While 4G LTE is new to many of the world’s mobile internet subscribers, quite a number of tech companies have been working on 5G technology for a while now. Those companies include: Nokia, Samsung, Qualcomm, Ericsson, and Intel, among others. 5G offer opportunities for 3D video/UHD video and rich media. 5G trials and tests have been ongoing in a handful of countries around the world. Ovum says that countries like South Korea, Japan, China, and the US are expected to have the first 5G networks in 2018.
How Fast Is 5G?
As an example, Samsung’s 5G trials have returned 1.2Gbps in a vehicle moving at 100 km per hour and 7.5Gbps in a stationary position. Let that sink in. With more optimization work being done, perhaps we will yet see much faster 5G speeds than these.
5G Mobile Networks
No mobile network anywhere in the world is 5G ready yet but test operations between network equipment manufacturers and network operators already exist. Intel plans to make its 5G mobile trial platform available for the 5G network being deployed by Korea Telecom (KT) for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games, so expect a 5G network up and running in Korea next year.
Qualcomm released the first 5G modem, the Snapdragon X50, in 2016. We are guessing that is what powers the world’s first 5G smartphone that was showed to the world by Qualcomm’s Marketing lead for LTE and 5G NR modems, Sherif Hanna. Have a look:
The World’s First 5G Smartphone
Of course, this unique phone is not available for sale anywhere. It is a trial device and will be used for optimizing of the new technology. You will probably be interested in knowing which was the first commercially available 5G smartphone.
5G Standards
While 5G standards are yet to be set, the first set will be complete by the end of this year. You can follow the conversation around this 5G device by following this Twitter thread:
Hard to believe that I have the world’s first 5G smartphone in my hand! 😁 pic.twitter.com/b180MawEyT
— Sherif Hanna 📶 (@sherifhanna) October 25, 2017