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This morning President Trump tweeted about wireless technology in the US, urging companies to “step up their efforts.” We’re probably at least a decade from 6G, but he is right that 5G is important. 1/
Quick refresher: 5G—so named because it’s the fifth generation of wireless networking tech—promises to be more than 600 times faster than the typical 4G speeds on today’s phones. That’s fast enough to download a 4K movie in seconds. 2/ wired.trib.al/q9XgurE
The first 5G networks won’t be nearly that fast, though. US carriers have promised nationwide 5G by 2020, but true 5G networks will need entirely new infrastructure. That will take time and money. 3/ wired.trib.al/q9XgurE
In the meantime, some carriers are developing networks on existing infrastructure. They might be faster, but it’s not true 5G. For now, it’s mostly hype. 4/ wired.trib.al/WYGtcO7
It could also get confusing for consumers, since the international groups that define the technology standards don’t regulate how labels like “5G” are used. 5/ wired.trib.al/xuUsWZB
To build 5G networks faster, the wireless industry argues that it needs permission to use more wireless frequencies, and face fewer regulations. 6/ wired.trib.al/q9XgurE
Consumer advocates worry that the rush to 5G is undermining public oversight of the wireless industry, which could translate into higher prices and less availability. 7/ wired.trib.al/q9XgurE
But many people worry that the US could get left behind if the nation is too slow in rolling out 5G. Their biggest concern is China, where Huawei is a 5G leader. 8/ wired.trib.al/9I3HrA7
If China reaches widespread 5G first, the fear is that country, not the US, will be the place where new online services are born. 9/ wired.trib.al/piDJ6Nr
The Trump administration sees the race to 5G as a national security issue as much as an economic issue. But the government could be doing more to help the US stay competitive. Read more here: 10/ wired.trib.al/kAnShSU
