What Does 5G Mean For Web Development

5G has sure to disrupt the user experience. Both, web and app developers and users will get an enhanced experience with app development and app usage respectively.

But what is 5G?

5G is the Fifth Generation cellular networks – a planned successor to the 4G networks providing connectivity to most current cell phones worldwide.

Do we need 5G?

Yes, you need it. Even the future of technology-supported life highly depends on 5G. Below we discuss why we need 5G and how it will impact web and app development?

Why we need 5G?

We need 5G to foster a smart networked communication environment. Right now, when we talk about maximizing benefits of IoT, AR & VR, AI & ML, 3D Video, smart cities or other future generation innovations and technologies, a challenge surrounds us. That challenge is to transfer data faster and deliver results in real-time.

The dream of living in smart homes, work in smart offices, availing remote medical services, massive machine-to-machine communications or to work and play around cloud services highly relies on the transfer of a considerable amount of much faster data, reliably connected a large number of devices and processing of very high volumes of data with minimal delay.

5G Will change how website and mobile apps are being developed

5G is the answer to the growing demands that 4G has failed to deliver. We expect 5G to offer:

1. High-speed wireless connectivity – that means better speed and responsiveness of wireless networks of up to 20 Gbps. It will help improve communication in crowded or remote areas.
2. Quick reaction time – that means 100 times faster speed to the current fourth-generation. With 5G, we can expect latency to be around 1ms or lower and gigabit-per-second speeds.

Interesting, right? There is more!

3. Security - 5G will increase the available bandwidth. As a result of this, the amount of data transmission will increase significantly. It will further help in simplifying network slicing and will ensure trusted computing or alternative ways of handling user identities.

Having sum of intriguing features, 5G will boost connectivity of web and mobile apps and let them function more effortlessly and efficiently. Developers will get to build apps for mobile with features that were previously limited to desktop websites since there will no longer be the concern of slow page loading time.

Things don’t end here. It’s just a beginning. Let’s see the impact of 5G in detail on application development.

1. Enhanced user experience

The fifth generation of the wireless network will increase browsing experience. We’ll experience a next-level video and audio streaming even in dense/remote areas. The rich-media experience will also enable resource-intensive functionality. Therefore, developers must plan out on focusing on elevating the app UI to a greater extent.

2. Rocket-Like speed for file transfers

Data-intensive apps, especially mobile apps, will bloom in the market. Current internet speed and development technologies do not support extensive data share in forms of files, memory, or money. With 5G, it will be possible to share anything transferable at rocket-like speed.

3. Connected cities & world

As discussed above, AR & VR apps, as well as IoT, along with machine learning capabilities, the advanced network architecture can increase user experience. But these need additional technical support to maximize the out-puts faster. 5G, on the other hand, enables developers to incorporate higher capacities to these future-driven-of-things. It further increases retention and overall app revenues.

4. Data centres will handle heavy processing loads

In the upcoming time, devices will be less reliant on the processing power of the hardware of the devices. This will bring an opportunity to present or share information in real-time. Data centres will handle the processing of 5G. As a result, communication between devices will be fast.

5. Increase in navigational apps and features

High-speed networks improve downloading and uploading speed. That means uninterrupted communication. It will lead to a significant increase in navigational app development. We can expect travel and social networking apps with several innovative and better features to enhance the quality of social life.

6. Increase of VR and AR products

VR is already in traction. Thanks to 5G, we will get see more 3D videos on websites and apps. Up until now, AR and VR have been the developer’s choice to build more exciting gaming experiences.

Enhance network speed and reduced latency will enable several businesses to create extensive new experiences. For example, interior decorators will be able to use apps to show customers how different furniture would look in their interiors. VR based apps will help in making smart buying decisions.

7. Personalized chatbots

The new network architecture will help in developing a new generation of personalized experience with chatbots. It will bring new opportunities for prompt real-time feedback. AI and ML-based machines will help users receive and control haptic feedback.

Challenges to execute 5G principles in web development

Not everyone will have 5G right away, especially we can't expect it at least for 5 years. It was the last quarter of 2019 when a few areas of the UK had received a 5G network upgrade. The high-speed network is still in its early stages, and more likely, 2025 will be the year when we would see it functioning in full swing all across the globe.

This scenario puts developers in a challenging situation, such as:

1. Developing app versions:

   5G will bring a significant reform in infrastructure changes. Most likely urban areas will receive the infrastructure updates first, whereas remote regions will have to wait for some time. But a developer has to ensure a consistent experience for the app users. Therefore, they are more likely to need to be ready to develop different app versions to cater to the needs of 5G-enabled devices and devices running on older networks like 4G or 3G.

2. Future-proof 5G-based business model

   5G is a thing for the near future. Therefore, it is crucial right now to focus on developing and improving apps run on 4G networks. The app strategist should simultaneously keep a tab on 5G and have a multi-layered and converged business model ready to adapt to this new network architecture. App strategists can focus on integration, platforms, connections, and operation modes.

What to take away from this blog

• 5G is the future.
• The development will function around delivering Rich-Media on Mobile apps, and connected IoT & IIOT, and AR & VR based customer-experiences.
• 5G will dramatically improve security while also bring new challenges to maintaining security due to more connected devices.
• 5G is the near future. Till it gets into full swing all across the world, delivering consistent user experience to all sorts of users like 5G and 4G will be another challenge. In contrast, app strategists have to work hard to set up new multi-layered and converged business models based on the future prospective of 5G.