Even if you’re not entirely sure what latency is, chances are you have encountered it at some point. If you’ve had a video call, either because you’re working remotely or calling a relative, and the other person keeps freezing or lagging – that’s latency.
In simple terms, it’s the time delay between what you have said and the person on the other end hearing it. For smooth communication, it’s always been the enemy. And even though VoIP has developed dramatically, it still needs a reliable Internet connection to work.
But could 5G be the technology that changes it all? It has the potential to take VoIP from sufficient digital calling to something close to ultra-responsive communication happening in real-time.
Why Does Latency Happen?
Latency can show up in a couple of different ways when it comes to VoIP. There can be delays between people talking or awkward moments when both people are speaking at the same time. Other times, the audio can cut or video calls will lag.
Even if you have a 4G network or fibre, you may still experience latency. It can happen if your network is too congested, especially if you’re sharing it with others in a co-working setting. Some other culprits would be having too much distance between devices or your traffic routing isn’t optimised correctly.
How Does 5G Work?
5G can be up to 100x faster than 4G, meaning it can support vast amounts of data almost instantly. And under ideal conditions, it promises latency as low as 1 millisecond. On the other hand, 4G’s ranges between 50 to 100 milliseconds. It’s a significant difference.
It also has the ability to perform a function called network slicing. It’s a way of creating smaller, mini networks, each for dedicated users. This means that VoIP apps can get their own network to avoid any congestion with other types of traffic.
Up to 1 million devices per square kilometres can be supported by 5G, so even in busy urban areas where more people are using VoIP at once, they can still have smooth conversations with limited latency.
What Would Happen If VoIP And 5G Were Combined?
If these two technologies had to be combined, the result would be Internet-based calling that is supercharged. With 5G’s ultra-low latency and massive bandwidth, any glitches or delays would be basically non-existent.
For those making calls, conversations would be natural and in real-time, setting the ultimate standard for smooth communication.
In addition to low latency, callers would notice significant improvement in other areas too.
Clear Audio And HD Visuals
With 5G, you get HD or 4K video quality and less pixelation when on a video call. It gives VoIP both the bandwidth and stability to deliver world-class calls, ideal for executives conducting global meetings and customer support teams.
Lower Jitter And Packet Loss
Jitter and packet loss are usually the two culprits who cause words being cut off or the audio sounding choppy overall.
But because 5G has faster routing and less congestion, your voice packets are able to travel smoothly without the interference.
Improved Mobility
5G enables uninterrupted transitions between cellular towers which means your VoIP call won’t drop even when you’re on the move. The reason for this is because 5G has faster switching with tighter cell planning.
So if you’re in sales trying to close a deal while travelling between meetings or a remote worker on the go, your calls will remain clear and stable.
A Few Things To Keep In Mind
Of course, the partnership between 5G and VoIP technology wouldn’t come without its fair share of challenges along the way.
The biggest hurdle that exists at the moment is that 5G coverage isn’t universal just yet. While urban cities will see the implementation happen quicker, it will take more time for it to get to outlying areas.
The second issue is device compatibility. 5G technology is new, which means that even though new VoIP handsets and devices can support it, any old hardware will have to be upgraded. Some companies may not have the means for that yet, therefore they wouldn’t see the benefit of 5G straight away.
Lastly, the ability to slice networks to avoid traffic congestion sounds great in theory but not all operators have deployed it yet. Until that happens, those making VoIP calls may still encounter call difficulties.
