HIGHER speed than ever, 5G is under development and will change mobile internet yet further – Peter Jenkinson gets the lowdown.

As 4G networks still try to operate across the UK, the race is already on to develop the next generation of airwave connectivity.

This next generation is, not surprisingly, called 5G and scientists say it’ll change the way we operate on the move forever.

Its development has been brought about largely due to the increasing number of inanimate objects that are now communicating with us; home heating, connected kitchen appliances and our lighting systems – The Internet of Things, as it is branded.

The estimated speed of the 5G network is claimed to be as fast as 800Gbps. Currently 4G can download a film in 10 seconds, this new speed is equivalent to downloading 33 high-definition films in a single second.

So, hopefully, an end to app installation fails, streaming video not quite living up to its claims and load signs appearing for far longer than they should.

One day, our kids will read in history books about how we not only had a landline, but that it took us actual seconds to download music.

There are estimates that well over 50 billion connected devices will be connected by the year 2020, so it isn’t just a higher speed that’ll be needed but more airwave and frequency capacity ensuring each device has a clear connection.

And this is why we’re having to wait for this new 5G network; our airwaves are in a mess.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are restructuring the radio networks used to transmit and receive data to allow these increased speeds, but they also have to allow current 3G and 4G networks to operate, and this balancing act between old and new is no mean feat.