How Does 5G Technology Impact Mobile App Development

Since we are quickly progressing towards digital transformation goals of the future, life cannot be imagined without the internet. Right from public usage to business objectives, high-speed internet has proven to be a significant reason behind global economic growth.  

Though mobile apps have been around since the time of 2G or 3G, their development has been impacted by the evolution of the internet. As 5G reaches different corners of the globe, mobile apps are getting better & quicker since 5G is a term synonymous with super fast data speed and enhanced user experience. 

Besides, the introduction of 5G technology has enabled advanced mobile app development providing more freedom to developers to create innovative apps and experiment with new designs and platforms. 

In this blog, we will have a closer look at how 5G technology is affecting mobile app development while diving through the evolution of mobile technology, features of 5G, and more.  

Let’s get started.  

Evolution of Mobile Technology 

We have seen different phases of mobile technology starting from 1st generation or 1G. Each phase was an improvement over the previous phases and enabled tech brands to evolve for the better. Be it the advantage of delivering advanced mobile app development services or streamlining the development process itself, the evolution of mobile technology always worked as a boon.  

1G 

It was first launched in Japan in 1979 by Nippon Telegraph & Telephone. By 1984, the entire country had access to technology, making Japan the first country to achieve the feat.   

Launched in the US by Ameritech in March 1984 and then expanded to Canada subsequently, the call quality on 1G was below average with the data exchange rate of 2.4 Kbps. the technology was analog and used standards called AMPS and TACS. 

2G 

2G was first launched in Finland in 1991 using the GSM network. With improved call quality and encryption for security, it had a download speed of around 0.2 Mbps. Nokia introduced the 3210 mobile devices, which became very popular. The standards used included AMP, GSM, GPRS, and EDGE. The data rates were around 80 to 100 Kbits per second. 

3G 

It was launched in Japan by NTT DoCoMo in 2001, and the network allowed access to data from any location. The data transfer speed was 2 Mbps, and the technology enabled the use of smartphones for video streaming and live-stream chat. 

4G 

4G technology was first made available to the public in Norway in 2009. It had a minimum speed of 12.5 Mbps and required specialized mobile devices. Initially, the speed was unreachable, and Long Term Evolution(LTE) was referred to as 4G to start with. Smartphones became popular during this phase, and the old-fashioned Nokia 3210 became obsolete. 

With all this history and background of the internet evolution, let us jump on learning the 5G network more closely while taking a look at its features, impact, and potential.  

5G: The High-Speed Broadband Cellular Network 

The latest technology provides very high data transfer rates and has three different spectrums. It includes low-band spectrum, mid-band spectrum, and high-band spectrum. And therefore, 5G is powering next-generation mobile apps and augmenting wireless communication infrastructure. 

Features of 5G Technology 

From improved speed to advanced digital capabilities offered to mobile app development services providers and streamlined business operations, 5G offers some of the most dynamic features to redefine the tech landscape.  

Faster Speed 

Gone are those days when we had to wait for minutes to download a large pdf file or movie. 5G will improve the app user’s experience by downloading such files in a few seconds.  

Other processes like online purchases and payments on the app will also become quicker. 

5G is expected to be 100 times faster than 4G in the future. At present, 5G delivers a speed of up to 3 Gbps which will increase up to 10 Gbps in the future.  

Bandwidth 

5G will be operational on a wide range of bandwidth, thus offering better connectivity. Mobile apps would work on all bands of the spectrum.  

This includes below 1GHz, used by LTE, 1GHz to 6 GHz mid-band, and high band, which uses millimeter waves (mmWave). 

Better Battery Life 

Lower latency and smooth connectivity will contribute to improving the battery life of mobile devices. This will result in the increased life of smartphones and other IoT devices. As a result, users will be able to use apps for a long time at a stretch.  

Better Connection Density 

Connection density means the ability of a network to work seamlessly in a densely populated region. Along with the population, the number of devices being used also increased over a period of time. 5G is capable of handling such an increase in the number of users and connections. Thus, it can be called future-ready. 

Impact Of 5G Technology On Mobile App Development 

The access to improved data speed allowed a complete transformation of devices and user experience. From business operations to gaming and general connectivity, 5G made way for   future of the connected digital environment.  

Better AR/VR Integration 

Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality has influenced all sectors ranging from Healthcare to eCommerce. It allows users to virtually tour storefronts or infrastructure. As 5G provides higher data transfer and less latency, the adoption of AR/VR technology in mobile apps will further increase. The range of applications will also be broadened with increasing coverage of 5G. 

Gaming 

Gaming apps have become increasingly popular, and the gaming industry is worth billions of dollars. As high-tech games require high data transfer rates, 5G will prove to be a boon to the online gaming industry. It will enable users to enjoy console-quality gaming on their smartphones. 5G will ensure faster downloads and a hassle-free gaming experience. 

Enhanced Cloud Compatibility 

The 5G technology provides scalability to cloud services. Data transfer to clouds from mobile devices will be quicker with 5G. This will encourage cloud storage for mobile app data and shifting technical infrastructure to the cloud computing services. Also, 5G connectivity will streamline firms with the cloud computing platform enabling developers working on progressive mobile app development to gain cloud accessibility in mobile apps to eliminate restrictions due to device hardware.  

