The 5G technology has been gaining increased attention over the past few years, with experts discussing the new opportunities it opens up. However, users are more concerned about whether it’s safe. Let’s take a closer look at how 5G impacts the IPTV/OTT industry.

What is 5G?

5G stands for the fifth generation of mobile communications, following the developments of 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G. It is the latest global wireless communication standard.

Unlike 4G, which uses frequencies from 0.4 GHz to 3.2 GHz, 5G pushes the upper frequency limit to 300 GHz. As a result, the technology provides higher peak data transfer rates (up to several Gbps), ultra-low latency, and greater connection reliability. Besides fast data transfers, 5G enables the control of devices like drones and machines.

The broad frequency band allows users to select the most comfortable and appropriate data transmission method for a given situation. Long-distance data transfers use low frequencies. Though the connection speeds remain low, walls and other obstacles do not diminish the signal. For rapid transfers of large amounts of data, higher radio frequencies are required. The capacity of such networks greatly surpasses that of 4G.

5G is already being utilized in applications that demand high data transfer speeds, such as mobile communications, cloud services, Smart Home technology, autonomous transportation, and online gaming. The USA, South Korea, China, and other countries have already introduced the technology. According to Gizchina.com, almost 30% of mobile subscribers globally will switch to 5G by 2025.

Advantages of 5G over previous generations

Here’s a brief overview of wireless communication technologies by generation.

1G: Analog communication. Produced as early as 1973, the first mobile phones didn’t hit the shelves and become a consumer product until 11 years later. These devices were only capable of transmitting voice, functioning as basic wireless phones transmitting analog signals via radio waves. In the 1980s, mobile communication standards differed across countries, and there wasn’t seamless network coverage like today.

1G communication was slow, unstable, prone to signal interference, lacked encryption or any form of protection, and was extremely expensive.

2G: Digital mobile communication + SMS. Digital signal-carrying networks first emerged in 1991, making mobile communication more affordable. GSM was introduced in Europe, and D-AMPS in the US, as unified standards. The arrival of 2G improved the user experience with the introduction of Short Message Service (SMS), roaming, and internet access via the WAP protocol. Voice calls were encrypted, and packet data transfers began. Additionally, data speeds increased compared to 1G.

3G: Fast communication + video. At the beginning of the 2000s, digital communication was taken to a new level with the introduction of Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA). Subscribers used the full frequency band available on the network. Each user was assigned a personal digital code to encode and decode signals. 3G provided better connection failure protection and higher data transfer speeds. Users could finally watch online videos and make video calls on their devices.

4G: Broadband communication. In 2008, mobile communication technology took another leap forward. The new standards forecast data speeds of up to 1 Gbps for pedestrians and stationary users and up to 100 Mbps for those moving in vehicles.

5G network availability

The number of 5G network users continues to grow. In Q2 2020, there were 137 million users. By February 2021, this number had risen to 200 million.

To use 5G networks, compatible subscriber equipment and network coverage are required. The first 5G networks and devices supporting the standard appeared in 2017. Now, there is a much broader range of 5G devices available.

5G coverage is currently limited: the technology is most widely used in the USA, Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and Western Asia. Nevertheless, 5G is quickly gaining global traction. You can check if 5G is available in your area using the Ookla 5G Map, which developers update weekly.

Why 5G broadcasting is the future of television

The global population is growing rapidly. The UN projects that by 2100, 11.2 billion people (up from the current 7.8 billion) will live on the planet. The number of mobile and internet users will continue to grow accordingly. Current communication standards won’t be able to provide sufficient quality of service to these users, while 5G infrastructure has the capacity to deliver high-quality internet connectivity.

People are consuming more online video. Cable and terrestrial TV are losing ground as users prefer to select content and watch it at their convenience. With linear TV, this is impossible, making IPTV increasingly popular.

Video sizes are increasing. Technological advancements have introduced new, ‘heavier’ formats like 4K and 8K. These videos take up much more space in media, and transferring them over current networks can take hours. The new telecom standard ensures high-resolution content can be delivered and played on consumer devices without stuttering.

Old networks can barely handle the growing loads. Considering the above dynamics, it is safe to say that current 4G networks will soon be unable to provide the necessary data transfer speeds. The capacity is too small. Sooner or later, the current data transfer format will need to be replaced. 5G technology could provide a solution to the growing internet traffic problem.

What 5G changes for operators

The new standard will also impact the IPTV/OTT industry, allowing operators to improve the quality of their services. The main advantage of 5G is that it is a low-latency, high-speed radio technology that can handle many more devices, offering operators new opportunities.

The demand for connected TV and OTT will grow. More and more people prefer a wide variety of IPTV/OTT content over traditional TV shows and films with set times. With 5G, all users can connect to interactive television and enjoy exciting content without delays and in high quality.

Operators won’t have to worry about network capacity.

Broadband internet capacity has been a limiting factor for operators. They’ve had to compress high-resolution videos or reduce the maximum resolution of broadcasts. But with 5G, these measures will no longer be necessary. Even if there are dozens of 4K and 8K streams on a network simultaneously, users will experience no degradation in service.