5G Is The Future Of Mobile Online Casinos In South Africa

South Africa’s two main cellular operators, Vodacom and MTN, launched their Fifth Generation (5G) networks in 2020, partly as a response to the increased need for connectivity during the Covid-19 lockdowns. This new mobile technology has massive economic implications for businesses, infrastructure and the gaming industry in South Africa. In the casino industry specifically, 5G can transform and improve the online casino experience for players across the country.

What is 5G?

Each generation of communication technology was a huge advance on what existed before. From voice and SMS to 4G, which could reach speeds of over 100Mbps, each new iteration made communication smoother, faster and brought the new potential for online use. 5G is the next step and promises faster speeds than we have ever had before, less latency and better connection.

How does 5G work?

All wireless communication uses radio waves to transmit signals to your device. 5G runs on higher wavelengths than previous generations, and requires smaller masts, placed closer together. This means that instead of a single massive tower to supply a particular area, 5G needs multiple smaller ones. To build a superfast 5G network, carriers need hundreds of these mini masts (roughly the size of a pizza box), which can be attached to walls or light poles, and need to be close to each other. However, there are other methods to build 5G networks, but the results may be slower. It will take years for the infrastructure to be fully developed, but the advantages will be enormous.

What are the benefits of 5G for casino players?

The nature of 5G technology means that speed will improve enormously, and more devices can be supported. There will be lower latency levels and less congestion.

Faster Internet speed

Although speeds have varied widely during the introductory phase, even the lowest 5G speeds are significantly faster than anything provided through 4G. Theoretically, 5G speeds should be able to reach up to 10 gigabits per second, which is nearly 100 times faster than 4G. For casino players, this means that games will load faster and play more smoothly. The games themselves can change enormously too, because, with faster speeds, casino games can become more complex, with richer features, and better graphics and sounds.

Lower Latency

Hand-in-hand with improved speed, 5G promises lower latency. This is the delay between transmitting and receiving data from the network. The latency rate that we experience with 4G currently averages around 10mS. However, with 5G this rate should be reduced to 0.5mS. The most obvious advantage will be in Live Casino games. Faster streaming and fewer lags will make online games quicker, with fewer delays and a more seamless player experience. The whole Live Casino experience will feel even more immediate and authentic. For sports fans, live games can be streamed through the sports section of the casino, so you can make in-play bets and watch the game, all in the same place with no interruptions.

Reduced congestion

One of the drawbacks of 4G and previous generations of mobile tech is that there were often issues of congestion in busy areas. The pressure on existing networks means that mobile and wifi users can experience lower speeds and increased lag. 5G operates at a higher radio frequency, which has better capacity than current frequencies. These frequencies have also not been used for mobile before, so there is much less congestion. For casino players and sports fans, this results in optimal speeds with no lag, regardless of how busy the networks may be. Playing in slots tournaments, or in the Live Casino, or even watching sports through streaming will be a smoother experience with no delays.

What does the future hold?

Aside from autonomous cars and remote surgery, 5G enables plenty of possibilities within the online casino industry. We predict that casino games will change to become more content-heavy, with better functionality, features and images. Live Casino games will feel more real as the video capacity and streaming time improves. Virtual games will become a target for innovative software companies to reach. With teams of talented developers, software studios could create completely immersive casino games that can take us to other planets, back in time, into the depths of the ocean, or to lands of myth and fantasy, all through virtual reality technology. There’s also huge potential for augmented reality games. If you enjoyed Pokemon, imagine how much fun augmented reality casino games could be, where you hunt for treasures and jackpots in the real world, overlaid with the land of luck. All it takes is a software developer with a flair for innovation and the ability to think beyond the slot grid or deck of cards.

5G is more than just faster internet. It enables technology to jump forward, and take us one step closer to where our imaginations wish we could be.

 
 
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