A key driver of market demand for mobile 5G services will be the increased capability of widely available handsets . “ Initially we ’ d been using an LG phone that uses the same frequency for 5G as Sprint ’ s network in the US , and we managed to get that ahead of schedule ,” Boss explains . “ Now , of course , Samsung ’ s S20 is 5G capable . This means we ’ re seeing a progression from one highly specialised handset , to having a very mainstream model of phone that ’ s 5G capable . For us , that really changed the game , because anyone with an
S20 is going to be able to use 5G when they ’ re within one of our hot spots .”
Beyond flagship mobile devices , however , Boss notes that there ’ s an array of potential applications that are particularly suited to Guam ’ s needs . “ Our geography makes us isolated , which can present limitations to our healthcare system . It ’ s hard to get a lot of specialist doctors to come all the way to this small island so , when people have something serious , they get on a plane to Tokyo , Manila or Hawaii ,” he explains . The high speeds , reliability and low latency that 5G provides has far-reaching implications for delivering medical expertise to remote locations around the world . He also explains that , since Guam has a single university and one community college , the potential benefits of distance learning for the island are also substantive . However , he notes that both applications are principally based upon fixed 5G networks , and that the process of finding applications for 5G mobile that aren ’ t already being supported by the last generation of technology is an ongoing process .
“ For me , there ’ s one major application for mobile 5G in Guam that I ’ m
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