The arrival of 5G technology marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of mobile applications, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation. With its high data rates, ultra-low latency, and the ability to support massive device connectivity, 5G is set to revolutionize the way apps are developed and used. This article delves into the inner workings of 5G architecture, shedding light on how its increased bandwidth is transforming the landscape of mobile technology.
The material examines the specific applications that will benefit the most from 5G, including audio and video streaming, telemedicine, and health monitoring. Enhanced user experiences in augmented and virtual reality are also a key focus, as 5G enables smoother, more immersive interactions. Additionally, the article explores how 5G opens the door to new AI-driven solutions, particularly in on-device data processing, providing faster, more efficient ways to handle information.
While the potential of 5G is immense, it also introduces new challenges. The article emphasizes the importance of addressing testing and security concerns, particularly the need for advanced encryption techniques to ensure user data is kept safe in an increasingly connected world.
According to GSMA Intelligence, 5G will overtake 4G to become the dominant mobile technology in the world by 2030, accounting for 5.3 billion connections [1]. 5G makes a big step forward compared to 4G in terms of improved speeds, reduced latency and enhanced functionality for mobile users. The main differentiator of next-generation networks is their focus on applications and use cases such as the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous cars, and virtual and augmented reality (AR and VR) systems.
5G network architecture
The 5G architecture is based on the concept of a modular and flexible structure that allows the network to be adapted to the needs of users [2, 3]. It includes the core (5G Core), the central part of the network, which is responsible for key network functions: AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function), SMF (Session Management Function) and UPF (User Plane Function). They provide session management, access management and data transfer management.
The core is built on the following technologies:
- NFV (Network Function Virtualization): Virtualization of network functions that allows them to be deployed as software modules on virtual servers. This simplifies management and reduces the need for specialized hardware.
- SDN (Software-Defined Networking): A software-defined network that enables centralized management of traffic routing and distribution.
The second part of the network, the RAN (Radio Access Network), is responsible for wirelessly connecting users. 5G uses an improved radio access system that includes gNB or gNodeB base stations. These stations operate with high frequencies, including millimeter waves (mmWave) [4]. The latter can significantly increase network capacity and data transmission speed, but have a limited range (a few hundred meters) and poorly pass through obstacles such as walls and buildings.
In 5G architecture this problem is solved by Massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) [5]. The approach includes installation of a large number of antennas (dozens and hundreds) at base stations, which simultaneously transmit and receive signals. This allows to serve many devices simultaneously, improving the quality of communication even in urban traffic conditions.
5G can also use C-RAN (Cloud RAN or Centralized RAN), where base stations are virtualized in the cloud rather than distributed to individual physical locations. C-RAN is often used to improve network performance and flexibility, especially in high-density connectivity environments.
5G architecture allows, in particular, to realize the principle of Network Slicing [6]. In this case, the physical network is divided into several virtual segments (or “slices”), each of which can be configured for a certain type of services.
For example, one virtual segment can be used to support high data rate applications such as streaming and video calling, while another can be optimized for minimal latency, which is especially important for autonomous transportation and medicine. A third slice can be configured to serve IoT devices where stability and the ability to support a large number of connections simultaneously are more important.
5G in mobile application development
High speed
The development of 5G has greatly simplified the development of applications with instant update and data exchange functions. In 5G networks, speeds can reach 10 Gbps, which is about 100 times faster than 4G [7]. This allows data to be transferred almost instantaneously, without buffering. As a result, developers can offer more interactive features to users without worrying about performance degradation or having to download large files. As a result, the overall user experience is improved.
Increased data transfer speeds are important, for example, for video streaming applications like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ and Twitch. The number of users of streaming services has grown tremendously in recent years, with the number approaching 1.8 billion as of 2023. [8] 5G optimizes for customers the transmission of content in high resolution, including 4K and even 8K formats. In this case, users will receive a stable video stream without delays.
Cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Playstation Plus also benefit from high speed 5G. The quality of the connection in this case directly affects the gameplay, as the player’s actions are transmitted to the server, processed and returned as a stream to the device. The high speed allows you to play with HD graphics and frame rates of up to 60 FPS.
Another example is video conferencing applications: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet. 5G provides office users and remote workers with stable communication with colleagues and clients. The technology makes collaborative work, such as viewing and editing documents, more convenient.
Minimum delay
Minimizing network latency is one of the main benefits of 5G. Network response is reduced to 1 millisecond, while in 4G the delay can reach 50-100 ms. Consequently, 5G makes user interaction with mobile services smoother. For this purpose, developers no longer need to build complex caching mechanisms. In the past, networks may have used multiple layers of caching (e.g., device, network, and server level) to provide fast and constant access to information. Moreover, sophisticated algorithms were needed to anticipate what data a user might need and download it in advance. With 5G, these approaches are no longer necessary.
