5G is the next generation of mobile technology. It works in the same way as existing mobile network technology, but gives you a faster and more reliable connection, even when you’re in the busiest places.
Emerging 5G networks feature lower latency, higher capacity, and increased bandwidth compared to 4G. These network improvements will have far-reaching impacts on how people live, work, and play all over the world.
How does it work?
With 5G, signals run over new radio frequencies, which requires updating radios and other equipment on cell towers. There are three different methods for building a 5G network, depending on the type of assets a wireless carrier has: low-band network (wide coverage area but only about 20% faster than 4G), high-band network (superfast speeds but signals don’t travel well and struggle to move through hard surfaces) and mid-band network (balances speed and coverage).
Carriers building superfast 5G networks must install tons of small cell sites — about the size of pizza boxes — to light poles, walls or towers, often in relatively small proximity to one another. For that reason, superfast networks are mostly being deployed city by city. Eventually, most US carriers will have a mix of the different network types that will enable both broad coverage and fast speeds
KEY BENEFITS WITH 5G:
- Peak 5G speeds are expected to be up to 100x faster [see footnote 1] than the speed of 4G LTE networks.
- Reduced latency will support new applications that leverage the power of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence.
- Increased capacity on 5G networks can minimize the impact of load spikes, like those that take place during sporting events and news events.
What are the benefits of 5G?
5G is much faster than 4G, which is the technology most of our smartphones use. Faster speeds mean you can download movies and box sets in seconds rather than minutes, and stream live sports on-the-go.
You get a more reliable connection with 5G, particularly in crowded places like train stations and stadiums. This means you can share photos and videos, and make video calls.
With 5G you’ll also get an almost instant connection, making everyday tasks feel super-fast. Web pages will load much more quickly, and you can play games and stream videos without lag.
Read More: How Does 5G Network Differ From 4G?
Lower latency
Latency is the time that elapses since we give an order on our device until the action occurs. In 5G the latency will be ten times less than in 4G, being able to perform remote actions in real time.
Thanks to this low latency and the increase of the sensors, it is possible to control the machinery of an industrial plant, control logistics or remote transport, surgical operations in which the doctor can intervene a patient who is at another side of the world with the help of precision instrumentation managed remotely or the complete control of remote transport systems, automated and without driver
Greater number of connected devices
With 5G the number of devices that can be connected to the network increases greatly, it will go to millionaire scale per square kilometer.
All connected devices will have access to instant connections to the internet, which in real time will exchange information with each other. This will favor the IOT.
It is anticipated that a common home will have a hundred connected devices sending and receiving information in real time. If we think of industrial plants we would speak of thousands of connected devices.
This greater number of connected devices will allow the smart cities and the autonomous car.
For example, by placing sensors in different points and objects in the city, a large part of it can be monitored. If you share the information of the sensors of the cars and those of the city, and these exchange data you can improve the quality of life of the cities, facilitate the navigation of the autonomous car (choose better routes, reduce the number of accidents, find available parking spaces, etc.)
Network slicing
The 5G also allows to implement virtual networks (network slicing), create subnets, in order to provide connectivity more adjusted to specific needs.
The creation of subnetworks will give specific characteristics to a part of the network, being a programmable network and will allow to prioritize connections, as could be the emergencies in front of other users, applying, for example, different latencies or prioritizing them in the connection to the network so that they can’t be affected by possible overloads of the mobile network.