About 5G
Five-generation wireless networks, or 5G, are the latest and greatest in the field. After 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, this is the next generation of wireless technology. Five-generation wireless connectivity (5G) paves the way for a new type of network meant to link together nearly anything and everyone.
Increased multi-gigabit per second (Gbps) peak data rates, ultra-low latency, more dependability, huge network capacity, greater availability, and a more consistent user experience are all goals of 5G wireless technology. Stronger functionality and enhanced efficiency open the door to novel user experiences and foster collaboration between previously unrelated businesses.
Who came up with the idea for 5G?
5G is not owned by any one corporation or individual, but rather is being developed by a number of players in the mobile ecosystem. Qualcomm is a leading innovator in the various core technologies that underpin the next generation of wireless standards, known as 5G.
To create worldwide standards for 3G UMTS (including HSPA), 4G LTE, and 5G technologies, we play a central role in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
From the air interface to the service layer, 3GPP is pushing numerous crucial innovations in the design of 5G. Mobile network operators and vertical service providers are among the other types of members of the 3GPP 5G in addition to infrastructure vendors and component/device makers.
What fundamental technologies underpin 5G networks?
In order to minimise interference, the fifth generation of mobile networks uses OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing), a technique for modulating a digital signal across several channels. 5G employs both the 5G New Radio (NR) air interface and the OFDM underlying technology. Sub-6 GHz and mmWave are just two examples of the higher bandwidth technologies used by 5G.
Fifth-generation orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (5G OFDM) follows the same mobile networking principles as fourth-generation long-term evolution (4G LTE). The new 5G NR air interface, on the other hand, can greatly improve upon OFDM’s already impressive scalability and adaptability. This has the potential to expand 5G’s reach, allowing more people and devices to take use of the network.
More spectrum will be utilised for 5G, increasing bandwidth from the sub-3 GHz used by 4G to 100 GHz and beyond. Extreme capacity, multi-Gbps throughput, and low latency are all possible with 5G because it can function in lower bands (such as sub-6 GHz) as well as mmWave (such as 24 GHz and up).
In addition to providing mobile broadband services that are faster and more reliable than those of 4G LTE, 5G has the potential to extend into new service areas, such as mission-critical communications and linking the vast Internet of Things. This is made possible by the many innovative approaches to air interface design that are part of 5G NR. One such approach is the development of a self-contained TDD subframe.
What makes 5G mobile networks different from its predecessors?
Mobile network generations 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G have come and gone.
First generation – 1G
The 1G system in the 1980s provided analogue voice.
Second generation – 2G
In the early 1990s, 2G networks brought us digital voice (using technologies like CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access).
Third generation – 3G
Three-G (3G) networks enabled widespread mobile data access in the early 2000s (e.g. CDMA2000).
Fourth generation – 4G LTE
The 2010s marked the beginning of the era of mobile broadband, which was made possible with the advent of 4G LTE networks.
The evolution from 1G to 2G to 3G to 4G is what will ultimately lead to 5G, which will offer unprecedented levels of connection.
When it comes to air interfaces, 5G is a whole new ballgame. It has been built with increased capability in mind to facilitate cutting-edge user experiences, facilitate novel deployment methods, and supply novel services.
5G’s fast speeds, greater dependability, and almost nonexistent latency will open up new frontiers for the mobile industry. Safer mobility, remote healthcare, precision agriculture, digitalized logistics, and much more will all be possible thanks to the widespread adoption of 5G.
In what ways are 5G networks superior to their predecessors, the 4G networks?
A number of factors point to 5G’s superiority over 4G. The advantages of 5G over 4G include: faster speeds, greater capacity, lower latency, a single platform with additional capabilities, and more efficient spectrum utilisation.
5G is a unified platform that is more capable than 4G.
In contrast to 4G LTE’s emphasis on providing mobile broadband services that were significantly faster than 3G, 5G is being developed as a unified, more capable platform that not only improves mobile broadband experiences but also supports new services like mission-critical communications and the massive Internet of Things.
Additionally, 5G can natively support a broad variety of deployment models (from conventional macro-cells to hotspots), as well as novel ways to interconnect, as well as all spectrum kinds (licenced, shared, unlicensed), and bands (low, mid, high) (such as device-to-device and multi-hop mesh).
5G uses spectrum better than 4G.
From low bands below 1 GHz to mid bands between 1 GHz and 6 GHz to high bands known as millimetre wave, 5G is built to maximise the use of all available spectrum (mmWave).
5G is faster than 4G.
In comparison to 4G, 5G has the potential to offer far higher data transfer rates, with peak rates of 20 Gbps and average rates of 100+ Mbps.
5G has more capacity than 4G.
We expect to see a one-hundred-fold improvement in network efficiency and traffic capacity with 5G.
5G has lower latency than 4G.
A 10x reduction in end-to-end latency down to 1ms1 allows 5G to provide more instantaneous, real-time access.
How and when will 5G affect the global economy?
This expansion is being fueled by 5G networks.
For the next 15 years, 5G is expected to generate:
• $13.1 trillion in global economic output
• 22.8 million new employment
• $265 billion in worldwide 5G CAPEX and R&D annually.
An extensive analysis of the 5G economy has shown that the technology’s full economic impact will likely be seen around the world by 2035, benefiting numerous sectors and paving the way for the production of up to $13.1 trillion in new goods and services.
The effect is significantly larger than that of earlier generations of networks. New sectors, such as the automobile industry, will need to contribute to the development of the 5G network in addition to the traditional mobile networking companies.
In addition, the study found that the 5G value chain (including original equipment manufacturers, network carriers, content providers, application developers, and end users) may sustain up to 22.8 million employment globally. As well as the established applications, numerous new ones are still being conceptualised. What the complete “5G influence” on the economy will be, however, is something that can only be determined with the passage of time.
How will 5G affect me?
Faster download speeds, lower latency, and increased capacity and connectivity for billions of devices are just some of the ways in which 5G is expected to improve our lives, notably in the fields of virtual reality (VR), the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) (AI).
5G enables a slew of exciting new possibilities, such as instantaneous access to the cloud, multiplayer cloud gaming, augmented reality purchasing, real-time video translation and collaboration, and much more.
Where is 5G being used?
Increased mobile broadband, essential communications, and the enormous Internet of Things are the three primary use cases for 5G networks. 5G’s distinguishing feature is its capacity to forward-compatibly support future services that are currently hypothetical.
Enhanced mobile broadband
In addition to making our smartphones better, 5G mobile technology can usher in new immersive experiences such as VR and AR with faster, more uniform data rates, lower latency, and lower cost-per-bit.
Mission-critical communications
5G can enable new services that can transform industries with ultra-reliable, available, low-latency links like remote control of critical infrastructure, vehicles, and medical procedures.
Massive IoT
5G is meant to seamlessly connect a massive number of embedded sensors in virtually everything through the ability to scale down in data rates, power, and mobility—providing extremely lean and low-cost connectivity solutions.
Should I get a new phone to get 5G?
A new 5G-compatible smartphone is required for use on the network, so you’ll have to upgrade if you want to take use of it. Smartphones, such those running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 5G Mobile Platforms, are already 5G-ready.
Several new mobile phones are already available with 5G compatibility, and the 5G wireless network is supported by a variety of carriers around the world. It is expected that as the 5G deployment schedule advances, more handsets and carrier subscriptions will be made available to take advantage of the superior speeds and capabilities of 5G networks.