Low latency is critical, particularly for telemedicine applications. Telemedicine is a huge market that grew dramatically during COVID-19. Data on its volume varies, but researchers agree that the compound annual growth rate will exceed 20% in the coming years. [9]
In telemedicine applications, 5G allows doctors and patients to comfortably communicate in real time and conduct consultations as quickly as possible. Thanks to next-generation networks, medical staff can also instantly receive data from medical devices such as heart monitors, heart rate monitors and glucometers and record changes in vital signs. For example, if a patient’s blood sugar or blood pressure changes dramatically, the app will alert the nurse immediately.
Other popular cases are related to AR and VR. This is relevant for completely different industries – gaming (for example, the mobile AR game Pokemon Go), retail (the Sephora Virtual Artist app with the ability to try on makeup online), education (VR simulators for training, such as PrecisionOS for surgeons).
All of these scenarios require instantaneous data transfer as well as high quality graphics and visualization, as they superimpose digital elements on the real environment or fully immerse the user in the virtual world. This is especially important given that, for example, in VR, latency can cause unpleasant sensations.
Support for connected devices
5G networks can support up to one million connections per square kilometer, 10 times more than 4G. This way, a huge number of smart devices can be controlled simultaneously. This is especially relevant today, as the number of connected IoT devices will increase by 13% in 2024 to reach 18.8 billion. [10]
5G technologies will be useful in creating applications, for example, for a smart city. Numerous surveillance cameras, motion sensors and other monitoring systems are used in this area. The devices transmit data to applications for city professionals and ordinary users. For example, applications for transportation management can show data on traffic conditions, inform about parking availability, and notify about traffic jams.
In the logistics sector, 5G can create applications to track thousands of shipments in real time. Similarly, in the industrial sector, this is how sensors and equipment for process control and quality control can be monitored.
Another interesting case is the use of 5G at large events: concerts, sports matches, festivals. 5G-enabled mobile applications can provide visitors with schedule information, zone layout, directions to the nearest exits, and send urgent alerts.
The example of this year’s sports event in Paris is illustrative. To meet the needs of 11 million visitors, the city deployed many temporary 5G mobile sites. These served 25% of the total traffic. Key hot spots were also critical: just six sites handled 50% of the total load. Using 4G alone to support this traffic would have resulted in network congestion and communication failures. [11]
Reduced energy consumption
Among other things, 5G reduces power consumption and extends the battery life of mobile and IoT devices. Gadgets can process data faster and not have to keep the connection active all the time, which reduces battery consumption.
This property will help, in particular, in the development of health monitoring applications like Apple Health, Fitbit and Samsung Health. To work, they need to be connected to fitness trackers and smart watches. The devices need to constantly measure heart rate, activity and blood oxygen levels and send the data to your smartphone. Extended battery life allows the devices to be used longer without recharging, which is especially important for around-the-clock monitoring.
Another scenario is navigation applications like Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps. These are usually active in the background with GPS connected. Reducing power consumption in 5G will help them run longer, without the risk of quickly draining the device. This could be critical for travelers abroad, for example.
Cloud computing
With 5G, some computing can be moved to the cloud, leaving space on the user’s device for simpler tasks. This speeds up applications without limiting performance.
- In the cloud you can, for example, do data analysis and complex mathematical calculations, generate reports and high quality graphics (like complex 3D models), encode, decode, compress and stream video or audio.
- On the user’s device – to handle interface actions, non-resource-intensive operations, functions that should be available without a network connection, and so on.
The table below provides specific examples of how you can separate computations in different types of applications.
Sphere |
In the cloud |
On the device |
| Photo and image processing | Rendering of complex effects or 3D animations
Improving image quality using neural networks Video compression and adaptation for different devices and resolutions |
Processing for basic preview
Applying simple filters or trimming |
| AR/VR | Rendering of complex 3D objects and textures
Synchronizing multi-user sessions |
Display rendering, overlaying AR objects on the real world through the camera |
| Games | Handling physics, graphics and behavior of non-player characters
Synchronization of data between players |
Video streaming
Simple actions such as controlling a character |
| Navigation | Build routes taking into account traffic jams, weather conditions and accidents
Generation of alternative route data |
Displaying the map and current position of the user
Offline navigation |
| IoT | Analyze data from multiple devices to identify trends or anomalies
Control of complex automation scenarios (e.g. weather-dependent smart home) |
Local data processing for basic tasks such as motion-based light switching
Buffering data before sending it to the cloud |
| Medicine | Processing medical data for diagnosis
Analyzing data from wearable devices to identify trends |
Measuring baseline values (e.g., pulse rate or blood oxygen)
Display local notifications for the user |
| Finance | Performing complex financial transactions and analysis (e.g., calculating credit risks)
Transaction data processing and encryption |
Display of current balance and notifications
Storing transaction history in offline mode |
New opportunities: 5G and AI
The aforementioned capabilities can significantly improve the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled mobile applications. Developers will be able to offer features such as image recognition, natural language processing and predictive analytics. 5G will provide users with the smoothest possible interaction with AI models and instant responses.
