How will 5G change the landscape of mobile app development in 2020 ?
4G mobile technology has presented breathtaking experiences to mobile users like fast internet surfing, HD video streaming, smooth and dependable video conferencing (imagine COVID-19 global crisis in the times of 2G?) and gaming. Every ten years, mobile technology takes a huge leap into the future and now it is time to welcome 5G mobile technology. Mobile companies and telecommunication giants are about to take a leap of faith from 4G to 5G and we are happy to discuss the impact it would have on mobile app development. It also offers a whole lot of possibilities for end users which were unthinkable of in times of 3G or 4G technology.
Faster internet speed (a driving force making life easier for users) is one of the advantages for end users amongst other benefits. 5G is a revolutionary concept and till the last two-three years nobody would have imagined that life could faster beyond 4G, but 5G is here to transform the internet. One of the early enthusiasts of the revolutionary 5G technology is mobile app developers and we are about to witness a huge disruption of fifth generation in mobile application development in 2020.
What is 5G technology?
The 5G technology is the fifth generation mobile network that promises upto 20 times faster connectivity than the current 4G LTE network. The fifth generation technology allows a novel kind of network tailored to virtually connect everything together including a host of IoT devices. Basically, the 5G network technology employs a higher frequency bandwidth to enable a much faster data transfer ability compared to other low frequency variants. With 5G, mobile users will be able to view content on higher resolution and get access to uninterrupted connectivity throughout the world. Isn’t it amazing? Yes, we thought so too.
How will 5G impact mobile app development in 2020 -2021?
Before mobile app developers start creating an app, they think about the devices and networks the app will be used on. The app is then developed keeping these standards in mind for the app to run smoothly on devices alike. Here are some of the best features of 5G that app developers can keep in mind before they start working on this technology:
Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication:
Ultra reliable low latency communication or URLLC is one of the most important features of 5G where data transfer happens in real time with negligible lag. Low latency communication helps to reduce page load times significantly and end users can have a better experience using mobile sites. However, URLLC is most beneficial while operating heavy machinery or say while performing a remote surgery as a negligible delay can prove costly. The fifth generation technology claims to reduce this delay from 50 milliseconds in 4G LTE to 1 millisecond which is remarkable.
Enhanced Mobile Broadband:
Due to higher speed, mobile app developers can create more appealing apps and offer breathtaking interfaces ultimately providing a much better user experience. Moreover, it will go beyond higher speed to provide a seamless user experience by enabling 360 degree video stream, appealing AR and VR applications to name a few. Embb is focused solely to cater to the user market and rising need to provide higher video quality, engaging users through the app in real time without having to use a public wi-fi for example at a music concert or a sporting event. The idea is to provide a streaming experience which is better and advanced than the current 4G LTE service.
Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC):
Before we dig deeper into mMTC, let us simplify what mMTC is in layman terms. mMTC is a type of data communication between systems without human dependency. Internet of things (IoT) devices usually do not require a faster internet connection, however it is still dependent on the fifth generation network. 5G promises to offer mMTC and is solely focused on IoT devices run by a fast internet connection. By using this feature, mobile app developers can easily uplift their app game to the next level.
Benefits to mobile apps:
The first and foremost benefit of 5G is super fast internet speed to enable end users to download apps within a couple of seconds, stream high quality video without annoyance of buffering. It will enable faster file transfer and money transfer within seconds anywhere in the world. Lastly, 5G will help mobile app developers provide ultimate user experience to end users.
Rajiv Patil is the founder & Managing Director of Nimblechapps, an innovative iPhone app development company. He takes a keen interest in topics related to mobile app development and mobile game development and often like to share his knowledge through informative posts on leading blogging sites.