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HiTech
5 minutes read

The Impact of 5G on App Development

By Jonathan Tarud
A mobile phone traveling through outer space with the word 5G written on its screen.
By Jonathan Tarud
HiTech
5 minutes read

If there’s one wireless innovation that has gotten everyone excited in recent years, it is definitely the fifth generation of cellular networks, also known as 5G. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that this technology has the potential to become a game-changer, not only for many industries, but for the entire world. 

Its secret lies in the speed at which it transfers data between devices, although this is just one of its many advantages that will change our lives. Apps are not exempt from this revolution. Developers throughout the world will feel the impact of this improved cellular network and the possibilities it offers. 

Due to this technology’s importance, we thought it might be interesting to explain how it will impact the app development world. Thus, I will discuss what 5G is, its impact on the world, the opportunities for apps, and how to use it as a driver of innovation.

5G Explained

5G is the latest generation of cellular networks. These networks make it possible for mobile phones to place calls and connect to the Internet. It also enables all sorts of devices to send and retrieve data through the web. Although it has been around for some time, the technology has proven unbeatable. Each new version has brought significant improvements that translate into new opportunities for businesses and users alike.

This new generation of cellular networks operates on a higher-band frequency, allowing data to be sent faster and more reliably than in previous versions. Thanks to its increased bandwidth, it will be possible to connect more devices on the network. Businesses will be able to use this to their advantage, as it will help them connect IoT devices at a massive scale and implement new technologies that are currently constrained by 4G; the impact of these is enormous, but more on that later. 

Users will be able to download data faster than before. This means that latency times, or the response time between a data request and an answer, will be reduced considerably. This opens up the possibility for many cloud technologies to be implemented, which translates into new and innovative features for all sorts of apps. Additionally, tracking and location-related features will improve considerably. This will surely raise privacy concerns, and it will need to be addressed by governments. 

The Benefits of 5G

In general, these are the most important benefits of 5G technologies:

  • Increased data transfer speed, from 200 MB/s to 1GB/s.  
  • Enhanced reliability and bandwidth, enabling 10 times more devices connected than 4G.
  • Decreased latency and delays, from 100 millisecond response time to 1 millisecond response time.
  • Improved location tracking and connectivity to networks. 

It is clear from these benefits that there will be a significant impact on the app industry. However, to do so, the existing infrastructure must be updated. This change includes not only hardware-related devices but also software. Otherwise, it will be impossible to implement 5G at full capacity. 

Industry 4.0

There are reasons to believe that there will be first-mover benefits. Companies that adopt this technology first implement new and better ways to perform their core business processes in more productive and efficient ways, delivering additional value to customers and other stakeholders. Early adoption will undoubtedly result in accelerated growth. 

Some experts believe that a massive cellular network update will result in what is often referred to as ‘Industry 4.0’. This new form of industry refers to a change in how manufacturing works. 

The first industrial revolution was made possible thanks to the rise of industries powered by the steam engine. The next phase introduced mass production. The third referred to the rise of computers and automation. Finally, the fourth industrial revolution, or ‘Industry 4.0’, refers to the state we are currently entering. Its most important characteristic is the hyper-acceleration of digital technologies taking over industrial processes. 

Important innovations like 3D printing, smartphones, IoT, and 5G cellular networks are at the center of this change. These technologies reinforce one another, creating a new and thriving ecosystem for business.

The industries that will benefit the most from 5G are retail, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, public utilities, transportation, and smart cities. There seems to be no limit as to how companies will change.

Opportunities for Apps (IoT, ML)

For companies to implement 5G successfully, it is necessary to update existing software. Many companies operate with traditional out of the self apps that end up limiting their processes. Luckily, app development experts have the power to address companies’ specific issues through custom made apps, no matter the industry. 

Through a personalized app, companies can build custom industrial systems that reflect their needs. With all the data that will become available thanks to IoT beacons, it will be easy to implement powerful Machine Learning algorithms. This has the potential to automate complex tasks and help improve decision making. Developers need to understand the importance of visualizing data easily through clear User Interfaces

App developers need to understand the importance of 5G and its uses. Thanks to its benefits, apps will be able to use cloud technologies in new and more powerful ways. Data restrictions will become a thing of the past, freeing up space for once restricted functions. 

This latest cellular network technology needs to be integrated into your app and business strategy, no matter what industry you are in. To succeed, it is necessary to have an app development partner that can understand your business needs to develop the right software solutions tailored to your processes.

At Koombea we’ve been building custom app solutions for many industries through our more than 12 years of existence. Our custom Agile methodology has helped us complete more than 1000 projects successfully. If you think you could use the help of our expert app developers, contact us. We’d be glad to help.

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