5G Technology | Boon or Curse | How will it shape the world in this decade?

In telecommunications, 5G is the fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies started deploying worldwide in 2019. It is also the planned successor to the 4G networks, which provides connectivity to most current cellphone users. It is designed to reduce latency, increase speed, and improve the flexibility of wireless services. 5G technology has a theoretical peak speed of 20 Gbps, while the peak speed of 4G is only 1 Gbps.

What are the differences between the previous generations of mobile networks and 5G?

Speed

Network speed is one area where the difference between 5G and previous generations is most noticeable. The notable difference in speeds results from using a whole new range of frequencies like mmWave and high-band spectrum in 5G. The super-high-speed airwave allows devices to transmit much larger volumes of data at faster rates on 5G networks. With 5G speeds superseding 4G by up to 100 times, the files that would take 10 – 20 minutes to download on the 4G network can be downloaded in just a few seconds on 5G.

Capacity

One of the main reasons why the 5G transition has trundled on despite concerns about the health risks and immaturity of the technology is that we’re fast running out of capacity on the previous generations. The capabilities of 4G and 3G technologies have been overstretched in major cities across the globe. In some places with congested networks, data speeds have plummeted to the extent that people wonder if what they’re using is actually 4G and not 2G or 3G.

Latency

Besides its remarkably faster speeds and wider capacity, 5G also outruns the previous generations in terms of latency. Latency determines the rate at which we download and upload data on a network.

At best, current network generations can work with a latency of about 50ms. But with 5G, latency is nearly phantasmal. 5G can operate with latency as low as 1ms, 50 times lower than that of the previous generations.

With a clear understanding of how differently each network works, we’re less likely to be disoriented when we find ourselves switching from 5G to 4G or 3G.

How is 5G better than 4G?

We’ve all heard that the sales pitch for 5G is faster, better as well as more efficient. But do you know what makes 5G better than 4G?

When it comes down to the operating frequency in which the two generations, 4G and 5G, operate, 5G operates at frequencies as high as 28-39 GHz, which is way higher than its predecessor, 4G, operating at 700 MHz to 2.5 GHz to transmit information.

The shift to 5G is similar to the shift from the horse cart to cars. 5G will provide a platform for other technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and will be the future of the digital economy, enabling economies to generate trillions of pounds of value.

How fast is 5G?

5G assures significantly reducing the latency issues, which means faster load time and improved responsiveness while doing anything on the internet. Specifically, the specification promises a maximum latency of 4ms on 5G technology versus 20ms on 4G LTE that is still being used today.

5G beats the current home cable internet connections at these speeds, and it is more comparable to fiber. Some landline internet companies like Cox, Comcast, and others may face serious competition - especially when they’re the only option for speedy home internet in a particular area. Wireless carriers can provide an alternative without even laying down physical wires to every home.

How does it work?

5G works on the principle of OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing). In this method, we modulate a digital signal across several channels to reduce interference. In addition to OFDM, 5G uses 5G NR (new radio) radio access technology, making 5G special. 5G NR air interface enhances OFDM to provide much higher flexibility and scalability. 5G will operate in mmWave (24GHz) as well as lower bands (6GHz). It will be faster and expand the service areas by connecting with IoT (internet of things), all thanks to new 5G NR air interface design techniques.

Where is it used?

5G is broadly used in three primary services: mobile broadband, mission-critical communications, and the massive IoT. Moreover, it is designed so that it can support future services that are not even known today.

In the past decade, we have seen explosive growth in mobile app industries with services like video streaming, cab rides, food delivery, and the list goes on. 5G will expand the mobile ecosystem to new heights, with cutting-edge user experiences such as IoT, instant cloud access, and extreme reality (XR).

How will it affect the economy?

5G is going to affect the global economy tremendously. With the creation of over 13 trillion dollars of economic output and 22 million dollars new jobs, 5G will be in full action by 2035. This impact will be much more significant than the impact ever achieved by previous generations. Numerous jobs will be created with the value chain of OEMs, operators, content creators, app developers, and consumers. With many more emerging applications yet to be defined, the impact on the economy can be much greater than what is expected today!

How will it affect you?

5G will transform our lives in many ways by giving us faster downloads, lower latency, and higher connectivity with billions of more devices, including IoT, artificial intelligence, and all that futuristic stuff. With 5G, we can instantly access cloud services like multiplayer cloud gaming, augmented reality, shopping, and real-time video collaboration and translation. 5G will be fascinating, and I just can’t wait to see the impact it has on me and you. I hope you feel the same. Broadcast distance and building penetration also need to be mentioned when it comes to 5G. This means that walls, buildings, trees, and obstacles can get in the way, absorbing, disrupting, or blocking the high-frequency signal. Battery drain is another concern regarding the introduction of 5G. Phones that are running on 5G are going to experience a considerable amount of battery drain. 5G is going to demand improvements in terms of battery technology. Plus, users have also been reporting that their smartphones are almost hot to touch while 5G is running. This surely cannot be a good thing when it comes to the lifespan of these products!

Credit : Statista Inc.

Bottom Line

There is no denying that 5G may bring several benefits to communities worldwide. It will deliver better performance and enable mobile technology to achieve more. However, we need to ask ourselves, at what price? As 5G utilizes higher frequency waves, there is a cause for concern, and it is very much justified. From 5G radiation sickness to 5G radiation poisoning, there are many reasons why we must learn how to protect against 5G radiation.