“Hello, can you hear me now?” is probably a phrase you have heard once or twice from telecom giant Verizon Wireless—this very company and catchphrase is revolutionizing the face of data and how we connect with one another utilizing smart contracts and blockchain technology.
Blockchain and communications pioneer, Helium believes that the old towers of the past, those massive hunks of metal cramming your sidewalks, will soon be relics of the past. Thanks to the oncoming new generation of 5G, the integration of smart contracts, and the use of blockchain-enabled small cells.
Yes, those towers may be the bane of the existence of your internet, of your ability to watch Youtube videos while waiting for your kids to get out of school, or order your Mocha Latte from the comfort of your Tesla. These towers are an integral part of connecting the millions of cellphones around the world and they are the reason you can go wherever, whenever, and stay connected.
However with the onslaught on blockchain technology, these towers, these giant hunks of metal are soon to be replaced. But not in the way you may think, they are not disappearing entirely, but instead they are evolving into something truly spectacular.
These new age towers will allow autonomous vehicles to work and connect more seamlessly, for your phones to operate at a higher capacity, and even for your home to be capable of functioning as a true smart home—straight out of the 1999 Disney cult classic, “Smart House”. All powered by the groundbreaking technology that gave birth to the Ethereum network, smart contracts.
What is Blockchain 5G Exactly?
Surely by now you have heard about 5G and all of the surrounding press behind it. Every major telecommunication conglomerate is hurrying to incorporate it into our daily lives. We often hear it is “faster than 3G and 4G” combined—and that is true. But that is only scratching the surface behind the blockchain-powered technology that will change the face of how we stay connected to our devices.
What is 5G and how is it defined in the modern age: 5G is a telecommunications term coined by the industry to signify the fifth generation of wireless technology. This in layman terms, means it comes after 3G and 4G and yes, even LTE.
Blockchain 5G operates with three core principles:
- Enhanced mobile broadband: In addition to speeding up our smartphones, blockchain 5G will usher in new immersive technologies like VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) by possessing slower latency and cheaper rates.
- Mission-critical communications: think autonomous driving cars, medical procedures, and key infrastructure.
- Large IoT: Enhancing sensors that power your Alexa or your Rumba or just about any other technology that utilizes sensors and smart contracts in your office or home. This has the potential to connect virtually every piece of technology in your abode through a scale-down in data rates, power, and mobility all because of the decentralized nature of blockchain tech.
Blockchain 5G and How to Use It
To power this new wave of technology the world is going to need some serious hardware and it is not the kind you find in your everyday mom and pop shop. They will be more akin to a futuristic blockchain cell tower, placed strategically in areas where individuals typically cannot receive a solid cell phone reception or internet connection.
For example, if you are hiking through the Rocky Mountains, taking in the great outdoors, but you want to Facetime your wife or partner to share some of the breathtaking views of the iconic Trail Bridge Road—with normal cell towers, you would be hard-pressed to get a signal.
But with blockchain powered 5G towers, one single tower all powered by satellites and 5G speeds — would allow you to seamlessly talk face to face with your loved ones.
The technology however goes even further than that because cell towers are typically expensive, take up a lot of key real estate, most cities seclude them to lone hills. But with blockchain towers, these structures would be owned by third-party companies that cater to everyone, not just AT&T or Verizon.
The business plan would look more akin to a rental company, where telecommunication companies can rent broadband from one single tower. Eliminating the need for a dozen, oversized towers crowding a single city.
Neutral Host 5G and The Potential Future
As we enter this new era of 5G and seamless connectivity through decentralized finance and DAOs, it is a great idea to begin thinking about how we can apply this technology to our everyday lives. Gone are the days where you will have to go from one room to the other, whispering, “can you hear me now?”.
Blockchain powered towers will allow us to never lose signal again, because no matter if you are in a parking garage, in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, or inside a massive concrete building, these connectivity issues will be solved with one single, superpowered blockchain cell tower. Changing how society operates and how human beings feel when in a dire situation.
