Will "5G" become a worthless term before the next generation of wireless communications technology is even defined?
Could be...
Smart Communications Inc. , an operator in the Philippines, is being called out for marketing its newly launched LTE-Advanced service as "5G" in ads. Peter Bryer engagingly calls it "generation inflation" in a CCS Insight blog on the topic.
Follow the birth of a wireless standard on our 5G channel.
Fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology, of course, isn't even standardized yet. We're just starting to get a picture of some of the technical elements that might make up the eventual standard. The earliest operators are expecting to deploy the technology is 2020. (See Radio Revolutions on the Road to 5G and The 5G Landgrab.)
So, just remember: If a nice operator tries to sell you its new service as "5G," that just can't be so. It's even not close to 2020 yet.
abucek, User Rank: Moderator 8/26/2014 | 1:59:42 PM
Re: 5G Hype I think AT&T and Apple started some of the confustion : The Ridiculous Trick AT&T And Apple Are Playing On iPhone 4S Owners, by using the technological standard for the name of the product. I remember people asking me if they would be able to use their Apple 3G phone on a 4G network.
Gabriel Brown, User Rank: Light Sabre 8/26/2014 | 11:10:17 AM
Re: 5G Hype Hi Phil -- Yes, but we're not necessarily talking about Joe Public here. A new global RAN technology is a HUGE, collaborative effort. Organizations needs to understand the scope, evaluate the options, partner, co-develop, and so on. This get called hype, but it's not. It is useful work that contrbutes to the end service a consumer buys 10 years later.
Edit: Oh I remember 2.5G. That's what you get today in the UK when you wander outside the cities. It's great for holidays. Not so much for productive work.
Gabriel Brown, User Rank: Light Sabre 8/26/2014 | 11:05:05 AM
Re: 5G Hype Hi kq4ym -- Yes, but it's useful to think about the motivations for promoting (hyping) 5G now. You can make a case it's not too soon. Here's a slide from a recent presentation I gave:
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