Four years in, 5G has been a major flop for telcos
5G technology has not had as big an impact on the telco industry as its predecessors 3G and 4G. But this could be about to change.
Search for 5G news and you’re likely to come across two types of story: the unfounded conspiracy theory that its waves spread COVID-19, or the hoopla around how the technology would revolutionise the telco industry.
The tinfoil hatted among us have thankfully largely moved on from the paranoia about 5G. But four years into its existence, the hype around its impact on the telco business has proved almost as inaccurate.
The emergence of the new wireless standard carried three promises. First, punters would be able to download movies and games to their mobile in a flash. Second, lower latency would allow industries to make advancements like self-driving cars and remote-controlled robots. Third, the ability to connect more devices to the same network would allow smart cities, smart factories and smart farms to flourish.
On the first count, the technology has been a qualified success. Promises two and three have yet to be fulfilled. 3G allowed people to surf the internet on their phone and send each other photos. Video streaming and high-speed downloads came with 4G. Both dramatically drove industry revenue. The impact of 5G has been far more subdued.
