5G wireless networks could be on the way thanks to the United States' Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler will launch the process by distributing a proposal on June 23, Thursday. If it is passed it could result in a high-band spectrum that delivers Internet speeds that are faster than current 4G and Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards.
Wheeler's prepared speech for June 20, Monday states that the FCC's proposal would make the US the world's first nation to open high-band spectrum for 5G networks, according to The Verge. This would give an edge to US businesses.
The FCC Chairman does not want the US to spend a few years defining 5G, and figuring out how it would work and be used. Other countries are using that approach.
However, Wheeler also points out that the FCC is not defining 5G, which does not have a standard. FCC's goal is that the market will define 5G like it did 4G.
Although the federal agency is not officially defining 5G, Wheeler believes 5G should be like mobile fiber that provides speeds 10 to 100 times faster than the current mobile speeds.
The FCC's proposal would also open a large high-speed unlicensed spectrum. That is basically what WiFi is, so one result of 5G would be much faster Wi-Fi speeds.
Wireless carriers such as Verizon and AT&T use wireless spectrums so towers can beam data to smartphones. Businesses such as phone companies can then use the data for different purposes.
Various wireless carriers have already done work on the 5th-gen mobile telecommunications standards. Verizon has started 5G tests and AT&T plans to start outdoor 5G tests this summer.
Meanwhile, tech giants Google and Samsung have also done 5G work. The research and testing is required by such companies to help develop a standard that makes devices work together.
In related news, Australians living in city and country areas both want the national government to boost spending on its National Broadband Network (NBN), according to ABC. Over one-third of voters support a faster NBN.
Labor and Green voters were the biggest supporters of faster Internet. However, about half of center-right Coalition voters also support spending more taxpayer money to increase web speeds.
This video explains 5G mobile tech: