Tailor-made 5G apps can help the tech prosper

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and 11 other departments have introduced a plan to increase 5G usage among individuals to above 85 percent. They also targeted 100 million terminals being connected to the internet of things by the end of 2027 and the development of 5G-based apps for hospitals and factories within this period.

Unlike the past four generations of telecommunication technologies, 5G uses electromagnetic waves with wavelengths so short that a finger can halt them; therefore telecommunication companies have to build large numbers of micro base stations to ensure free, unhindered flow of signals, which creates a strong link between the number of users and the average cost one bears.

A significant advantage of 5G lies in its universal connectivity, or the high number of devices that can be linked to a single device, which makes smart rooms possible by installing chips in appliances, linking them to the same 5G network and commanding them to do what is required.

With over 100 million terminals linked with the IoT as planned as of 2027, smart home appliances that account for a percentage of the terminals will become more commonly used by then.

While large numbers of users and terminals lay the foundation for this kind of smart setup, it's notable that the apps should be tailor-made too. However, as professor Zhang Ping from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications pointed out, so far no revolutionary 5G apps are that popular yet. The reason, according to analysts, is that virtual reality and augmented reality technologies both require professional devices such as helmets with screens inside, which are not that much in use. By encouraging the development of 5G-based apps tailor-made for hospitals and factories, the action plan will help the whole 5G industry prosper, and enhance the popularity of the technology.