What You Need to Know About 5G

5G networks are the next generation of mobile internet connectivity, offering faster speeds and more reliable connections on smartphones and other devices than ever before.

Combining cutting-edge network technology and the latest high-spec'd devices, 5G should offer connections that are multitudes faster than previous mobile technology, with average download speeds of around 1Gbps expected to be the norm across many (if not most) next-gen network.

Superfast fifth generation, or 5G, mobile internet services are already on offer. You can't get it everywhere yet and handset choices remains limited. But that will change in the coming months, so what difference will 5G make to our lives?

5G is much better at handling thousands of devices simultaneously, from mobiles to equipment sensors, video cameras to smart street lights.

5G is the next or fifth generation of wireless technology that promises much faster speeds. It is also expected to give wider coverage and stable connections. The expected speeds are approximately 10 to 20 times faster than the internet speeds that we have now. Whatever the impact, 5G will be recognized as one of the fastest and most solid technologies that the world has ever witnessed.

5G can be significantly faster than 4G, delivering up to 20 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) peak data rates and 100+ Megabits-per-second (Mbps) average data rates. 5G has more capacity than 4G. 5G is designed to support a 100x increase in traffic capacity and network efficiency. 5G has lower latency than 4G.

It is different from 4G in the aspect that it is a brand-new radio technology. Initially, it may not be that fast as 5G is likely to be used by network providers to enhance the capacity on existing 4G. Again, the speed will depend on the spectrum brand in which your provider runs the 5G technology and how much your carrier has invested in new masts and transmitters.

The need for 5G arises predominantly because the world is more inclined towards mobile and data consumption is increasing day on day. It is expected to multiply by 5 times by the end of 2024.

Since the popularity of music and video streaming has also increased, the existing network is getting congested leading to interruptions in service especially when more people in the same area are trying to access the internet through online mobile services at the same time.

Apart from this, the existing congestion can lead to a breakdown in services in the field of automobiles and healthcare where the influence of automation is very high. 5G is expected to give much better results in such scenarios by handling thousands of devices at the same time.

Also, 5G is going to be instrumental for many industries like retail, automotive, manufacturing logistics etc. It will also speed up technological advancements that will enable connected cars and autonomous driving, connected logistics, transport and infrastructure.

It is believed that many countries are likely to launch 5G services by 2020. With the launching of 5G, users will eventually need a 5G compatible phone which should be able to switch between 4G and 5G.

An important question is whether 5G will address the issue of lack of signal and data speeds in rural areas. 5G won’t necessarily address this issue at least in the beginning as it will operate on high-frequency bands that have higher capacity but cover only short distances.

It is estimated that by 2035, 5G will empower $12.3 trillion of global economic output and support 12 million jobs across the world. Most of the growth will arise from segments like transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and other physical industries.

The previous generations of mobile networks are 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G:

• First generation - 1G 1980s: 1G delivered analog voice.

• Second generation - 2G. Early 1990s: 2G introduced digital voice (e.g. CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access).

• Third generation - 3G. Early 2000s: 3G brought mobile data.

• Fourth generation - 4G. 2010s ushered in the era of mobile broadband.

Before organisations jump into 5G they must understand the differences between 4G and 5G network architectures and determine how both architectures affect their business operations.

Organisations that want to evaluate differences between 4G and 5G for their network architecture should take a step back and look at what 4G promised, what 4G actually delivers and what that could mean for 5G's reality.

Qualcomm:      BBC:       TechRadar:    Techtarget:        AsianBroadaband: 

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