The emergence of 5G is considered a breakthrough, equal to the genius of Thomas Edison, and promises to create new markets and a new revenue stream for equipment manufacturers. In addition to replacing the saturated 4G market, this new technology will provide higher bandwidth for network-based applications and replace commoditized carriage of other companies’ data. The hype around this new technology has heightened political stakes, but without decisive leadership, it’s easy to see why it’s not achieving its full potential.
The main concern with 5G is that it could increase network capacity, while reducing overall network costs. Moreover, it will increase video traffic, unless it can be monetized via advertising. While 5G promises to reduce this problem, its deployment will be costly. The cost of antenna arrays will be higher than the cost of phones. While this will be a huge challenge, a lot of devices will be equipped with millimeter wave antennas, which will reduce costs.
A key feature of this technology is its ability to allow the simultaneous transmission of multiple high-quality streams. The network will be able to quickly switch between cameras and enable multi-camera experiences. For example, Verizon has demonstrated the use of a multi-camera setup at a football game, where a viewer can simultaneously watch seven different camera views simultaneously. Bell, on the other hand, has placed dozens of cameras around a hockey arena to provide a smooth 360-degree view of the action.
The technology uses adaptive modulation and coding schemes. As the error rate of a signal reaches a threshold, the transmitter switches to a lower MCS. The latter is more error-prone. Its range is dependent on the frequency used. The low-band signal has a range of only a few hundred meters, while mmWave signals have a range of several kilometers. Drive tests and simulators are used to assess its capabilities.
Unlike other mobile technologies, 5G uses a service-based architecture to support its core functions. This architecture allows for greater scalability, reliability, and ease-of-automation. While the speed of 5G is still too slow to be useful in all situations, it’s already a huge breakthrough for the mobile industry. It’s a game changer. This technology will revolutionize the way we communicate.
The new technology is expected to improve connectivity in cities and rural areas. The demand for this new technology will be higher than the capacity of 4G, which is why it’s important to have a fast connection in the first place. Besides, 5G will allow you to use the entire spectrum, which means that you can stream movies and TV shows in high-quality. Ultimately, this is a huge boon for consumers.
