Will 5G really matter?

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5G would put cellular connectivity in direct competition with the old fiber and coax internet distribution once it is fully deployed.

What is it, then?  The word 5G is the fifth generation technology. Introduced in 2017 by the wireless industry, 5G supports more than just the phones. It is the foundation all Internet of things, The 5G altitudes are 100 times higher than the 4G LTE, going up and down.  

Whereas Bluetooth, which is just for brief communication hops, 5G would enable wired vehicles to efficiently link and interact. Think of it as a network which connects devices quickly, always-on.

Yet not so quick. 5G requires plenty of nodes, and that implies plenty of towers—small ones, but lots. So every lamppost and street sign is a nominee for a 5G node and wants a new mini-tower every 550 yards or so. And centralized 5G won't arrive too soon.

The tech is good overall, and scheduled for product launch. And then, AT&T is making things a disaster. It all changed after AT&T agreed to re brand their current LTE offering to "5G E" for enhancement. It doesn't matter it's running on the 5G standard. The "E" program is a marketing trick but almost immediately it overwhelmed the business. And John Donovan, of AT&T was hardly repentant.

Neville Ray, T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer, claimed AT&T's 5G network was all-show and no substance. "We also plan to show a 5G LTE network tracker on consumer devices to hide the fact that 5G really is going to be sparse, duplicating consumers into believing they're having something they're not," Ray said. Those are competing words.

The positive thing, though, is that 5G — when it is installed — can create a network of mobile connections and replacing your home WiFi connected devices with simple, quick, and potentially inexpensive access.

5G would be wonderful.