ARE YOU READY FOR 5G? Find out what’s behind the latest mobile network technology If you’ve been reading the news lately, then I am sure you’ve heard that Thailand, like the rest of the world, is getting ready to introduce 5G to the country. But what exactly is 5G, and how beneficial will it be once in place? 5G stands for “fifth generation” of wireless technology, which is used by your phone or portable electronic device to connect to the Internet. A generation lasts approximately ten years, and the world started with 1G in 1982. Back then, the network was analog, and it was only possible to transmit voice, as in a phone call. The second generation, 2G, came to life in 1992 and improved the coverage and quality of phone calls under the standard GSM, or Global Standards for Mobile Communication. 3G began its existence in 2001 and was designed to transmit both voice and data, such as
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pictures through MMS and access to the
favorite songs on online radio. The three
Internet, with speed reaching up to 2Mbps.
major Thai network providers, AIS, DTAC, and TrueCorp, are all providing 4G services
4G is the current generation we live in,
to their customers.
and while it is still possible to use a mobile phone to give a call to someone, the whole
How fast is 5G? Do we really need it?
structure is based primarily for data. The current speed on 4G networks can reach up
The fifth generation of wireless technology
to 100Mbps, allowing us to work on the go,
will bring us speed over ten times of what
watch videos on YouTube and listen to our
we currently use, with the latest tests
THE GUIDE PHUKET | SEPTEMBER 2019
