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Ansys Survey: What Does 5G Mean to Consumers?

We’ve heard a lot about 5G: It’s coming, it’s here, it can’t go there, it will change our lives, it will better the planet, it isn’t secure, it will increase productivity and grow the economy, it’s too expensive, etc.

What we haven’t heard, however, is how consumers are processing all these different messages about the latest-and-greatest generation of wireless communication, and how these perceptions differ across generations and nationalities. Until now …

Survey Methodology:
Ansys enlisted Atomik Research and its team of MRS-certified researchers to conduct the online survey in March 2020. The sample included 16,037 adults 18-and-over, from the U.K., U.S., DACH (Austria, Germany and Switzerland), France, Sweden, Japan, China and India.

5G Survey Introduction

Consumer Awareness of 5G

When asked, Do you know what 5G is, 78% of respondents said "yes." But, when we looked across geographies, we saw big differences between those in-the-know and those who answered "no":

  • 92% in China vs. 66% in Japan responded "yes."
  • 1 in 4 in the U.S. answered "no."
Do you know what 5G is

Consumer Expectations of 5G

Across all geographies and generations, respondents believe "faster downloads" (#1) and elimination of "network issues" (#2) will have the most positive impact on their lives.

However, while the U.S. and Europe reported "increased capacity" as a bigger positive than an improved "work from home" (WFH) experience, APAC countries reported the opposite.

Rank the following benefits of 5g in order of which ones you believe will have the most positive impact on your life

When Do Consumers Expect to Have Access to 5G?

Only 11% of respondents reported having access to 5G, while 42% expect 5G access to take one year or longer.

  • 16% of millennials have access; 58% believe they’ll have access within a year.
  • Baby boomers are less optimistic: Only 5% have access; 29% believe they’ll have access within a year.
When do you expect to have access to 5g

Is 5G Overhyped?

To would-be consumers, 5G is touted as a game-changer. However, when asked if the excitement was “warranted” (and a drastic improvement over 4G) or “overblown,” only 41% chose the former.

  • The British, by far, deem 5G “overblown,” while the Chinese and Indian respondents overwhelmingly believe the hype is warranted.
Do you think the excitement over 5g is overblown or warranted

Few Participants Have Concerns Over 5G Safety

Survey participants in all geographies — with the important exception of APAC — most often selected “no concerns around 5G” from the list of provided responses.

  • 46% of respondents from Sweden have “no concerns” versus from China (15%) and India (12%).
  • 44% of baby boomers have “no concerns” versus 23% of millennials.
  • Respondents, most notably in China and India, were most concerned that 5G will be “too expensive”; concern about battery drainage was a close second.
Do you have any concerns around 5g

Show Me the Money

Do you think 5G will be positive for the economy? It depends whom you ask — and which gender, generation and country boxes they ticked.

  • While 44% of respondents believe the impact will be positive, 28% “don’t know” (16% think neither positive nor negative, 11% think “negative”).
  • In France, 17% believe 5G will have a negative economic impact.
Do you think 5g will be positive for the economy

Resources

Tech Trend 5G
Tech Trends

5G

Engineers use Ansys simulation solutions to develop 5G technologies from devices to networks to data centers. Learn how simulation can help you solve difficult design problems and build your next generation of devices.

Ansys 5g benefits change the world
Ansys Blog

5G Benefits That Will Change the World

5G benefits like better access to healthcare and faster rollout of autonomous vehicles are revealed in a new survey about consumer perceptions about 5G.

Antenna Arrays 5G Wireless Networks
White Paper

How to Design Base Station (or Microcell) Antenna Arrays for 5G Wireless Networks

This white paper provides a comprehensive workflow in Ansys HFSS to design 5G base station (or microcell) arrays.

See What Ansys Can Do For You

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