The next generation of wireless technology will soon be upon us, bringing with it the promise of blazing fast cellular data speeds that are 10 times faster than 4G and even 1,000 times faster than the now-commonplace 3G network standard.

But what is 5G, exactly? And when will you be able to use it? This guide to 5G explains everything you need to know about the technology and why you’ll want to get on board before your smartphone becomes obsolete.

What is it?

A fifth-generation wireless network, or 5G network, is a type of mobile broadband that can provide even faster connection speeds than current 4G networks. It’s expected to be at least 100 times faster than today’s cellular systems and 10 times faster than most broadband connections.

5G technology will work on an extremely high frequency (about 100 times greater than today’s 4G), making it capable of delivering much faster speeds-upwards of 1 Gbps (1 gigabit per second)-for far less latency. It’ll also utilize low-bandwidth for short distances (think Bluetooth) as well as mid-bandwidth for medium distances (think Wi-Fi).

Versus 4G

Before we jump into all things 5G, let’s talk about 4G. Cellular networks have been transitioning from one generation to another since 1991, when AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) was introduced. 3G hit in 2001 and added data transfer rates of up to 144Kbps, a big step up from its 2G predecessor.

4G took a page out of Wi-Fi’s playbook and delivered data speeds up to 300Mbps in 2011. Today, with LTE-A standards on board, carriers like AT&T and Verizon are now offering gigabit speeds via their 4G networks, and soon to be 5G networks.