Another advantage of 5G will play its role – support for edge computing. In this case, data is not processed in a central cloud center, but closer to the user and the data source. Separately, the term Edge AI stands out when it comes to the operation of algorithms at the network periphery. [12] 5G connectivity combined with edge computing will enable complex AI tasks to be performed on devices, further increasing processing speed, reducing network load, and ensuring autonomy and privacy. This is relevant, for example, for applications with voice assistants like Siri.
Ultimately, these advantages can be used to develop completely different products. With the combination of AI and 5G, a health monitoring app will be able to continuously capture data on a user’s physical activity and make more accurate recommendations. Or – a smart home app will collect data from cameras, thermostats and lighting systems and use it to make autonomous decisions, such as temperature control.
Magora Systems is now actively developing one such AI-enabled application. It utilizes 5G capabilities for telemedicine with support for real-time VR consultations. Since AI integration will require a lot of traffic and data transfer from the mobile device to the server and back, 5G technology is indispensable in this case. Also, this application will support interactive training sessions involving multiple users simultaneously, allowing them to interact in a virtual environment without lag, which will greatly enhance medical education and practice.
Challenges of testing
With all the benefits of 5G, applications that support next-generation networks require more sophisticated tests for simulation. For example, you need to test multi-user scenarios. This requires emulating multiple connections. Load testing tools like JMeter and Gatling, as well as cloud platforms, are used in the process. Another prime example is testing IoT applications. The process can utilize IoT simulators like IoTIFY that create hundreds of virtual devices that transmit data in real time. This is how the application’s ability to cope with the increasing number of connections is tested. Data processing delays and their impact on the user experience are also analyzed.
Separately, we can highlight scenarios with changing connection conditions. Users can move between 5G, 4G, Wi-Fi coverage areas and back. This leads to dramatic changes in data transfer speeds and delays. Mobile network emulators such as Appium are used to test application performance in this case. Tests include transitions between networks, disconnecting and restoring connections. It is also checked how the application synchronizes data when conditions change.
Conclusion
The characteristics of 5G networks allow developers to create more interactive and feature-rich applications without worrying about the impact of big data on performance. Support for edge computing also gives them the ability to move resource-intensive processes to the device itself or nearby nodes, reducing the load on central servers. In this way, you can run high-performance AI computing right on the device, with fast data processing and resource savings.
Importantly, however, 5G technologies present developers with new challenges in terms of testing and security. 5G bandwidth can increase the amount of data exposed to vulnerabilities. And because of the growing number of connected devices, the attack surface expands. Cloud technologies and virtualization also open new opportunities for attackers: cybercriminals can launch DDoS attacks, use ransomware, find supply chain vulnerabilities, and so on. Accordingly, developers should focus on strong data encryption, multi-factor authentication, anomaly monitoring and analysis tools, and other cybersecurity solutions.
1) GSMA, Safeguarding the future: Managing 5G security risks, 2023
https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/article/safeguarding-the-future-managing-5g-security-risks/
2) 3GPP, 5G System Overview, Coordinated by Alain Sultan, MCC, 2022
https://www.3gpp.org/technologies/5g-system-overview
3) Larry Peterson, Oguz Sunay, Bruce Davie, Private 5G: A Systems Approach
https://5g.systemsapproach.org/index.html
4) Ericsson, The unique capabilities of 5G mmWave
5) Ericsson, Meeting 5G network requirements with Massive MIMO
6) Ross Cassan, Spirent, How to Make Automated 5G Network Slicing Work, 2019
7) Thales Group, 5G technology and networks (speed, use cases, rollout), 2024
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/mobile/inspired/5G
8) Exploding Topics, Video Streaming Users Stats, 2024
https://explodingtopics.com/blog/video-streaming-stats
9) Fortune Business Insights, Telehealth Market Size, 2024
https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/telehealth-market-101065
10) IoT Analytics, State of IoT 2024
https://iot-analytics.com/number-connected-iot-devices/
10) Ericsson ConsumerLab study, 2024
https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/3/2024/consumerlab-5g-elevates-connectivity-experiences
11) Nvidia, What Is Edge AI and How Does It Work, 2022
https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/what-is-edge-ai/
