All you need to know about 5G

WHAT IS 5G? 

5G is the short for fifth generation, a mobile broadband technology that is in the early stages of works and likely to be in place six to seven years from now. A 5G network will be able to handle 10,000 times more call and data traffic than the current 3G or 4G network.

Data download speeds on 5G networks are likely to be several hundred times more than 4G.

WHAT WOULD A TYPICAL 5G EXPERIENCE BE LIKE?

You could download a three-hour high-definition movie on a mobile device in one second. It takes several minutes on a 3G or 4G network and several hours on 2G.

Live gaming and real-time video streaming will be possible without any lags as data transmission happens literally in the blink of an eye. Those annoying video buffering during streaming sessions would disappear.

WILL 5G WORK ON THE SAME SPECTRUM BANDS THAT 3G AND 4G RUN ON?

Researchers have yet to finalise the spectrum band for 5G. But indications are that 5G networks will run on ultra-high spectrum bands like 15 GHz, 27 GHz or even 70 GHz.

These bands offer far broader bandwidth than the lower 700 MHz, 800 MHz or 1800 MHz frequencies used for 4G, and hence can carry a lot more data at super speeds.

Spectrum, in this case, may be likened to a highway of airwaves on while telecom signals travel. Broader the highway, higher the amount and speed of data that can travel on it. The result: a richer mobile Internet experience.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF 5G?

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute  is formulating 5G global technology standards, which are likely to be formalized by 2019.

Telecom companies such as Nokia , Ericsson , Alcatel-Lucent  , NTT DoCoMo, NEC, Samsung , Huawei and Fujitsu  are driving bulk of the 5G-related innovations.

WHEN WILL PEOPLE BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE 5G?

5G networks are likely to be rolled out commercially between 2020 and 2025. If the global standards are finalised by 2019, the earliest commercial deployments could happen by 2020.

Japan's NTT DoCoMo  is targeting a 5G commercial launch by 2020 and will start indoor trials at its R&D centre in Yokosuka this year. French-American telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent is looking at a commercial rollout by 2025.

WILL 3G AND 4G HANDSETS RUN ON 5G NETWORKS?

No. 5G will require new chipsets and devices capable of supporting speeds upwards of 10 gigabits per second. 4G and 3G run at a fraction of that speed.

Manufacturing of 5G-ready gear is expected to start only after the standards are finalised. Researchers foresee the emergence of integrated, futuristic devices that will combine the functions of a TV, tablet, smartphone, computer and a game console. This is since 5G will be a combination of different technologies and will also embrace learnings from 3G and 4G.

ARE THERE ANY INHERENT WEAKNESSES IN 5G?

Since 5G services are likely to run on ultra-high spectrum bands, which travel shorter distances compared with lower bands, they may be more suited to enhanced indoor coverage.

Higher frequencies could be blocked by buildings and they lose intensity over longer distances. That means, offering wider coverage would be a challenge.

5G (Fifth Generation)

Fifth Generation Wireless Communication (5G)

5G (5th generation mobile networks or 5th generation wireless systems) is a name used in some research papers and projects to denote the next major phase of mobile telecommunications standards beyond the upcoming 4G standards (expected to be finalized between approximately 2011 and 2013). Currently, 5G is not a term officially used for any particular specification or in any official document yet made public by telecommunication companies or standardization bodies such as 3GPP, WiMAX Forum or ITU-R. New 3GPP standard releases beyond 4G and LTE Advanced are in progress, but not considered as new mobile generations. The implementation of standards under a 5G umbrella would likely be around the year of 2020.

Keys :

• 5G is a completed wireless communication with almost no limitation; somehow people called it REAL wireless world.
• Additional features such as Multi-Media Newspapers, also to watch T.V programs with the clarity as to that of an HD T.V.
• 5G will bring almost perfect real world wireless or called ―WWWW: World Wide Wireless Web. 
• Real wireless world with no more limitation with access and zone issues.
• Wearable devices with AI capabilities.
• Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6), where a visiting care-of mobile IP address is assigned according to location and connected network..
• One unified global standard.
• High altitude stratospheric platform station (HAPS) systems.

4G (Fourth Generation)

Fourth Generation Wireless Communication (4G)

4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. The bandwidth and location information available to 3G devices gives rise to applications not previously available to mobile phone users.

Figure representing 4G mobile phone

Some of the applications are:

• Mobile TV – a provider redirects a TV channel directly to the subscriber's phone where it can be watched.
• Video on demand – a provider sends a movie to the subscriber's phone.
• Video conferencing – subscribers can see as well as talk to each other.
• Tele-medicine – a medical provider monitors or provides advice to the potentially isolated subscriber.
• Location-based services – a provider sends localized weather or traffic conditions to the phone, or the phone allows the subscriber to find nearby businesses or friends
• mobile ultra-broadband (gigabit speed) access and multi-carrier transmission.
• Mobile WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

Keys:

• 4G is a conceptual framework and a discussion point to address future needs of a high speed wireless network.
• It offer both cellular and broadband multimedia services everywhere.
• Expected to emerged around 2010 – 2015.
• 4G should be able to provided very smooth global roaming ubiquitously with lower cost.

