STACK #189 Jul 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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FULL 5G

SPEED AHEAD continued

Safe and sound There are other basic security steps to

TELCO JARGON BUSTER

take into account. Lock your phone with a PIN, fingerprint, or iris scan. Two-factor authentication may have the inconvenience of adding an additional step to log in to your accounts, but activating it wherever possible can protect you even if dodgy online folk get a hold of your username and password. Speaking of passwords, password managers can store and randomise complicated passwords for your accounts. You might also consider installing an antivirus app on your phone, and look

Here’s a basic breakdown of common telco terms.

into the permissions of the apps you use to ensure they’re not prying too deeply into your personal data.

Capped: slowing of mobile internet speeds if you go over your monthly allowance. Churning: shifting from one telco to another. Grandfathered: an older telco plan that’s no longer sold. Form factor: a phone’s physical size and shape. Handset: a mobile phone. SIM only: plans that require you to BYO phone. Porting: transferring your phone number between telcos.

users, is that 5G boosts the number of simultaneous connections. If you’ve ever been at a packed concert or sporting event and wondered why your internet speeds drop to slower than dial-up, it’s because 4G capacity is restricted to around 2,000 devices per 600ish square metres. 5G is poised to blitz that number, with support for up to 1 million devices in the same space. 5G FUTURE-PROOFING Given that 5G isn’t available everywhere, buying a 5G-capable device today means an investment in being ready to go once it’s more readily available. If you spend a lot of time in an area serviced by 5G, you can tap into the perks today, but you need a 5G-capable handset to do so. In terms of pricing, 5G handsets are around the same price as the average new release big-name phones, albeit there are some models that are comparatively cheaper. If 5G speeds are upped in the future as coverage expands, today’s 5G phones will be able to take full advantage of those potential speed boosts. While faster speeds may make a 5G-capable phone easier to use and more responsive than ever before, managing your device’s security is as important as ever. Keep your phone’s operating system and applications up to date at all times, as these updates may boost overall security. With 5G speeds, you won’t need to tap into public Wi-Fi spots, which can be a hotspot for lurking hackers.

TOMORROW TODAY Expect 5G’s faster download and upload speeds to have a knock-on effect for how developers augment and build app updates or entirely new apps. For starters, knowing that faster speeds are going to become more prevalent gives creators the freedom to build more responsive apps. And for existing services like Netflix, it opens up the option for higher- quality streaming to mobile devices, including 4K. Outside of aforementioned video conferencing and game streaming, near-zero latency opens up possibilities for incredibly responsive online-streamed virtual reality games or experiences, and any form of remote applications, including potential for newfangled medical advances. The other massive perk, both for developers and Bust a data cap The biggest challenge with fast internet will always be managing a data cap. While there are many perks to faster speeds, speedier internet also makes it easier than ever to chew through a monthly data allowance. This is particularly relevant if your eyes lit up at the prospect of 4K video streaming, which uses up to 7GB of data per hour. Optus offers unlimited internet for its home

broadband, but expect to curb your download-loving enthusiasm with data-capped 5G mobile phone plans.

30 JULY 2020

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