We hear a lot of hype these days about 5G – so named because it’s the fifth generation of cellular technology. With the explosion of new connected gadgets and streaming video demand, wide availability will mean an end to spotty cellular servicee in crowded areas and will foster seamless connectivity for devices from smart phones to self driving cars.
In real estate, 5G paves the way for higher tech home tours delivered using augmented reality, more sophisticated smart homes and better connected remote offices. Time lags and disruptions during video calls should disappear.
The goal of 5G is to bring speeds of about 10 gigabits per second to your phone, up to more than 600 times faster than today’s typical 4G speeds. This technology will minimize delays in data transfers, so you can see who’s at your door when you access the video from a smart doorbell. Because the exchange of information is instant, you’ll be able to send and share ultra-sharp property tours from your phone.
As faster connections arrive, the impact on real estate may be widespread. Here are some of its potential applications and benefits.
- Smarter homes and buildings: Devices such as thermostats, security monitors and lightbulbs can be connected for concurrent monitoring.
- Glitch-free remote offices: 5G could eliminate long lags in accessing documents from the cloud.
- Better augmented reality: With nearly all real estate shopping starting on-line, augmented reality could take off as a more immersive way to view homes, including superimposing images and text onto a real-world space. Buyers could swap out furnishings and design features in 3D as they view homes using a headset or smartphone.
- Flexibility to live, and work, anywhere: With 5G, rural areas can become as connected as big citi