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  • 5G is coming.

  • 5G.

  • 5G.

  • 5G.

  • Well, technically it's here.

  • Kinda?

  • Maybe?

  • Slowly?

  • This fifth-generation cellular network

  • is 10 times faster than 4G LTE.

  • That means instead of waiting

  • five minutes to download a movie on Netflix in 4G,

  • it will take just 30 seconds on 5G.

  • So it could even replace your home's

  • current high-speed internet service.

  • The new standard means devices

  • can communicate with each other with no lag.

  • You know how when you write with a pen,

  • you see it as it happens?

  • That's zero latency. That's pretty much

  • what 5G can do: no waiting.

  • That opens up the possibility for things like

  • wireless VR experiences and more reliable driverless cars

  • thanks to the ability to analyze

  • and process data at faster speeds.

  • It's an exciting time for faster, more connected devices.

  • But there are some obstacles 5G needs to overcome

  • before we can really reap all of its amazing benefits.

  • First, we need a whole new infrastructure.

  • Your cell phone provider, for example, will need to

  • install a lot of new equipment for this new technology

  • because 5G uses a totally different wavelength

  • than the 4G standard your phone currently uses.

  • The 5G standard uses millimeter waves,

  • which are a lot shorter than the wavelengths 4G uses.

  • The shorter wavelength means 5G

  • can carry a lot of data much faster than 4G,

  • but it also means a much shorter range.

  • 4G wavelengths have a range of about 10 miles.

  • 5G wavelengths have a range of about 1,000 feet,

  • not even 2% of 4G's range.

  • So to ensure a reliable 5G signal, there needs to be

  • a lot of 5G cell towers and antennas everywhere.

  • We're talking on every lamppost, traffic light, etc.

  • because even trees can block 5G signals.

  • 5G isn't gonna be cheap.

  • You know, each node, or mini cell tower,

  • needs some kind of connection to it,

  • and that means laying down fiber optic cables,

  • and, you know, it's still an undertaking,

  • and it's definitely not in the millions.

  • It's definitely in the billions,

  • possibly hundreds of billions.

  • Not only will this cost billions of dollars,

  • but there's also pushback from many local communities.

  • One of the biggest problems they face

  • is actually local governments, local communities,

  • who don't want these carriers to build towers

  • or antennas all over the place.

  • Or maybe they're afraid of the health risks,

  • which is another big concern.

  • Some are concerned

  • that 5G radiation may cause cancer.

  • The FCC so far has said that there aren't any problems

  • or concerns with 5G radiation,

  • but they have said they still need to do more research.

  • Despite all that, Verizon already rolled out

  • the beginnings of its 5G network

  • to parts of Chicago and Minneapolis.

  • AT&T currently has about 19 cities with 5G capabilities,

  • and Sprint and T-Mobile say they'll be releasing

  • their 5 G network sometime in 2019.

  • So while 5G is being rolled out,

  • it is very slow and in limited areas,

  • and noncity and rural areas will be more difficult to cover

  • since 5G has such a short range.

  • But let's say your internet provider successfully

  • installed all the equipment around you.

  • You still need devices that can run 5G.

  • So far we're only seeing a few that can do that.

  • In the US, the only smartphones that we know about

  • that have 5G is the Moto Z3 if you buy the extra Moto mod.

  • There's also the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

  • and also the LG V50 ThinQ.

  • And you can expect 5G phones

  • to cost you about $200 to $300 more than one without 5G.

  • Verizon and Starry are also getting a head start

  • in bringing 5G to your home internet.

  • So if you're one of the few people

  • who has access to 5G right now, enjoy it.

  • One of the things I'm really excited about with 5G,

  • 5G is said to be a super open highway

  • with many, many more lanes than the 4G LTE highway.

  • Which means a lot less congestion, even during peak hours.

  • I do estimate that eventually even 5G will be congested

  • with the number of people connecting to it

  • and also the extra stuff that's gonna be used for 5G.

  • At which point, we're gonna have to step over to 6G.

  • So while all the carriers

  • are already starting to tout their 5G capabilities,

  • don't get too excited because it's

  • still going to be a few years before

  • you can really take advantage of it.

5G is coming.

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