Mobile connectivity has already advanced greatly. We’ve gone from brick-sized mobile voice calls to the era of 4G smartphones, and now, mobile technology is advancing at a dizzying pace.
Advancements in mobile connectivity are changing everything. Think about the way we connect with loved ones and manage our healthcare and finances. As time passes, more applications will be made available, and we will rely on our connectivity even more. New trends in mobile technology depend on the latest advancements in connectivity.
Let’s review the evolution of mobile connectivity and how it will affect other trends.
Evolution of Mobile Connectivity
We didn’t land on the massive mobile broadband ecosystem overnight. Mobile connectivity has a history stretching from the 70s well into our future.
Early mobile networks in the 1980s set the stage. During the 1970s, telecom companies made rapid advancements in radio technology. The first was mobile networks supporting basic analogue voice service. The earliest networks, AMPS and TACS, used software switching and analogue frequency division to create limited-capacity connectivity.
Very few people understood mobile connectivity at this point, but it quickly led to more research and advancement.
In 1991, 2G made SMS possible for the first time. The introduction of 2G marked a major leap forward in terms of technology and public perceptions, and this was when the pace started to pick up.
Finally, in 2001, 3G was first successfully tested. This was the beginning of what we consider “mobile internet.” Soon, users could start browsing online, opening up endless possibilities. With smartphones becoming more popular, phones could quickly become far more than voice and texting devices.
Broadband 4G came about in 2009, making internet use on a smartphone much faster. Now, everything from streaming services to cloud technology can enter the picture.
As we go through the era of 5G, ultra-low latency and lightning-fast loading speeds are the current steps.
Each step was a significant revolution on its own. However, each step was also a stepping stone toward a more connected future.
Predictions for Mobile Connectivity
As we advance, here are the big changes you can expect first.
6G and Beyond
Understandably, public expectations for 6G are very high. Various estimates place expected speeds at over 100 times that of 5G. Crucially, latency is set to become a thing of the past.
Services like telemedicine and money transfers are already seeing some of the most significant benefits. Speed often equals better quality service and security. For example, money transfers can become consistently near-instantaneous, and remote treatment and guided surgeries can become more feasible.
Even in other fields like autonomous driving technology, 6G connectivity can improve safety.
Expansion of IoT Connectivity
The Internet of Things will likely connect hundreds of millions of devices shortly. Think about mobile devices connected in real-time with our interactions with our homes, cars, businesses, appliances, and public services.
In all these spheres of life, you can expect a smooth transition. We will have more automation and less need for human intervention in so many processes we do manually now. What the IoT offers is:
- Greater personalization
- Speed
- Better modern conveniences
Enhanced User Experiences
Speaking of personalization, the combination of 6G and AI will spark a revolution in mobile technology. Mobile devices will be more intimately aware of what their users want. Tailored recommendations and interactions will be the norm in a way we can’t appreciate yet.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) also rely on high-quality mobile connectivity. As technology advances, we will see newer and better ways for people to experience products and services. For example, imagine shopping and trying on clothes in a VR space, without latency, powered by a mobile device.
The Role of Mobile Top-Ups in Future Connectivity
Right now, mobile connectivity plays a massive role in topping up mobile accounts. In addition to websites and physical stores, there are now plenty of apps that people rely on.
As technology improves, it becomes easier to make safe and automated top-ups. Both domestic and international mobile top-ups are fast. With each step in mobile connectivity, the process is easier. Imagine, for example, sending Flow top-up to Jamaica with low fees, regularly, in a matter of seconds.
Better mobile connectivity could have some other mobile implications for your mobile top-ups:
- Automatic replenishment based on usage patterns (optional)
- Better top-up speed
- Uninterrupted connections make top-ups seamless at all times
- Consistent user experiences
Emerging Technologies Shaping Mobile Connectivity
If you’re curious about impressive innovations that will keep you better connected, look for developments in these areas!
Edge Computing
Edge computing isn’t new (it started in the 90s), but it’s becoming better. It’s a process that brings data processing closer to you, the user. Data is continuing to be better processed at smaller, more localized servers (edge nodes).
Moving data processing closer to end users:
- Reduces latency
- Lowers network congestion
- Enables faster VR/AR responses
- Improves bandwidth on larger networks
Satellite and Space-Based Connectivity
Since the beginning of the history of mobile connectivity, we’ve always had one major problem. Proximity to towers and satellites limited connectivity in remote areas. This problem may soon disappear.
Companies like Starlink, Amazon (Project Kuiper), and OneWeb are rapidly developing global internet connectivity from outer space.
Soon, many people from underserved, remote, mountainous or island regions will all have fast internet via mobile devices.
Advanced Network Technologies
Technologies like network slicing and beamforming are improving connectivity even further.
With network slicing, you can create multiple virtual networks inside one physical network. Each sliced network can then be specialized for specific needs. One network can prioritize low latency for crucial tasks, while another could be for high-speed streaming.
Beamforming is a more direct method, directing signal power directly toward a user’s phone. This improves every aspect of connectivity, including reduced potential for interference.
Conclusion
Mobile connectivity has a bright future. From space to your phone, new technologies are keeping us all closer to the services we continue to rely on more and more. 6G, IoT networks, new networking technologies, and other innovations are bringing better speed and reliability to all industries
