What Will 5G Mean for the Future of Mobile App Development?

• Posted on January 4, 2022
• |
• 5 minutes read

Digicorp’s Predictions for App Development in a Post-5G World

5G Network: Lifting the Curtain on the Next Big Internet Revolution

For a while now, experts have been talking about the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which envisages the confluence of physical, digital, and biological worlds. In fact, there are already a handful of exciting apps and products out there which are blurring the lines between our physical and virtual realities. But the jaw-dropping moment for innovators, designers, developers, and consumers is not far away now – a network that is 10 times faster than the current standard in data transmission (4G Volte) is soon about to sweep across the globe!

That’s right, we are talking about the upcoming 5G network revolution.

In April 2019, Chicago and Minneapolis became the first cities in the world to experience 5G. According to recent estimations, the 5G network will be running in more than 1.4 billion devices across the world by 2025. Thus, the possibility of millions of gigabytes of data moving seamlessly across hyper-connected devices with the blink of an eye is all set to become a reality soon. As a result, mobile app developers and designers are gearing up to make the most of this opportunity. 

As with any other technology revolution, products that don’t match up to consumer expectations will fall flat. Hence, it is imperative that existing products are upgraded to the high market standards that are likely to come into effect in a post-5G world. On the other hand, all new products will have to be developed keeping in mind post-5G realities.

Digicorp has always been the frontrunner in using technological foresight to help our customers build smarter, better, and more compelling products. In this blog, our team shares with you 5 predictions for the future of mobile app development in the light of the 5G revolution.

#1 Immersive User Experience using AR-VR and 3D Technologies

Mobile apps with immersive user interfaces blur the boundaries between the real and the virtual and enhance real-world experiences of users manifold through technologies like Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and 3D Projection. An example of immersive technology is the highly popular makeup app by L’oreal Paris that enables customers sitting at home to see whether a product (lipstick, for example) will match their skin tone, without having to visit the store to try it on. 

Another example is the recently launched app “IKEA Place” by the furniture giant IKEA that enables users to visualize how a piece of furniture, (e.g. a sofa set) will appear in their living room before buying it. In industrial products, both AR-VR along with 3D printing and 3D modeling will have an enormous impact by enabling unprecedented experiences for industrial consumers. Doctors performing virtual surgeries that feel like real-life surgeries, electronics manufacturers designing and visualizing micro components virtually, automotive manufacturers road-testing self-drive cars in virtual traffic environments, and using 3D gamification for training disaster management teams are just a few ways in which 5G will change app development forever.

#2 A Giant Leap in Performance Precision of Apps Due to Lower Latency and Hyperconnectivity

Higher speed is just one of the many perks of 5G. It is interesting to note that 5G is not just an upgraded version of 4G – it is a whole new ballgame altogether.

With 5G making inroads into our lives, precision will be the order of the day. Mobile apps that are currently using 4G have data latency hovering around 50 milliseconds. With 5G, this will reduce by 50X to just 1 millisecond. Further, 4G has the capacity to connect only about 2000 devices within a 0.38 miles radius. With 5G, 1 million devices can talk to each other within the same radius!

This sharp decrease in latency and the substantially improved network density will have major implications for AI products, IoT products, and engineering products where precision in performance is a definitive criterion. Healthcare, Manufacturing, Electronics, Asset Monitoring, Mining, and Civil Engineering are just a few of the industries that will benefit heavily from the steep rise in data accuracy, thanks to 5G.

#3 Enhanced Scalability and Cloud Capabilities Due to Broader Bandwidth

5G comes with the promise of a minimum data transfer speed of 1 Gbps. Based on testing environment conditions, this can go up to 50 Gbps. This is a blessing for mobile app makers whose scalability goals are constrained by the current 4G bandwidth. Live streaming even heavier content like 4K videos will be smooth like a cake-walk. User engagement will reach new heights as data speed stops being an issue altogether.

Not just scalability – 5G would also mean better cloud capabilities for mobile apps across all devices. This would mean better access for users and a drastically reduced burden on legacy infrastructure for developers – a win-win scenario for all!

#4 Emergence of Tactile Internet Powered by Smoother Human-Machine Interaction

Despite all the advanced AI, Machine Learning, and IoT algorithms, the clumsy data handling by 4G Networks is still a stumbling block for man-to-machine conversations.

5G is a game-changer for the proliferation of tactile internet applications, like haptics and voice-recognition-based applications. A world where the everyday and routine things are entirely managed by machines with little human interaction and supervision is possible to envision with 5G. Mobile app makers need to adapt to this change and introduce features that reduce manual effort and human intervention. With most apps running on 5G by 2025, that day is not far behind when we discard apps that consume too much of our time and energy.

#5 Increased Concern for Data Privacy and Security

So far, we have only shed light on the opportunities that 5G brings to the table. We would like to end this post with just one caveat that we believe would be quintessential for developers to heed if they want to succeed in a post-5G world.

Even in the current scenario, data security risks abound with the use of mobile apps. With 5G catapulting data sharing to the next level, there will be more and more risks of breaches in cyber-safety and personal security. In response, data governance regulations are likely to stiffen up over time, keeping app makers on their toes along the way.

Developers who factor in data security challenges in a high-speed, low-latency environment right from day 1 will stand to remain the most resilient in the face of such detrimental changes. Putting privacy users at the center of everything would drastically reduce trust deficit and boost brand loyalty organically.

In the end, preparing for 5G is like preparing for a beast. Whether you succumb to the pressure or take it for a ride is up to you. With Digicorp by your side, gearing up for such changes and succeeding in an ever-evolving market environment is easier than ever. Whether you are developing a product from scratch or are looking for designers, engineers, and project managers to take it to the next level, Digicorp can make the journey of product development easy, exciting, and worthwhile for you. If winning customers is your goal, then we are your best bet to build and launch compelling, market-winning products.

Get in touch with us to kickstart your dream project!