What is 5G? Let’s Understand it Better

Simply put, 5G is a global wireless standard that is set to connect everything and everyone virtually.

The Fifth generation Wireless or 5G is engineered to increase the responsiveness and speed of the wireless network. Unlike the earlier 4G technology which had a peak speed of 1 Gbps the latest 5G technology promises a whooping 20 Gbps peak speed. This will ensure lower latency to improvise performance of business applications, video conferencing, online gaming as well as self-driving cars. Replacing the earlier 4G network technology,5Giscompetent to manage the rise in demand for bandwidth.

The virtually software-driven 5G network offers seamless cloud-to-client connectivity which helps in exploiting cloud technologies. The seamless wireless connections from one to another without any user intervention and authentication requirement has made people stay connected better.

Difference between 4G and 5G network

If you have bought the latest version of your premium handset, chances are you have inbuilt 5G wireless connectivity. This lightning fast 5G network is still in its early phase yet the smooth connectivity even with immense network congestions is marvelous. With the surge of wireless technology inbuilt in our everyday household devices like fridge, security, cars, radiators and lighting, the 5G network connectivity ensures that these smart products are connected to your smartphone effortlessly.

How does 5G wireless network work?

The 5G wireless technology is able enough to cover large spectrums. With the help of new antennas that are imbibed with multiple receivers and transmitters the 5G tech can transfer much more data in one go.

The 5G air interface is designed in order to support a heterogenous converged network combining unlicensed and licensed wireless technologies. This again helps with the available bandwidth for the users.

Basically, 5G architectures are software using platforms, wherein the networking functionality gets achieved with the help of software and not the hardware.

The 5G wireless makes its supporting devices much flexible and agile and providethe users with anywhere and anytime access.

This technology also enhances digital experience of its users with advancement in virtualization along with cloud-based tech.

The response time is thus reduced to fraction of seconds which is a huge requirement for self-driving cars.

How fast is 5G network in comparison to 4G

Presently the 5G wireless network provides a downloading speed from 1000 Mbps to 2.1 Gbps. Since it is just the beginning, hence when you are standing near an unobstructed 5G node, the speed of downloading an application or any Netflix show will only take a few seconds.

Modern day 5G allows us with lower latency and higher capacity. If you pair up the 5G network with mmWave it provides much more capacity and much lower latency.

However, the lowband speed might be slower than the mmWave, nonetheless it is still much faster than 4G. The rural locations can experience low band 5G downloading speed of 30 Mbps to 250 Mbps, whilst the metro city locations will experience Mid band 5G wireless speed of 100 Mbps to 900 Mbps.

Let’s Look at the Benefits of 5G Wireless Network

The 5G wireless network is not that widespread and is limited to specific locations, still more this technology is explored quicker it will reach the masses.

Another issue that is seen with 5G is the cybersecurity risk. Due to the lack of data encryption cyberattacks become easy.

Leaving alone the above points 5G wireless air space has quite a lot of benefits.

• Low latency approx. 5 ms
• Uses higher frequencies
• Higher bandwidth
• There is a potential of having 5G network made of low-band, mid-band and mmWave frequency.
• High data rates will enable novice technology options like 4K streamingor streaming virtual reality

Uses of 5G Network

5G network uses can range from casual consumer usage to enterprise or business applications.

Let’s enlists some of the common usages of 5G wireless network technology.

• Communication in between devices in an IoT environment leads to the creation of smart homes, connected vehicles and smart cities.
• To stream high quality videos: the enhanced broadband supports advanced mobile apps like online gaming, ultra hi-definition video streaming.
• Fixed wireless service
• To track accurate location
• Industrial automation: 5G offers high bandwidth communication for apps suited for industrial sectors like remote control and monitoring of equipment.
• Better real-time analytics: with high quality video conferencing, remote surgery and virtual medical consultations have become possible.
• Low latency communication: certain applications require low latency like remote entertainment and training.

In addition to the aforementioned uses, 5G network also provides management feature like network slicing.

Network slicing is a process in which a mobile operator can create number of virtual networks from a single 5G network.

What Kind of 5G Wireless Services are Available?

Mainly two kinds of 5G services are made available by the network operators:

• 5G Fixed Wireless Broadband:

Broadband services for home and offices are comparatively less expensive for the operators as they eliminate the need of fibre optics rolled out to the sites, instead operators now only install the fibre optics to the cell site and the consumer receives the wireless broadband service through their wireless modems.

• 5G Cellular Services:

The first 5G cellular device that became commercially available was in the year 2019. The main thing that is required to enable the 5G wireless network technology in any mobile phone is core standard by 3GPP.

It is 5G and not 5GE

The name 5GE is just an upgrade or rather rebranding of the 4G LTE network. Though many argue that the network speed for 5G and 5GE is close enough, but that’s not the case.

Importantly, a device must support a 5G network in order to utilize the 5G wireless technology and be in range of the 5G node.

 Lastly, every technology in its initial phase is limited to specific locations. However, slowly its grows and advances to be available to a larger number of people. In case of any technology, as it reaches a large set of consumers, more seamless it becomes.