5G has come to revolutionize the way we think about internet and video distribution capabilities. We are putting aside all of the controversy surrounding some companies and focusing on the bare basics, providing a comprehensive look at the technology and all its potential.
If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ve probably already stumbled upon the latest regarding 5G in connection to words like “espionage” and “fear”. While there might be some truth behind these reportings, over some shady business revolving around a well-known cell phone manufacturer, one thing must be said: you should not blame the technology. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s get back to the basics.
What is 5G?
Well, the initials stand for the fifth generation, more specifically fifth generation wireless. The latest iteration in cellular technology allows for even faster speeds and responsiveness regarding wireless networks, meaning that, by some accounts, connections could travel at rates as high as 20 Gbps, which largely exceeds wireline network speeds. When it comes to latency, it can go for 1 millisecond (ms) or even lower for uses that require real-time feedback. These numbers compare to 4G as a horse carriage compares to a jet plane, as the former peaked at about 50Mbps with a 10-second latency. But let’s further compare the two generations.
Beyond all this, 5G is able to offer network management features like network slicing, allowing mobile operators to create multiple virtual networks within a single physical 5G network. This feature will make possible for wireless network connections to support specific uses or business cases, as well as being sold on an as-a-service basis.
How does 5G work?
Wireless networks are made of cell sites which, in turn, are divided into sectors that distribute data through radio waves. 5G wireless signals are transmitted through various small cell stations located in infrastructures already set in place, like building roofs or light poles. This comes as a big improvement over 4G, which demands enormous high-power cell towers in order to radiate signals over longer distances, making it a burden upon installation.
The use of multiple small cells in 5G is absolutely mandatory because the millimeter wave spectrum (between 30 GHz and 300 GHz) can only travel over short distances and is especially sensitive to interference from nature’s elements and large physical obstacles, like buildings.
3G and 4G have previously used lower-frequency bands of spectrum. To offset millimeter wave challenges relating to the previously mentioned problems, like distance and interference, the wireless industry is seriously considering the use of lower-frequency spectrum for 5G networks. This way, network operators can use the spectrum they already own to build out their new networks. This is actually a compromised solution because a lower-frequency spectrum reaches greater distances but has lower speed and capacity than millimeter wave.
Where is 5G available at?
The first 5G buildouts are being driven by wireless networks in four major countries: the United States, Japan, South Korea and China. According to Technology Business Research Inc., by 2030, network operators are expected to spend billions of dollars on 5G capital expenses, all of this without having a clear knowledge of how the service can make a proper return on the investment. Fortunately for operators, there have been some use cases and business models taking advantage of the technology, giving them a more precise understanding of where the future may lead them.
While all of this is happening, some were also done on creating universal 5G equipment standards. In December 2017, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) approved 5G New Radio (NR) standards and, as of now, has successfully completed the 5G mobile core standard required for 5G cellular services. The 5G radio system isn’t compatible with 4G radios, but network operators may be able to upgrade to the new 5G system via software with no need for new equipment.
With 5G wireless equipment standards complete and the first 5G-compliant smartphones and associated wireless devices commercially available, 5G use cases will begin to emerge between 2020 and 2025, according to Technology Business Research projections. By 2030, 5G services are expected to become mainstream and will range from the delivery of virtual reality (VR) content to autonomous vehicle navigation enabled by real-time communications (RTC) capabilities.
What kind of services can we expect from 5G?
Basically, you can expect 5G to come in two forms, wireless broadband and cellular.
Fixed wireless broadband services can deliver internet access to any home or business, exactly like your ISP provides to you right now, the difference being that you won’t need any wires connected to the facility. In order to achieve that, operators will need to deploy NRs in small cell sites in nearby infrastructures, this way the signal can be beamed to a receiver on a rooftop or a windowsill that in turn is amplified within the premises. This would significantly reduce costs for operators as they wouldn’t need to roll out fiber-optic lines to every residence. This being the case, operators only need to install fiber optics to cell sites, and customers would then receive broadband services through wireless modems located in their residences or businesses.
5G cellular services are exactly what the name says, they will provide user access to operators’ 5G cellular networks. These services are expected to roll out starting this year, when the first 5G-enabled (or -compliant) devices become available in stores. The cellular service delivery is also dependent upon the completion of mobile core standards by 3GPP.
How will 5G be used?
Autonomous Vehicles will probably see in 5G a driving force (no pun intended) for their rise in the near future. These vehicles will communicate with other vehicles on the road, warn about road conditions for others using the same route, and provide performance information to automakers in order to enhance driver experience. For example, if a car brakes in front of you, your car can learn from that immediately and prevent the accident waiting to happen. This kind of implementation can, ultimately, save lives.
Cities will be able to operate more efficiently. Several companies will be able to track the usage of their products, sensors can help public works departments when there is a risk of flood or of a blackout. This also makes way for the installation of more efficient surveillance cameras, with all the pros and cons it represents.
It will be possible to remotely operate heavy machinery due to the remarkable low latency of the technology. While this can significantly reduce work risks for all the humans involved, it can also allow highly qualified technicians to operate these machines from anywhere in the world.
As mentioned before, low latency offers a world of new possibilities, one of those being fundamental changes to the way healthcare works. Expect to see a lot of improvements regarding telemedicine, remote recovery and even physical therapy through augmented reality, not to mention remote precision surgery.
Needless to say that the Internet of Things will be greatly affected by 5G. While we already have sensors successfully communicating with each other, they usually require a lot of resources and are experts in depleting LTE data capacity. With 5G, the IoT will very likely be powered by communications among sensors and smart devices. These so-called Massive Machine-Type Communications, or mMTC for short, will require fewer resources, since they can connect to a single base station, making them extremely efficient.
Final Thoughts
5G has all the potential to be a game changer when it comes to global connectivity. If territorial governments are willing to provide populations with a true worldwide connection, then 5G can be as revolutionary as the advent of the internet itself, empowering previously untapped territories when it comes to video coverage and opening a floodgate of new businesses coming their way. In already developed territories it will undoubtedly improve video coverage and transmission quality, due to the low latency values, also enhancing the visibility and awareness of solutions like WeCast, tailor-made to provide tools for companies willing to improve their video content visibility.
Furthermore, a better and more trustworthy network will empower the desire for connectivity between home devices, work devices, and even smart city projects. Hence, it will promote the IoT ecosystem and spread its use throughout society. All of this, not mentioning the certain improvement over mobile broadband and general internet connections.
