Experts and technology companies have been saying it for years – 5G will change everything: the way we communicate, the technology we use to do it, and the way users interact with their devices. And even how devices talk to each other, when we bring other developments into the mix, like the IoT and augmented reality, for example. But, so far, these changes haven’t been entirely tangible. 2023 is the year in which we’ll finally be able to talk about “real” 5G, SA (stand alone) 5G, or 5G+, depending on the particular commercial name.

5G: A slow implementation process

Until now, as with almost all technologies aiming for widespread adoption, the path to a full rollout of 5G connectivity has been steady, but has escalated over a number of different phases. As such, it hasn’t had any real significant impact so far on usability, speed, or transmission capacities from the point of view of businesses and end users. Over the last five years, NSA (non-stand alone) 5G connections have coexisted alongside DDS (dynamic spectrum sharing) 5G, which, in practice, hasn’t really added much to the 4G+ currently in use.

With NSA 5G, a specific radio spectrum was used for this kind of wireless connectivity. There was also the installation and use of new radio equipment on antennae, preparing for 5G transmission. And while it’s true that browsing speeds and stability have been noteworthy, as well as low latency and the performance of connections in environments where there is high demand, all this potential has remained “on the horizon”.

More applications, more stability and more secure mobile networks

Now the wait is over. In 2023, we’ll begin to squeeze every last drop of potential. SA 5G is shifting its core to the cloud, which will allow the core of mobile connectivity to work with infrastructure that’s independent of 4G and managed via specific software. This will further reduce latency and open the door to massive uptake by high-demand transmission applications like online gaming, live streaming, virtual reality and augmented reality.

Furthermore, owing to these operating dynamics, 5G+ will significantly reduce energy consumption and demand throughout the network. That means devices that seek to make use of next-generation mobile connectivity will also consume far less battery power, ensuring they have a longer useful life and see considerable decreases in the carbon footprint of using them.

The spectrum of new possibilities offered by “real” 5G ranges from remotely producing 4K television content to remotely managing automated industrial plants, for example. Not to mention the possibility of connecting smart vehicles to road signs or even revolutionising the world of medicine, with surgery carried out by high-precision robots controlled by surgeons many miles away from their patients.

The security and stability of 5G wireless connectivity means we can seriously think about these types of applications and many others, particularly when we take into account the potential “dialogue” between interconnected smart devices (the Internet of Things) that this type of connection will facilitate. If the development phase of 5G has allowed us to feel optimistic, from now on, we’ll be able to experience its true potential. It’s hoped that by 2025 there will be 2 billion connections worldwide, representing 20% of the world’s population and 35% of all users in Europe.