working overtime to test the developed applications. Specifically, the 5G network emulators are in overdrive as they are the ones that ensure the speed of the provided network.
Lastly, according to a survey conducted, more than 370 countries across 34 countries already have 5G. In itself, this scenario is a commendable task, and the countries mentioned above are majorly responsible for the same.
