The latest in mobile broadband technology, 5G, is set to become a big player in the telecoms industry. But will it replace a fixed broadband line?

2018 saw the advent of 5G, a super fast, high capacity mobile data network and the successor to the 4G network. 5G is an exciting premise and will soon be a reality with EE recently switching on nine 5G trial sites in London to test their 5G network. But could a 5G mobile network replace the UK's data network?

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In a recent interview, the head of UK mobile provider, Three, said that 5G may be a viable alternative to fixed line fibre connections. 5G can offer super high speeds, comparative to that of most fibre connections which typically offer speeds up to 76Mbps for FTTC and 330Mbps for FTTP. Of course, building a UK wide 5G network isn't easy - and mobile operators are all keen to assume an early monopoly on 5G technology. However, should 5G become available across the country with good coverage, then it may well be a good alternative to a fibre broadband connection in the home.

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But what does that mean for businesses? Businesses are quite a different matter when it comes to internet connectivity. At home, you may stream movies or surf the internet, but at work, most businesses rely heavily on an internet connection to function. This is something that may prevent 5G from taking over a fixed line network. "Nothing will beat a physical connection." Says Commsplus engineering manager, Aaron Luker, "Having a fibre connection to your premises is the best way to deliver connectivity, not to mention the most robust.

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"For most businesses, an FTTP connection would offer substantial speeds for day to day use. FTTP offers speeds of up to 330Mbps, which is more than fast enough for most businesses. For those looking for more, a leased line can offer up to 1Gpbs.

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"I think that 5G offers exciting opportunities in the world of broadband. I also think that 5G will be an amazing way to provide our customers with a disaster recovery solution, as a '5G backup' to their fibre connections. It may also be a good way to improve IoT connectivity and Machine 2 Machine solutions. But we certainly won't see it replacing broadband lines in the near future, especially not for businesses."

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For more about mobile connectivity or fibre and fixed line broadband for businesses, please call us on 01934 882200 for a free, no obligations chat about your connectivity.