What is 5G ?

 

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5G stands for 5th generation, this is the fifth generation of cellular connectivity standards. Previous iterations were 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G. As previous generations did, 5G also enable the connectivity between everyone and everything virtually. Which include machines objects and devices.

5G stands for 5th generation, this is the fifth generation of cellular connectivity standards

5G is a network created using the software. This means that 5G will replace cable-driven networks but not entirely. 5G will operate largely in the cloud and it will surely reduce the need for cable-driven networks. 

How 5G works?

5G is based on millimeter waves. Which includes the frequency range from 20Ghz to 90Ghz. 

Signal towers will deliver the 5G signals since higher frequencies will reduce the range of the signal delivering, there should be more signal distributors comparing to the 4G network. 

Also, 5G signal speeds will be higher to the devices that have a direct line of sight with the signal tower. Small barriers could interrupt the signal availability area, such as walls, trees, and even the rain. To mitigate this problem there should be more signal transmitters everywhere. 

Small barriers could interrupt the signal availability area

How fast is 5G?

Let's compare 5G with older generations, to download a two-hour-long full HD movie on 3G would take about 26 hours. On 4G you can download the movie within 6 minutes and on 5G you will be ready to watch your movie in just over 3.5 seconds.

Not only the internet speed will increase but also the response time will be noticeably low compared to other generations.

That is 400 times faster than the blink of the eye.

The 4G network responds to our commands or request in just under 50 milliseconds.

With 5G it will take around 1 millisecond. That is 400 times faster than the blink of the eye.

Use cases of 5G

Self-driving cars for example require a continuous stream of real-time data. The quicker that information is delivered to autonomous vehicles, the better and safer they can drive.

Under the demonstration of 5G use cases, they exampling with a remote human surgery using real-time data streaming. 

5G could be the base layer of a more advanced network of the internet of things (IoT) which is set to grow three times bigger than current industry value by 2025. 

Linking and controlling not only the robots but also some serious medical devices, mass production industry machinery and agriculture equipment would get a huge advantage over 5G. 

5G network slicing

5G will bring a more personalized internet experience using the technique called network slicing.

This will simply separate the one cloud space into separate wireless networks and it will allow users to create their own networks according to their requirements.

For example, an online game streamer needs quicker data request responses and bigger data capacity comparing to a user that only scroll through social media.

5G will bring a more personalized internet experience 

Also, this customized or personalized internet experiment will give a huge advantage to businesses. 

For example, if your business event requires more fast and bigger data capacity, then you can pay for a bigger cut of a network slice to deliver a better online experience. 

What are the disadvantages of 5G?

Since the 5G signal frequency levels are really high, there is a question regarding the safety ness of using 5G. According to the latest health report publications of FCC, 5G is safe. But those reports could be wrong!

Indoor coverage will be really low in 5G and users will have to install signal amplifiers and it will add up some cost. 

Also, the current 5G compatible device is really expensive and they have some issues like overheating, higher battery drain comparing to older generations. 

When will 5G be available to use?

5G is slowly but surely rolling out in the USA. Verizon is the leading 5G deployer in the USA right now with the speed of 1Gbps! And the USA is on track to get full coverage by the end of 2020. Also, this may be deferred thanks to COVID-19.

There are mobile devices from SAMSUNG, Huawei and etc. that even support 5G. Remember the transition from 3G to 4G? This 5G global rollout will be super slow and analysts predict that in the year 2025; the entire world will have the 5G rollout but not up to the current levels of 4G. 

There are some reasons for this slow rollout in 5G availability and the main one is, of course, the cost since 5G requires a brand new infrastructure to broadcast the frequency.

Also, the implementation of 5G will change the current business model of network operators and it will take some time.

Even the 5G compatible devices are really high in the price nowadays. The price of the equipment and the end-user devices will decrease with the development of slow 5G rollouts. 

We are living in a time that everything revolves around the internet and we access the internet through mobile devices mainly, and the current issues will not attract customers to use 5G. Because of this, all the technology providers will focus on delivering the best user experience to the customers to attract customers to their camp so they can earn more money with better services and this competition of hardware manufactures and internet service providers will eventually solve the most of the problems we are currently facing with 5G.

Eventually, 5G will replace the current way of using the internet and will replace the phone lines and cables. This may not happen overnight but brace yourselves, 5G is coming. Slowly but surely.