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5G is on the floor right now. Do you have access to 5G networking? If yes, how does it feel?
Well, the word “5G” has been in the air for a while now. Still, there is very little knowledge of this 5G technology. Everyone knows that 5G speeds up mobile networking, but what else does it do?
5G is a next-gen technology and is much more than mobile networking. This article will discuss 5G and what it is. How will it affect the industry? Why is it important? And how does it matter?
This is the right page to get detailed knowledge about 5G.
Let’s get straight into it.
5G- The Know How
5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks. It is a new wireless network after its ancestors (1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G). As a result, it is now also known as “the network of networks.”
These are wireless communication systems, so they use radio frequencies to transfer information through the air. Now, 5G is also the same, but it uses higher radio frequencies (called- millimetre waves”) to make networking less cluttered. This way, it can transfer more information at a faster rate. They are mostly far from the hands of the public, as the equipment required to use them is largely inaccessible and expensive.
Now, since 5G uses higher bands, there can be issues in sending information over a large distance, because they are easily blocked by objects like trees, poles, and higher buildings. To overcome this issue, 5G use of multiple input and output antennae to improve signals and its capacity around the wireless network.
The new thing is that 5G technology uses small transmitters. These transmitters are placed on buildings and streets and don’t use the giant stand-alone pole.
The Journey of 5G: Evolution of Network
I know, you might have got a lot of questions about 5G, and might be a few about its ancestors.
So, let me just walk you through the entire G’s timeline. Let’s know about them in a parade like manner.
1G- Analog Technology
1G was the very first on the path of publicly and commercially available mobile telephony. It was an analog technology, similar to a walkie-talkie or a normal radio. It differed from a walkie-talkie in that it was surrounded by infrastructure. Instead of a single point-to-point connection, the signals were managed at a base station, also known as a cell tower. These base stations communicate with each other through telephony exchanges. As a result, you and your friend who has a mobile phone, do not need to be near the same base station. You can be in different parts of the country. Ok but different part of the country means in the country you live, not around the world. 1G mobile telephony was first offered to the general public around the year 1980.
2G- Digital Technology
2G was introduced in 1990 and it was a transition from analog to digital. With 2G the audio quality was improved because digital error correction of the bits became possible. Now the world started to get little more advanced. Even thinking of it today seems like it was a big break-through at that time. But this technology was not enough for those who travels.
3G- Wireless Capability
3G came into the market around 2000 and that was the era of two major 3G technologies- cdma2000 and UMTS. 3G inherited two systems from 2G i.e, voice switches and data routers, and added a super-fast radio access network, allowing users speed reaching to several megabits. The idea was to have all telephony be VoIP. by now, we had mobile phones with IP access to the network and nodes that can handle voice call over IP.
4G- Phones Became Computer
The next member in the path parade was 4G. Yes, the 4G that you all use. The 4G came with all the LTE technologies. The LTE changed the radio and core networks and only supported IP-based services. 4G provided higher bit rates with some new cool services. One such was the advancement of mobile VoIP called VoLTE (Voice over LTE).
5G- Unparalleled Latency
The Internation Telecommunication Union did not stoped. They announced a few years back IMT-2020 signals, that is the next generation of mobile communication, the 5G.
Well, this is it for the networking parade, it’s a journey of 40 years- from 1980 to now (still hasn’t stopped).
The Inventors Behind 5G
The very first nation to adopt 5G on a large scale was South Korea (I can see all the K-pop ad K-drama fans smiling.) In South Korea all the 5G carriers used Samsung, Nokia, and Ericsson base station along with the one using Huawei equipment. Samsung obviously was the largest of these suppliers.
At present, there are nine companies selling 5G hardware and systems to carriers: Altiostar, Cisco, Ericsson, Huawei, DatangTelecom, Nokia, Samsung, Qualcomm, and ZTE.
Benefits of 5G over 4G
Ok, so what’s all this craze about 5G? Why is 5G so special?
The most obvious benefit of 5G over 4G is its speed. The speed of the network is the most evident part here.
Speed is the USP of 5G. Some even claim that its peak speed can exceed 10 Gbps. The initial speed is set to be lower, which is still 100–150 Mbps faster than 4G speeds. If 5G achieves the expected data speed of 10 Gbps, it will be 100 times faster than the usual 4G.
Other than that, it comes with reduced bandwidth, which also means quick response time and fast download speed. Latency is defined as the time elapsed between the command and the response.
FYI, 3G has a 65-millisecond latency, 4G has a 45-millisecond latency, and 5G operates with a minimum latency of 1 millisecond.
Now only these benefits have the caliber to open the door to several potential applications across the industry because of improved operational efficiency.
5G applications include superfast broadband with no need for landlines. Because of this technology, there will be more access to higher frequencies, which means this network will be able to manage high-demand applications.
Are we Ready To Accept 5G?
The 5G services have already started in various parts of the country, like the US and South Korea, but are only available with limited coverage right now. In the US, 5G is still in its early stages; however, it is set to continue in more places.
So at the moment, the world is not fully ready, but steps are being taken to spread this technology.
How 5G Will Change Digital Economy?
5G has the potential to revolutionize a broad range of products, services, and industries. Since the technology offers an increase in performance for mobile technology, there are still a number of other applications that it can impact.
A fixed wireless access will be the first thing, as it allows online connectivity, eliminating the need for a landline, and so you will get more access to hard-to-reach areas.
It will also come with some remote applications. The trials were conducted in collaboration with the NHS to remotely examine significant changes in a patient’s health.
5G is also getting trial with artificial intelligence and the holographic technologies, and is also being trialled as the worlds first 5G television.
Other ground-breaking changes that this technology will offer are the creation of super-smart factories to offer improved safety, more advanced manufacturing systems, and much more.
5G Shaping Future Technology!
As mentioned, the first and most obvious advantage is the faster speed. This means you can download a movie in a matter of seconds or stream a 4K film without any buffering.
This will also result in improvements in virtual and augmented reality applications. 5G will also enable the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) with devices like refrigerators, vehicles, lights, and more. IoT is already established in the market, and by shaking hands with 5G, almost every device can be connected and “smart.”
However, with the advancement of this technology, there will be scope for the establishment of an entirely new market, including autonomous vehicles.
Now it’s Your Turn!
What do you think about 5G?
Have you accessed 5G yet, or are you still waiting for a complete rollout of the network to start with it?
Along with consumer benefits, 5G also has benefits for businesses. With the improved network, remote working will become feasible, making work more productive. With 5G, organizations will have brand new opportunities for products and industries that weren’t possible with 4G.
Extern Labs uses new and advanced technologies to provide IoT and IIoT solutions for businesses of all types. Reach out to us, if you want to learn more about 5G.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Meanwhile, enjoy browsing!
