There’s been a lot of talk recently about 5G and how it will change download and upload speeds. 5G is already on offer on some mobile internet services and is likely to replace 4G entirely within a number of years.
But what does 5G mean for our television viewing? Will it have any impact at all? What can we expect for smart TV features with 5G adoption? Read on to find out.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth-generation technology for broadband cellar networks. It was first deployed worldwide in 2019 and is the successor to 4G which currently provides connectivity for most mobile phones. There is likely to be a long period with 4G and 5G coexisting alongside each other before 4G is phased out completely, but it is predicted that there will be more than 1.7 billion people subscribed to 5G by 2025.
The main advantage of 5G is that it has greater bandwidth, which will provide higher download speeds. It is also expected that it will not exclusively serve mobile phones, but will also be used as a general internet service provider for laptops and computers, competing with the likes of cable internet.
As the world relies more and more on mobile technology, and more and more data is consumed every year in the growing popularity of music and video streaming, 5G is needed to cope with the congested spectrum bands. 5G is better at handling thousands of devices being used simultaneously and offers a number of other exciting possibilities.
Will Smart TVs Have 5G?
At the moment, Smart TVs use Wi-Fi connection to access the internet and provide people with streaming services. But as 5G is expected to eat into the established broadcast service providers market in the coming years, it could see a significant change in the way live broadcast operates.
5G TV refers to the potential to watch broadcasts over a 5G mobile network connection rather than through cable, satellite or standard broadband methods. Due to 5G’s increased performance and efficiency, it can potentially revolutionise the way we watch television.
With such high download speeds inherant in the system, 5G could provide the ideal environment for TV broadcasts. It would also do wonders for mobility, with TV content able to stream directly to mobile phones without Wi-Fi.
Other technologies can also benefit from adopting 5G, such as the rise of Virtual Reality or 360 video content. Aside from the benefits to the users, 5G could also prove cheaper and more convenient for broadcasters than traditional methods. But 5G will need to be robust and consistent if it is to support TV broadcast services, able to support a high number of users in one go.
5G has already been shown to be capable of incredible feats. In 2016, Ericsson and Sprint demonstrated that they could live-stream a 4K UHD video feed over a 5G wireless signal. At the Mobile World Congress in 2017, Deutsche Telekom and Huawei demonstrated that 5G technology enables the provision of multiple industry services over one physical network.
5G can also provide unique advantages for sports broadcasting, such as 5G-based augmented reality or virtual reality, allowing people to attend sporting events from home, creating interactive experiences for attendees such as instant replays. Just one minute of AR requires around 33 times as much data as one minute of 480p video, so 5G is needed for these kinds of feats. Elsewhere in the sporting world, the 2018 Winter Olympics already featured a pilot 5G broadcast and the UK operator EE tested 5G at the Wembley Cup Final in 2018.
5G could also revolutionise streaming as we know it. Combined with the adoption of 8K, 5G connectivity means we can stream shows from platforms like Netflix at faster speeds than ever before, with lower latency and with four times the number of pixels than 4K.
Smart TVs from Cheap TVs
It could be quite a few years yet before 5G technology becomes more widely adopted, with only a few phone models currently being released with 5G as standard. But if you’re looking for cheap smart TVs with all the latest features, look no further than Cheap TVs.
We are leading specialists in graded TVs and can provide you with a whole range of sets from the world’s top manufacturers. The latest TV technology doesn’t have to be expensive. We can provide you with some of the cheapest smart TVs on the market from big-name brands you can trust and rely on, at unbeatable prices.
Whether it’s streaming the latest blockbuster straight from a provider like Netflix or catching up on your favourite show on iPlayer directly from your TV, we will have the perfect smart TV for you at an incredible price. We have an extensive range of models with different options to choose from, including 4K, LED, 3D and more.
Choose from a range of sizes from big brands like Panasonic, Samsung and Toshiba and many others. Browse our range of cheap LED TVs online today and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