IoT Integration 

5G enables connection between devices, objects, gadgets, and even people, making use of the internet. As IoT devices become smarter and faster, they will need 5G speed to store and process data. The devices will work more efficiently, consuming lesser bandwidth and power. Besides, 5G technology will allow more extensive IoT app development services, allowing app developers to create apps that ensure smart living. 

Improved GPS 

GPS will give more accurate and real-time results with improved connectivity and speed. This will be specifically beneficial for navigational apps which rely on good internet connectivity and speed.  

On top of that, Self-driving cars will be very common soon, and 5G technology will further augment their capabilities with robust GPS. Besides, it will also help in tracking shipments in real time and getting accurate locations of delivery vehicles. 

Better Video Streaming 

Entertainment & OTT apps on smartphones have become very popular. They need fast internet speeds for uninterrupted streaming. 5G technology will provide the bandwidth required for high-definition video streaming. In other words, developers can make use of faster internet by incorporating high-quality videos demonstrating products and services.  

Another app segment that will benefit from 5G is edtech, which makes use of video lectures for teaching students. The 5G technology will enable students to attend these lectures virtually in case they are not able to do so physically.   

Remote Surgeries 

5G technology will allow surgeons to have the proper tools to perform critical surgeries on patients remotely. It means medical experts will not have to travel unnecessarily, and also, in case of an emergency, surgery can be performed remotely. As a result, lots of lives can be saved, and patients will be treated because of 5G technology. 

Smart Cities 

Smart Cities are being planned by many countries across the world. The 5G mobile technology will enable the development of smart cities. These cities will provide a robust platform for business development where mobile apps will be used to reduce pollution, prevent crimes and provide real-time alerts. 

Another application of 5G for smart cities will be waste management. 5G drones will be much more efficient and will be capable of doing complex tasks. 

How Mobile App Developers Can Leverage 5G? 

5G technology has already been launched in many countries, and many other countries will soon follow. Mobile app developers will have to upskill themselves to make judicious use of technology.  

App developers need to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the 5G sector. They need to understand how 5G works and how it will impact mobile app development. Besides, they should think about optimizing apps for 5G networks by taking advantage of lower latency and higher speeds. 

Along with optimizing, they should also take care of the increased demands of 5G in terms of infrastructure upgrades. Mobile apps should be capable of handling a large amount of data transfer and number of users concurrently. 

Impact Of 5G On App Development Across Domains 

Healthcare 

The 5G technology will revolutionize the healthcare sector as it can transmit medical data without any latency, paving the way for innovative healthcare IT consulting services. As a result, medical professionals will be able to make timely decisions and provide better treatment to patients. 

5G can also be used for virtual reality simulation to train young doctors. Surgeons can also perform complex procedures virtually before performing them on patients. 

Manufacturing 

In the future, mobile apps will be used to produce objects on demand which would be of any size, color, and shape. 5G technology will make this a reality soon. It will bring in a new manufacturing era, enabling firms to produce quickly and efficiently. As 5G provides faster speeds & more reliability, it will be increasingly used for order tracking and inventory management. 

Education 

With 5G connectivity, it is possible to have uninterrupted video conferencing, enabling students to learn from anywhere in the world. They can also interact with teachers as well as with other students.  

Students can also benefit from virtual reality simulations, which help them to experience different environments, conduct experiments or revisit history. For educational purposes, there are many possibilities with 5G as it will revolutionize the educational sector. 

Ecommerce & Retail 

We have already seen how eCommerce has succeeded in the last decade. It completely depends on apps and the internet, making E-Commerce App Development a critical aspect of this booming industry. With the advent of 5G technology, the landscape of E-commerce is set to transform even further, providing the speed necessary for quick purchases, payments, and processing orders seamlessly.

5G will allow retail store owners to provide more personalized experiences to their customers. A customer walks into the store and receives product recommendations based on previous purchases and profiles. This is the kind of personalization 5G is capable of providing.  

Future of Mobile App Development & 5G 

5G technology has been rolled out in many countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as it comes into use in different parts of the world, it will enable developers to make full use of its potential for iOS and Android mobile app development services.  

It will significantly enhance the capability of apps, augmenting them on 5G smartphones and other devices. As app users want something new all the time, 5G will enable the use of wearables. Thus, use of 5G for mobile app development will lead to higher user retention and revenue for mobile apps. 

Recap 

5G technology has been receiving a lot of public attention since its very inception. Though the introduction of 5G resulted in controversies and conspiracy theories, the technology is increasingly being adopted by companies all over the world. 

To underline, hardware companies are investing a lot of resources in manufacturing 5G capable smartphones and devices. It has therefore encouraged mobile app developers to come up with innovative 5G-powered apps.  

To sum up, the 5G revolution has just begun and is likely to be the baseline for further advancement in mobile connectivity, processing speed, and reduction in latency. If you are aiming at an advanced digital future with your business app or anything that needs to land in the masses, get in touch with Cerebrum for your Android, iOS, and cross-platform app development requirements.