TOKYO Wireless carriers are preparing to leap to fifth-generation network technology, providing a speed boost that could change everything from the way we watch sports to how we undergo surgery.
The new technology will enable communications speeds up to 100 times faster than current 4G technology. Global 5G standards could be finalized by the end of this year, and the development of compatible devices is expected to take about a year.
Japan's big three carriers -- NTT Docomo, KDDI and SoftBank Group -- aim to have 5G connectivity available in parts of Tokyo and other limited areas in time for the 2020 Olympics. They are expected to shell out a combined 5 trillion yen ($45.1 billion) to set up the networks.
"We will offer 5G in key regions across Japan in the first three years," Docomo CEO Kazuhiro Yoshizawa said, declaring the company's intention to offer nationwide coverage by the fiscal year that starts in April 2023.
Carriers in other countries are making similar moves. U.S. giant Verizon Communications aims to roll out its 5G network early next year. China Mobile plans to boost investment in the 2019-2020 period, looking to commercialize the new network in 2020. South Korea's KT is set to offer 5G-capable technology on a trial basis next year.
The potential is huge. Switching on the mobile afterburners will allow self-driving cars to communicate with each other in just 0.001 second, significantly reducing the chances of accidents
. The virtually instantaneous transmissions could also allow doctors to operate on patients remotely. In the industrial sector, better internet-of-things connectivity promises to improve productivity in factories and other settings.
Media organizations cannot wait to get hooked up. Some are working on technology that will enable viewers to watch live sports from a desired angle by switching between video feeds from multiple cameras. Mobile streaming of ultrahigh-resolution 8K video is also on the way.
FEAST FOR THE EYES The 8K shift is generating a lot of excitement.
NTT Docomo on May 22 held a 5G demonstration at Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest self-supporting tower. A screen placed on the ground floor showed a live image relayed wirelessly from an 8K-resolution camera on the observation deck 350 meters above -- a world first.
