Mobile operator Vodafone, in Madrid and Barcelona, conducted a successful 5G trial, connecting next-generation 5G smartphones to its network for the first time, as it prepares to launch the technology in parts of Europe later this year, Reuters reported on Thursday.
According to the report, Vodafone made an ultra-HD 4K video call during the testing at speeds 10 times faster than current 4G technology.
The commercial worldwide launch of 5G technology is expected in 2020 and some countries led by the US, China and South Korea have already announced deployments on a small scale.
In India, however, since 4G itself has not yet covered every part of the country, 5G will still take more than a year to properly function.
We got a glimpse of what 5G can bring to the table at the recent India Mobile Congress in the capital city, where telecom giants like Huawei and device makers like Samsung showcased their ready-to-use equipment.
But people in India need a reality check about the availability of 5G, which honestly should be the least of our concerns right now
Indian users are better off knowing that though India will be making a quick switch from 4G to 5G, it won’t take off in before late 2020. The country is still playing catch up with 4G, and presence of 3G and even 2G in some pockets ensures that a nationwide release of 4G and then 5G will be a herculean task to accomplish
The country also has one of the slowest 4G speeds in all of the world, averaging at 6.1mbps, according to a July 2018 report.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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