Since the invention of the internet, the world has witnessed five generations of impressive wireless cellular technology, each providing outstanding connection services comparable to the times. In 2009, 4G technology was launched, with Norway being the first to introduce the cellular tech for commercial use.
The onset of 4G was accompanied by other super innovations like HD streaming, virtual and augmented reality as well as artificial intelligence. So, there’s no gainsaying that emerging tech and online gaming were one of the biggest beneficiaries of hi-speed cellular technology. Gamers were able to compete with other players in real time in 4K video clarity while other tech endeavors like blockchain, smart devices and voice technology surged in operations.
Today, we now have 5G technology, representing the fifth generation of cellular connectivity. Plans for 5G started as far back as 2019, with South Korea leading the charge for the fastest internet speed ever known to humanity. According to projections, 5G offers lower latency and better bandwidth size, making it at least 20 times faster than 4G.
Dissecting the Future of Gaming and Emerging Tech with the Introduction of 5G
Not only will the introduction of 5G bring high speed load times, but it will also revolutionize and the emerging tech industry in ways than we ever imagined. Since 5G will transmit more data in record time and with greater reliability, online gamers will experience smooth virtual reality and 4K streaming levels on gaming products.
With AR/VR and 4K streaming comes a highly immersive gaming experience that was previously unattainable with 4G and 3G connection speeds. 5G promises download speeds running into 20 gigabytes per second, cutting the time spent on downloading patches and updates by more than 70%.
In addition, this means there is little to no buffering on multiplayers games and all action is caught in real-time, thanks to hi-speed internet. Game producers will also be poised to undertake new business models like cloud gaming and subscription services. Instead of download games to their PC or smartphones and taking up storage space, players can simply access them on the cloud or through subscription networks.
Fortunately, the online gaming industry is not the only beneficiary as other areas of emerging tech are already looking to take advantage of the immense benefits that 5G provides. One of such areas is the Internet of Things (IoT).
This area of tech deals with the interconnectivity of physical devices, a phenomenon that started with 4G cellular networks. Better connection speed means that individuals using interconnected devices can transmit data faster and more securely. The use case cut across multiple subindustries like software creation, smart wearables, and home appliances.
5G will also complement efforts aimed at improving the operations of robots and autonomous vehicles. These innovations are largely data-driven and require massive speed for communication with network hosts. With 5G, the infrastructure is better equipped for heavy functioning and a broad reach.
How Will 5G Change the Face of Advertisement Across Industries?
It is expected that the advent of 5G will also draw more advertisers to collaborate with efforts ongoing in the online gaming and emerging tech space. 5G provides invaluable potential for stakeholders in the advertisement industry to leverage. Most importantly, 5G will help herald interactive ads, especially through augmented and virtual reality.
What’s more? Tracking ads is quite difficult with slow internet connectivity, a problem that the launch of 5G now solves. Advertisers can monitor the progress of their ads and collect data as soon as it is available. Real-time tracking is possible, allowing stakeholders tweak their approach and generally save time and money.
Experience also shows that during launch, newer cellular technology is exclusive while older generations become available for all. This phenomenon can be a positive for advertisers if properly exploited. With 4G LTE/5G hybrid technology making its way to more rural communities, advertisers will be able expand their base and reach potential customers in rural areas, developing products until 5G infrastructure is rolled out to those remote locations.
Finally, 5G will help advertisers in the gaming and emerging tech sectors to deliver personalized products more efficiently than ever before. 5G networks transfer and analyze playing data from gamers, usage history, playing times and associated information to recommend more accurate and relevant products to consumers.
In the coming years, we can expect games to switch from mobile, PC or consoles to pure VR and AR-based gaming technologies. Advertisers can leverage 5G networks to push alternative reality product demos and immersive AI experiences that will make ads more appealing or realistic to people.