The Latest Impact of 5G Technology on Mobile App Development: Hip or Hype?

Updated : Apr 18, 2024
Key Features Of 5G Technology

Could you ever imagine that within just a blink of an eye, millions of GB of data can be transmitted to an endless number of connected devices across the world? Yes, it's now possible as we're entering into a new age of technological revolution: the fifth-generation wireless cellular network or 5G technology.

After much talk and debate, 5G is finally here. It happens to be one of the most powerful trends in mobile app development and is on the brink of changing not only some industries but the whole world. And the excitement is not only limited to consumers, but tech enthusiasts, developers, enterprises, and many more.

On This Page
  1. Introduction
  2. The Changing Landscape of Cellular Technologies
  3. 5G Technology: A Complete Overview
  4. How 5G Technology Works
  5. Noteworthy Features of 5G Technology That Will Influence Development
  6. The Impact of 5G Technology on the Mobile App Development Industry
  7. Summing Up

Introduction

With the 5G unveiling already started, it's estimated that the 5G network will be running in more than 1.4 billion devices by 2025 - that's 15% of the global mobile industry! Clearly, 5G has come with significant potentialities and is capable of transforming businesses 180 degrees.

The secret behind its prowess is its high speed (10X faster than 4G!) to transfer data between different devices, though this is just one of the many merits that will completely alter our lives. And mobile apps are not exempted from this revolution. Developers worldwide have started feeling the influence of this upgraded cellular network that is most likely to commence the fourth industrial revolution.

via GIPHY

So, are you interested to know how 5G technology will enormously impact the mobile app development world? Sit tight as we're going to touch on every aspect of this exciting wireless innovation in much detail in this write-up!

The Changing Landscape of Cellular Technologies

To understand 5G, its impact, and its benefits, we first need to have a basic understanding of its predecessors. Let's have a quick overview of the preceding cellular technologies one by one.

1. 1G (Analog)

1G, or the first generation of wireless communication, was introduced in the 1980s. People could make simple calls between their mobile phones with a data transfer speed of 2.4 Kbps.

2. 2G (GPRS)

After a decade of introducing 1G, 2G was launched in 1991 as a first-ever digital cellular network. It offered its users internet connection facilities, voice calls, and text messages (SMS) with a speed of 50 Kbps.

3. 3G (UMTS)

The third generation of telecommunications technology came into existence in 1998 with 2 Mbps speed. 3G started the smartphone revolution as users, for the first time, could send pictures and do video calls.

4. 4G (LTE)

Launched in 2008, 4G is the current standard of wireless technology enabling data-intensive activities like HD live media streaming, gaming, video conferencing, and much more. It has a maximum speed of 100 Mbps.

And here comes the legend of 5G!

5G Technology: A Complete Overview

5G is a revolutionary stamp in the history of wireless communications. We have almost entered into the golden age of 5G, which promises to enhance the smartphone experience and amplify mobile connectivity through faster connection speed and data sharing. It's not only an upgraded version of 4G but a discrete technology altogether - one that deserves talking about in this day and decade.

With a minimum data transfer speed of 1 Gbps (up to 50 Gbps), 5G will do much more than just improving the wireless connection. In some test environments, it has reached 1 Tbps speed, which is around 65000 times faster than 4G networks. Such lighting speed can benefit several domains, from predicting production lines to reducing road accidents. It comes as no surprise why 5G has received a thumping response from its long-awaited launch in April 2019.

Though a substantial rollout has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the world has kept its eyes on this radical technology.

Mobile operators invest a whopping amount of USD 160 billion annually in deploying 5G to upgrade their networks.

Mobile operators are investing $160 billion every year in the deployment of 5G to broaden and upgrade their networks.

Wondering what makes 5G so unique and why it's one of the hyped-up trends in mobile app development? Let us decipher how it works and how it's so better and different from its former networks.

How 5G Technology Works

For its process, 5G utilizes three distinct spectrum bands:

1. High Band Spectrum

It's responsible for the highest performance of 5G with a speed that can reach up to 10 Gbps. But it has some drawbacks as well, namely its low coverage area and low building penetration.

2. Mid Band Spectrum

It lies between the high and low band spectrum with a not-so-impressive wall penetration mechanism. The maximum speed can reach up to 1 Gbps

3. Low Band Spectrum

For connectivity carriers, it's the primary band with a high coverage area and impressive wall penetration. It's alternatively known as the 1GHz range.

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Noteworthy Features of 5G Technology That Will Influence Development

5G has turned out to be the bedrock of future communications for its brand-new network architecture. It's all set to play havoc with industries by providing impeccable connected experiences better than the existing networks.

This is why you'll see any top mobile app development company pulling up their socks to embrace this high-end technology. Faster internet enables faster loading times, which leads to blazing-fast file transfer and 4K streaming. But these are somehow anticipated advances. Some of its other salient features which you still might not know are:

  • Low to Zero Latency

When you're trying to make critical decisions in real-time or operate machines and software, network interference and delays can be pretty deadly. 5G has near-zero latency, cutting 4G's 50 milliseconds latency into 1 millisecond. Sure, a quick loading time of websites is nice, but connected autonomous vehicles, remote surgery, and responsive virtual reality will be the winners here.

  • Increased Connection Density

If you ever tried to connect to mobile data in a highly crowded public event, you'll understand the importance of connection density. 4G has the capacity to support only 2000 devices connected within a 0.38 miles radius. In the same space, 5G can take the number of devices up to 1 million. This is certainly great news for IoT (Internet of Things) mobile app developers.

