What is 5G? Here’s a complete guide

By now, you’ll have heard of 5G. But how much do you know about it? You probably have plenty of questions about how 5G will change the way the world connects and communicates, so we’ve created this ultimate guide to 5G.

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of mobile network technology. Launched in 2019, 5G is the latest standard for mobile networks, and follows on from 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G. 

5G was designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of wireless services. It supports a wide range of applications, from high-speed internet for gaming and video streaming, through to emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles. 

With its ability to handle massive data traffic and support real-time connectivity, 5G is set to transform industries, improve user experiences, and pave the way for future innovations.

How fast is 5G?

It’s very fast. 5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps data speeds, so true 5G offers the speed and quality that makes real change possible for gaming, entertainment, business, shopping, and travel. In fact, 5G is up to 100 times faster than 4G.

Our 5G customers are enjoying the benefits of being with the UK’s fastest 5G network1 and are already a faster service. As our 5G service continues to develop, all our 5G customers should experience much higher speeds than on 4G.

But this isn’t just about speed.

Latency - the time it takes for data to travel from a device to a server and back - is also significantly reduced with 5G. While 4G networks generally have latencies of around 30-50 milliseconds, 5G can achieve latencies as low as 1 millisecond in ideal scenarios. This is crucial when real-time responsiveness is essential.

Connections are more reliable, there’s bigger network capacity, and increased signal availability.

How does 5G work?

5G works in mostly the same way as previous generations of mobile network. Like 4G, a system of sites sends data through radio waves. Each cell site is connected to a network. This network carries data from your device to where it needs to go to. 

The big step forward is that 5G leverages a wider range of frequencies than previous generations, including low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrums. 

High-frequency millimeter waves allow for ultra-fast speeds and high-capacity connections but have limited range and struggle to penetrate buildings and other obstacles. To address this, 5G networks use small cells, which are low-power base stations placed closer together to ensure seamless coverage and consistent connectivity. Together, these technologies enable 5G to deliver faster speeds, lower latency, and greater efficiency than its predecessors.

Does 5G use more data?

5G enables faster download and upload speeds, encouraging users to consume more high-quality content such as 4K videos, cloud gaming and VR apps. That might lead to people using more data, but as a piece of technology, 5G itself doesn't inherently use more.

The amount of data you consume using a 5G signal will still depend very much on what you’re actually doing. For example, watching a video in 4K or 8K resolution will use significantly more data than in HD, regardless of whether the connection is 4G or 5G.

What’s the difference between 5G and other generations?

First generation (1G) originated in the 1980s, delivering analogue voice. Then 2G introduced digital voice in the early 1990s. In the early 2000s, 3G brought mobile data.

Then in the 2010s, 4G ushered in the era of mobile broadband, making 4G the best-known generation of mobile network until now. It brought more coverage, speed, and capacity than before. And it’s our most widespread network, covering 99.8% of the UK outdoor population. Where 3G brought online to mobiles, 4G made data a proper thing, giving us things like streaming, apps, emojis and more. 

In this way, 4G really frames how we think of data, and how we use it.

And while 4G download speeds are great compared with 3G, 5G is even quicker. With 5G you’ll be able to download game updates and high-res movies on your mobile in seconds. But if we think of 5G as just a faster version of 4G, we’re kind of missing the point. To see the true 5G future you need to get creative and think big. That’s where our 5G comes in. To make what we can only imagine actually happen.

5G on Three

You see, to get proper 5G experiences you’re going to need a network that can offer a full 5G service. 100MHz of 5G spectrum is the recognised standard for this. And we’ve got it. In fact, we’ve got 140MHz, and we’re the only UK network to have that much. 
 
Impressive, right? So, let’s imagine what our 5G might make possible in the future.

5G AR and VR

Our 5G could mean virtual and augmented reality with refresh rates that’ll give you seamless, in-the-moment experiences. It could be shopping. Being able to see exactly how a new sofa would look like at home. All thanks to it appearing as a holographic 5G sofa in your front room.

Or, it could be 5G online gaming. Think Pokémon Go, but a gazillion times better – multiplayer alien fighting, or defending fantastical kingdoms, in the real world. All without super expensive headsets – just an AR-enabled smartphone or console.

5G global

True 5G makes network slicing possible. Sounds dull, but creating your own private 5G network will guarantee you zero interference from people walking past on other devices. This makes operating precise machinery from remote locations possible. You’ll have no connection drops, because your network’s protected from random devices.

How about a drone pilot delivering your latest online order? They’re going to need a secure connection to make sure your delivery gets to you, and not your neighbour, who loves a bonus pizza supply.

5G smart homes

Smart homes and the Internet of Things only reaches its potential with 5G. At the moment we’re tending to use this technology in isolation – humans talking to their devices. Controlling things like lights, heating, or TVs remotely over the internet.

That’s great. But the true future of 5G and the Internet of Things is when all these devices talk to each other. Not just you. An ‘eco-system’, if we were to get a bit David Attenborough on you for a moment. In a 5G future, your devices will all have a chat between themselves. No cups of tea required. And in their super-smart way, they save us time, energy, and hassle.

5G fashion

5G is a potential hero of sustainability. It’ll transform the way businesses operate. The fashion industry is a great example of this. The number of sample outfits created will drop dramatically and travel will be reduced. Read more about our partnership with the iconic Central Saint Martins for more on that story. 

To understand all that 5G can really do for us, the best way is to experience it for yourself. Because whatever you can think up, it’s probably doable on 5G. 

When it comes to 5G, we know you’ll want super-fast streaming, razor-sharp gaming, and near-instant downloads. And it’s all on offer. So discover 5G with us today.

1] Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q1-Q2 2024. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.