BYTES: 5G — Beyond Faster Phones

Episode Summary

The jump from 4G to 5G isn’t incremental. And it’s no small thing. “It’s a huge leap in three key areas: speed, responsiveness and capability,” says Emily Griffin, a member of Skadden’s IP and Technology team in London. In this episode of Skadden’s “Bytes,” Emilly breaks down what 5G is and why it matters. As she explains, 5G delivers data rates up to 100 times faster than 4G, reduces latency to as little as one millisecond, and supports up to a million devices per square kilometer. Emily also highlights the legal complexities that businesses face in deploying private 5G networks, including issues of licensing, spectrum access, data control and compliance with privacy laws like the GDPR.

Voiceover (00:01):
Welcome to “Bytes” from “SkadBytes,” jargon-free byte-size insights from Skadden’s IP & Tech team on the key issues shaping the tech landscape.

Emily Griffin (00:13):
Hi, I’m Emily Griffin from the IP & Technology team here in Skadden London. You’ve probably heard a lot about 5G, faster phones, smarter cities, self-driving cars. In this Byte, we’re looking at what 5G actually is and why it matters. At a glance, 5G might seem just a small step up from 4G, just one number higher, but that’s misleading. The jump from 4G to 5G isn’t incremental, it’s a huge leap in three key areas: speed, responsiveness and capability.

(00:39):
First, speed. In ideal conditions, 5G delivers data rates up to 100 times faster than 4G. That means near-instant downloads and smooth streaming, even in crowded areas. Second, 5G dramatically reduces the time it takes for data to travel. This is known as latency. With 5G, it can drop to as little as one millisecond. That’s critical for real-time applications like remote surgery or autonomous vehicles. And third, capacity. 5G can support up to a million devices per square kilometer, enabling the internet of things, a world where multiple appliances all communicate in real time.

(01:13):
It uses a broader range of radio waves, including high-frequency bands that carry more data, but over shorter distances. That’s why networks rely on small cells, compact antennas placed densely, especially in cities. Some businesses are now building private 5G networks, but deployment isn’t straightforward, raising issues around licensing, spectrum access, data control and compliance within region-specific telecom communications and privacy laws like the GDPR.

(01:39):
For consumers, it means better mobile experiences. But for businesses and lawyers, it’s a shift in how we approach data governance, security and regulation in an already increasingly networked world.

Voiceover (01:51):
Thanks for listening to “Bytes.” Be sure to subscribe for more tech insights. Additional information about Skadden can be found at skadden.com.