Impact Of 5G Mobile App Development

  • Enhanced Precision

5G is the latest radio technology that uses shorter wavelengths and higher radio frequencies (within the 30 GHz to 300 GHz range). Therefore, it runs with much-improved precision capabilities than 4G and is tremendously useful for GPS-enabled devices.

  • Improved Battery Life

Reduced latency and increased speed are very likely to result in less battery consumption. Eventually, 5G will increase the battery life of smartphones and other IoT devices up to 10 times more. This will enable users to use their phones (and therefore apps) for a longer time and eventually benefit mobile app developers.

  • New Use Cases

The exclusive features of 5G technology, including exceptionally high bandwidth, near-zero latency, and augmented connection density, have opened up the window to exciting new use cases that were not possible at all in the age of 4G, such as:

  • Cloud AR/VR
  • Industrial IoT
  • Connected Automotive
  • Remote Machinery Control
  • Smart Cities
  • Wireless eHealth

Now coming to the bigger question, what would be the impact of such a dynamic wireless technology on the agile app development process? We're glad you asked, bringing us to the next part.

As per reports, 1.4 billion devices will run on 5g network by 2025 which is 15% of the global mobile industry. Click To Tweet

The Impact of 5G Technology on the Mobile App Development Industry

As a matter of course, the release of 5G will help mobile app developers make remarkably smoother and more efficient apps. This, in turn, will pump up the productivity of both developers and users. Let's see how technology can transform the overall horizon of the mobile app development world.

1. Flawless Implementation of IoT

5G will give birth to a myriad of connected devices for which developers would create different apps. And through the app development process, it will enable the extensive application of IoT.

These apps will perform optimally, consuming less power and using narrow bandwidth. Developers will also be able to leverage the power of ML and AI and merge them with 5G to integrate ambient computing into their smarter apps.

As a result of all these, the adoption of connected devices will gain momentum, contributing to a smarter and enhanced user experience. In short, organizations will have the opportunity to boost revenues with the help of this robust technology.

2. Beginning of Immersive technology

The immersive AR and 3D-based mobile app development will see an upsurge with 5G. These apps will be the total game-changers of this industry by offering 3D features in this niche, from 3D printing to immersive gaming.

From mobile app development to healthcare to construction, such future-proof apps will boost multiple industries. For instance, IKEA has built an app named "IKEA Place" with such technology that lets users test over 2000 products in a room just with simple touches. How amazing that would be!

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3. More Scopes on AR and VR Integration

Due to network issues, developers couldn't really integrate AR and VR into their apps in a broad range. But 5G will come as a good Samaritan here. Apps will perform seamlessly as 5G eliminates latency issues and bandwidth concerns. By processing higher volumes of data in a very short time, the app will deliver engaging and interactive experiences.

Irrespective of the domain, AR and VR technology will completely change the way of modern shopping. With just hand-holding devices, consumers will be able to create or change a product as per their taste and needs.

4. Smoother Video Streaming

Another great benefit of 5G-powered apps is the seamless delivery of media-rich user experiences. The technology will support high-resolution live streaming at a much faster speed and thus will dramatically revolutionize the overall video streaming process.

Additionally, improved battery life and low latency will ensure an uninterrupted viewing experience and smoother performance of video streaming apps. Developers will definitely utilize this opportunity to incorporate high-performance 4K apps to spotlight services and products. And for users, it's a win-win too! Now that you have an idea to get take the process ahead to build a live video streaming app.

Impact Of 5G On Mobile App Development

5. Improved GPS Performance

The 5G technology will boost the GPS-based mobile app development with exceptional precision at delivering information. With better connectivity and faster speed, 5G will ensure accurate real-time results that will improve the performance of navigation apps.

Such apps will particularly be beneficial for the automotive industry. They will help autonomous vehicles be more efficient and deliver better-connected experiences via portable devices and wearable gadgets.

6. Enhanced Cloud Compatibility

Scalability is one of the biggest perks of 5G. It comes with incredibly high transmission rates that will enable easier and faster file transfer to the cloud. It will also effectively support the storage and shifting of technical infrastructure to the cloud.

So, developers will now be able to reduce dependence on device hardware and include cloud accessibility into the mobile app development process. Users will have smooth access to their cloud storage due to high performance and reduced latency. This way, they can streamline their businesses with cloud computing.

7. Emergence of Personalized Chatbots

4G yet cannot support the full replacement of humans with chatbots. But the features of 5G technology will bring new synergy for chatbots for creating better real-time opportunities, such as quicker response, prompt feedback, etc. Also, 5G will lead to the booming of Tactile Internet, where you can manage and receive haptic feedback provided by leading-age machines.

Did you know, mobile operators are investing $160 billion every year in the deployment of 5G to broaden and upgrade their networks. Click To Tweet

Summing Up

5G was invented as the ultimate solution to wireless communications. However, it's still in its cradle, and there are so many things to be perfected. Sure, many challenges come with its benefits, such as more possibilities of data breaches, multiple app versions, etc., but isn't that the case with every technology?

Although there's a lot of skepticism on 5G at this moment, it has a lot to offer as the world's fastest network. 5G is here to stay and will turn out to be a blessing, both for developers and users. But where will you find such agile developers who can perfectly leverage the power of 5G into your desired apps?

Fret not! If you're looking to build next-gen mobile apps aligned with the 5G network, hire dedicated mobile app developers from the leading mobile app development company. Unleash the power of 5G and embrace the world-changing benefits if offered. After all, technology is at its best when it brings people closer!

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Jaydeep Patadiya is a AVP - Sales at Radixweb and always has the answer to- what's on the mind of the customers? In an industry that is fundamentally changing, he helps customers make the right decisions by connecting the right dots and adopt new technologies. Beyond work, he prepares for upcoming marathon races.