World’s first 5G smartphone released, here’s your first look

SEOUL: Telecom giant Samsung on Friday, April 5 released the Galaxy S10 5G, the world’s first 5G smartphone, as South Korea seeks to build a lead in the transformative technology.

On Wednesday South Korea became the first country to launch nationwide 5G services, with 3 superfast networks going live offering data speeds that allow it’s users to download full movies in less than a minuite.

Hours later US giant Verizon began commercial services in Chicago and Minneapolis, after rival AT&T made a 5G-based system available to selected users in parts of 12 cities in December.

In South Korea has three mobile carriers KT, LG Uplus and SK Telecom, held launch events across Seoul for the Galaxy S10 5G (world’s first 5G smartphone), whose base version costs 1.39 million won ($1,200).

Image: AFP

Interactive virtual-reality displays and robot demonstrations were on show to tout the capabilities of the latest iteration of mobile internet speed, and new users were excited about the possibilities, especially live streaming.

With 5G, said researcher Lee Sang-Yoon, VR content can be enjoyed in real time with no delay. I will be able to enjoy it in better resolution and fast speed.

Galaxy S10 | S10+ Next generation galaxy has arrived. Posted by Samsung on Thursday, April 4, 2019

Internet of Things

Before Friday’s roll-out of the Samsung smartphone, the 5G service had been restricted to a handful of specially selected users in South Korea.

Rival manufacturer LG is due to launch it’s V50 ThinQ, another 5G smartphone, in South Korea later this month, while in the US, Verizon’s network works with Lenovo’s Moto Z3 smartphone fitted with a special accessory.

Commercialising 5G gives South Korea the chance to build around the technology, which is crucial for the future development of devices such as autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things.

It is expected to bring about $565 billion in global economic benefits by 2034, according to the London-based Global System for Mobile Communications, an industry alliance.

The implications of the new technology have pitted Washington against Beijing, whose firms dominate 5G technology in an increasingly bitter standoff.

The US has pressed its allies and major economies to avoid 5G solutions from Chinese-owned telecom giant Huawei, citing security risks that technological backdoors could give Beijing access to 5G-connected utilities and other components.

Chinese entities own a total of 3400 5G patents, more than a third of the total, according to data analysis firm IPlytics , with 1529 of those registered by Huawei.

South Korea comes next, with its companies holding 2051 patents, while US firms have 1368 together.

Neither KT nor SK Telecom use Huawei technology in their 5G networks, but it is a supplier to LG UPlus, the companies told AFP.

Source: ARY