Quote:
Originally Posted by ZodWallop
So we'll move from the vicious monopolies of ATT and Comcast to the benevolent arms of ATT and Verizon?  |
If that's your choice.
There's lots of smaller regional cellular service providers out there.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...vice_providers
Also, the transition to 5G will allow new players to jump in.
We already know that SpaceX is looking to build a satellite-based system to help fund their Mars colony and Facebook and Google are providing internet access in some locations. (Google fiber failed because last mile fiber is labor intensive and thus expensive. Each customer hook up costs money. Wireless isn't.)
5G deployment is a matter of attaching new transmitters to existing cell phone towers or atop existing buildings. Or atop highway light poles.
Wouldn't surprise me to see the big tech players jumping in to the game.
(Amazon 5G would be one way to get into the phone business. And Bezos loves vertical integration...)
There is even serious thought being given to governments building national 5G networks (akin to the interstate road network) and leasing bandwidth to all comers.
https://www.cnet.com/news/trump-offi...ed-5g-network/
https://www.cnet.com/news/trumps-cra...curity-threat/
So no, don't expect the existing 900lb gorillas to continue being dominant in the 5G world. It's not a given.
5G is not an incremental tweak of existing communications but rather a true disruptive jump to "everything on ip" and the "Internet of things". It'll take time but by the time the transition is over the world will literally be a very different place.
Again: look to the news. Disney buying Fox, ATT in court to buy TimeWarner, the US government blocking the Broadcom purchase of Qualcomm over 5G concerns.
5G is big changes ahead.