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Does 5G Use More Data?

Data allowance is the most important part of a SIM-only contract these days, so of course no one wants to run short of data in the middle of the month. The 5th generation service offers the fastest-ever browsing, scrolling, sharing and streaming, but is it also consuming more data than ever?

young woman using her mobile outside

Does 5G use more Data than 4G?

No, 5G doesn't use more data than 4G when using the internet. To help understand why this is, imagine you're driving 20 miles to a destination but can either travel at 40mph (4G) or 50mph (5G), the amount of driving (data) doesn't change but the time taken to travel to your destination can depending on your speed.

man using his mobile while drinking coffee

5G can lead to Increased Data Consumption, here's why

The Temptation of Speed: With lightning-fast downloads and buffer-free streaming, 5G makes it tempting to indulge in data-heavy activities like watching high-resolution videos, playing online games with richer graphics, or downloading large files. These actions naturally consume more data compared to their lower-quality counterparts on slower connections like 4G and the retiring 3G service.

Auto-downloads on Autopilot: Many apps automatically update content or download new features in the background. While convenient, this can eat into your data allowance, especially on a super-fast 5G connection.

Our Internet Usage is Increasing

Data consumption is on the rise each year. In 2022, the average person consumed 5.6 GB of data per month, a whopping 143.5% increase from the year before. What's driving this surge? Look no further than the arrival of 5G. Faster speeds have fueled a boom in video streaming while on the go, leading to a 22% jump in data usage just six months after 5G launched.

Leaving us to assume that in 2023, data consumption only continued to rise as we take advantage of the fastest-ever service, 5G.

two friends using a mobile together

How to stay in control of 5G data usage

Managing Your Apps: Some apps might be silently draining your data allowance by automatically refreshing content or downloading updates in the background. Take charge! Head over to your app settings and disable background app refresh or auto-downloads, especially when you're not connected to Wi-Fi.

Video Quality Matters: Many streaming services offer a range of video quality options, from standard definition to high-definition (HD) and even ultra-high definition (UHD). Selecting a lower resolution setting like SD can significantly reduce your data consumption while you're on the go.

Your Co-op Mobile offers a variety of data plans to suit your needs. If you find yourself using more data with 5G, you can easily adjust your plan or add extra data as needed. Our friendly customer service representatives are always happy to help you find the perfect data plan that fits your mobile lifestyle.

Why Upgrade to a 5G SIM?

Stronger connection:

Signals are stable no matter how fast you move and keep you connected without drops or interruptions to your mobile usage.

Speed:

Up to 20 times faster at downloads and uploads than 4G data.

Greater Capacity:

More devices can be supported simultaneously using 5G.

Lower Latency:

Minimal moments of delay.

How much 5G data do I need each month?

Most modern smartphone users tend to use a lot more mobile data than the average figure. To ensure you don't run out of streaming, sharing and scrolling potential, a data allowance of 25-30GB should provide enough 5G.

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