With the term 5G gaining its popularity today, it is imperative that you understand what 5G is all about and how it works. In this tutorial on what is 5G, you will take a walk through the previous generations of mobile networks and how 5G is different from them. Now, go ahead and begin this tutorial and understand the 5G revolution.
Evolution of 5G
Introduction to 5G
Back in the '80, phones were bulky and provided voice calls with the help of first-generation technology, i.e., 1G. For businesses at that time, 1G was more than sufficient. There were phones with higher speed and services like text messaging and multimedia messaging services in a decade. This was referred to as 2G.
After two decades, the world was introduced to smartphones with good data transmission speed. This technology was called 3G. With 3G in the market, businesses benefited a lot more than before. In the late 2000s, online business became necessary with the internet booming. Then came the successor to 3G, 4G. This next generation of wireless technology boasted better multimedia services, higher speed, and more security.
However, with the enormous data generated worldwide, a faster and more reliable network connection that could use business data and sync the machine, tools, and people to raise production and deliver a better customer experience was the need of the hour. That's when the world was introduced to 5G. Now, you will look into what 5G is and how it works.
What Is 5G and How Does It Work?
5G can operate as much as ten times faster than 4G, reaching a peak speed of 20 GB per second. 5G can transform business by using robotics and AI. Any information that you send or receive in a network is carried through the air with the help of radio frequencies. 5G operates similarly; however, it uses higher radio frequencies to carry more information faster. The beauty of 5G that he discovered was that 5G utilizes multiple input and output antennas to avoid physical objects like buildings and trees coming in the way of communication.
5G consists of 2 main components, the Radio Access Network and the Core Network:
- The Radio Access Network includes small cells, macrocells, towers, and home systems connecting users and devices to the Core Network.
- Macro Cells use multiple input and output antennas to send and receive large volumes of data simultaneously, and Small Cells complement these Macro Cells.
- Meanwhile, the Core Network of 5G manages all the internet and data connections. The core network is designed to integrate with the internet much more efficiently. The core manages the advanced features of 5G, like network function virtualization and network slicing.
- Network slicing is a wise way of cutting the network into several slices for a specific business or industry. For example, emergency services can work independently from virtual reality or a business on a network slice.
All these nitty-gritty benefits of 5G allow interactive and hassle-free business online. Now that you learned what 5G is, it’s time to look at the future of 5G.
Advantages of 5G
With 5G set to revolutionize your daily life, here are the top advantages 5G can provide:
- Cloud Connection: 5G network will make communication faster and easier with cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and GCP.
- Negligible Latency: It is predicted that 5G will help reduce latency significantly from 50 milliseconds to just 1 millisecond.
- Superfast Mobile Connection: 5G’s high bandwidth and hyper-fast speeds will elevate services like HD video streaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality, and enable mobile device users to stay connected like never before.
- Driving Innovation: 5G technology is the best choice for connecting several devices including smartphones, computers, drones, and sensors.
Future of 5G
5G provides several applications and opportunities across different sectors. A few of them are listed below:
- 5G will enable connecting more IoT devices and less latency than 4G.
- With the advancement of 5G, remote care and remote surgery will be an incredible sight to witness.
- 5G also can revolutionize public safety.
- The gaming market will also further expand with the advancement in 5G.
- 5G will accelerate the development of autonomous driving vehicles. Connected cars and automotive solutions can contribute to safer roads and save human lives.
5G deployment is preventing companies from going out of business. Going by the current reports, Samsung and Qualcomm have achieved yet another 5G download speed milestone, reaching 8.08Gbps. Companies like Apple and Xiaomi are readily rolling out 5G phones. According to Statista, in 2022, they expect 5G subscriptions to pass one billion, showing how 5G will play a key role in the years to come.
5G FAQs
1. How much does 5G cost?
5G doesn’t contain a price tag yet. 5G aims to lower the cost-per-bit data cost compared to 4G LTE, by leveraging a new and wider spectrum in higher bands including the mmWave range. Mobile operators could continue to offer unlimited data plans even with increasing data consumption.
2. Will a 5G phone work where 5G service is limited?
The current 5G phones are backward compatible. This means they are capable of functioning on previous generation networks outside of 5G coverage areas.
3. Will 5G work on existing mobile phones built for 3G or 4G?
No, you need a purchase a 5G device to make use of the 5G network.
4. What business sectors will 5G impact the most?
As discussed above, 5G will have a tremendous influence on our lives. It is expected to have a great impact on Healthcare, Automobile, Technology, and Manufacturing sectors.
5. Will 5G Replace 4G?
5G won’t be replacing 4G entirely anytime soon. It could be several years before 4G vanishes completely. Specifically in rural areas, where the cost of deployment could be really high and the need for low latency isn’t so crucial.
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Conclusion
Through this tutorial on what is 5G and how does it work, you have received an introduction to 5G, what 5G is, its working, and the importance of 5G in today's times. New products and apps are introduced every day, and there are several programming languages and frameworks utilized in software development.
So if you wish to understand the foundation of interactive application development, then Simplilearn's Post-Graduate Program in Full Stack Web Development will benefit you. It is offered in collaboration with the world-renowned Caltech CTME; this boot camp program can help you learn the necessary skills and improve your odds of becoming a software developer. So, go ahead and start learning today!
Do you have any questions regarding this tutorial on 5G? If yes, please feel free to mention them in the comments section, and we will be happy to answer them.
