As populations grow in cities, we can expect more traffic. 5G-focused companies say their new technologies could make commutes smarter and faster, from real-time rerouting to avoiding crashes.

Why it matters: American drivers spend nearly 300 hours behind the wheel each year. While some transportation experts are skeptical, others say that with the rise of autonomous vehicles and new connected-car systems, 5G could potentially transform transportation, saving time, gas and money.