Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1097515
DGA QUARTERLY 45 What Is 5G? The fifth generation of cellular technology, 5G for short, will o er tremendously faster download speeds for consumers. Some carriers say users could see a 100x increase over what they have today. It will also boast signifi cantly lower latency, meaning reaction times will be nearly instantaneous for end users. (Imagine, for instance, selecting a fi lm on Net- fl ix and having it begin playing without the 'percent loaded' screen we've all gotten used to.) Low latency will also mean users' connections are more reliable. The chief focus of 5G providers will be mobile de- vices, as you might expect. Ultimately, though, many tech companies and analysts expect the days of pay- ing for a separate, hardwired Internet connection in the home are numbered, since 5G will match even the fastest speeds. Tapping New Global Audiences The majority of data consumed via the Internet in 2018 was accessed by mobile devices and that rise was driven by growing mobile Internet usage in developing countries where wired Internet is not widely available. 5G will significantly increase that THE REALITY vs. THE HYPE 5G >>> The entertainment industry is on the precipice of a major shift in how audiences enjoy fi lms and other types of content. But you've probably heard that before. • 5G is the latest in a long string of paradigm-altering techno- logical advances and it won't be the last. For fi lmmakers, though, it could be the most impactful since the dawn of streaming video. • Admittedly, the hyperbole that ac- companies 5G can be overwhelming at times. At CES 2019, it was heralded as the solution for glitchy Internet connec- tions, the key to widespread autonomous vehicles and the fulfi llment of the promise of a truly smart home. For enter- tainment companies, it is being touted as a way to lure new audiences and to extend the reach of existing media. • That's certainly all possible—likely, even. It won't happen overnight, though. • To really get a grasp on 5G's poten- tial, it helps to fi rst understand what the technology is; to view a realistic timetable for its rollout; and to learn what's so important about it for the fi lm and television worlds. B Y C H R I S M O R R I S • I L L U S T R A T E D B Y B R I A N S T A U F F E R