3G (Third Generation)

Third Generation Wireless Communication (3G)

International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT--2000), better known as 3G or 3rd Generation, is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunications services fulfilling specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. The use of 3G technology is also able to transmit packet switch data efficiently at better and increased bandwidth. 3G mobile technologies proffers more advanced services to mobile users. Transmission speeds from 125kbps to 2Mbps.

In 2005, 3G is ready to live up to its performance in computer networking (WCDMA, WLAN and Bluetooth) and mobile devices area (cell phone and GPS).

Figure representing 3G mobile

Keys

• Data are sent through technology called packet switching.
• Voice calls are interpreted using circuit switching 
• Access to Global Roaming 
• Clarity in voice calls 
• Fast Communication, Internet, Mobile T.V, Video Conferencing, Video Calls, Multi Media Messaging Service (MMS), 3D gaming, Multi-Gaming etc are also available with 3G phones

2.75G / EDGE (Second Generation)

Second Generation Wireless Communication (2.75G/EDGE)

GPRS networks evolved to EDGE networks with the introduction of 8PSK encoding. Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution, Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), or IMT Single Carrier (IMT-SC) is a backward-compatible digital mobile phone technology that allows improved data transmission rates, as an extension on top of standard GSM. EDGE was deployed on GSM networks beginning in 2003—initially by Cingular (now AT&T) in the United States.

EDGE is standardized by 3GPP as part of the GSM family, and it is an upgrade that provides a potential three-fold increase in capacity of GSM/GPRS networks. The specification achieves higher data-rates (up to 236.8 Kbit/s) by switching to more sophisticated methods of coding (8PSK), within existing GSM timeslots.

Keys:

• In between 2G and 3G there is another generation called 2.75G.
• 2.75G represents handsets with data capabilities over GPRS.
• But this had not brought out any new revolution.

2.5G (Second Generation)

Second Generation Wireless Communication (2.5G)

2.5G is a stepping stone between 2G and 3G cellular wireless technologies. The term "second and a half generation" is used to describe 2G-systems that have implemented a packet switched domain in addition to the circuit switched domain. It does not necessarily provide faster services because bundling of timeslots is used for circuit switched data services (HSCSD) as well.

The first major step in the evolution of GSM networks to 3G occurred with the introduction of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). CDMA2000 networks similarly evolved through the introduction of 1xRTT. GPRS could provide data rates from 56 Kbit/s up to 115 Kbit/s. It can be used for services such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) access, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), and for Internet communication services such as email and World Wide Web access.

1xRTT supports bi-directional (up and downlink) peak data rates up to 153.6 kbps, delivering an average user data throughput of 80-100 kbps in commercial networks. It can also be used for WAP, SMS & MMS services, as well as Internet access.

2G (Second Generation)

Second Generation Wireless Communication (2G)

2G (or 2-G) is short for second-generation wireless telephone technology. Second generation 2G cellular telecom networks were commercially launched on the GSM standard in Finland by Radiolinja (now part of Elisa Oyj) in 1991. 2G network allows for much greater penetration intensity. 2G technologies enabled the various mobile phone networks to provide the services such as text messages, picture messages and MMS (multi media messages). 2G technology is more efficient. 2G technology holds sufficient security for both the sender and the receiver. All text messages are digitally encrypted. This digital encryption allows for the transfer of data in such a way that only the intended receiver can receive and read it.

Figure: 2G mobile phones

Second generation technologies are either time division multiple access (TDMA) or code division multiple access (CDMA). TDMA allows for the division of signal into time slots. CDMA allocates each user a special code to communicate over a multiplex physical channel. Different TDMA technologies are GSM, PDC, iDEN, IS-136. CDMA technology is IS-95. GSM has its origin from the Group special Mobile, in Europe. GSM (Global system for mobile communication) is the most admired standard of all the mobile technologies. Although this technology originates from the Europe, but now it is used in more than 212 countries in the world. GSM technology was the first one to help establish international roaming. This enabled the mobile subscribers to use their mobile phone connections in many different countries of the world’s is based on digital signals ,unlike 1G technologies which were used to transfer analogue signals. GSM has enabled the users to make use of the short message services (SMS) to any mobile network at any time. SMS is a cheap and easy way to send a message to anyone, other than the voice call or conference. This technology is beneficial to both the network operators and the ultimate users at the same time.

Keys:

• Fielded in the late 1980s and finished in the late 1990s.
• Planned for voice transmission with digital signal and the speeds up to 64kbps.
• 2G was the digital handsets that we are used today.
• 2G network allows for much greater penetration intensity.