Decoding 5 G Network

Introduction

As the name suggests, 5G is the fifth-generation cellular network technology. The Cellular phone companies began deploying it worldwide in 2019, and it is expected to start functioning in India by the end of 2021.

5G wireless technology is designed to deliver high-speed multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, higher reliability, large network capacity, increased availability, and the best user experience to its users which the earlier generations ( 1G,2G & 3G) and the current generation (4G) of mobile networks could not provide. It will also have an enhanced throughput to handle multiple simultaneous connections as compared to the current-generation networks.

Technical Overview

5G is based on OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing), a method to reduce interference by modulating a digital signal across several different channels. It conjointly uses wider bandwidth technologies like sub-6 GHz and mmWave (Millimeter Wave).

Like 4G LTE, 5G OFDM works according to the same mobile networking principles. However, the new 5G NR air interface will additionally enhance OFDM to deliver a far higher degree of flexibility and quantifiability. This might offer more 5G access to a greater chunk of people and objects for a variety of use cases.

5G will bring wider bandwidths by increasing the use of spectrum resources, from sub-3 GHz employed in 4G to 100 GHz and above. 5G will have the luxury of working in both lower bands (e.g., sub-6 GHz) as well as mmWave (e.g., 24 GHz and up), which will deliver extreme capacity, multi-Gbps output, and low latency.

Comparison with previous generation (4G) Network

The previous generations of mobile networks are 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G.

1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G all led to 5G, which is intended to provide more connectivity than was ever offered before.

5G is a unified, more capable air interface. It has been designed with an extended capacity to enable next-generation user experience, empower new deployment models, and deliver new services.

With high speeds, superior reliability, and negligible latency, 5G will expand the mobile environment into new realms. 5G will impact each trade, creating safer transportation, remote healthcare, precision agriculture, digitized supply chain — and more — a reality.

Pros

The major categories of the use case for 5G:

• Massive machine-to-machine communications — It is also called the Internet of Things (IoT). It seamlessly connects a massive number of embedded sensors in virtually everything through the ability to reduce data rates, power, and mobility — providing highly lean and inexpensive solutions. This has the potential to revolutionize modern and trendy industrial processes and applications which also include agriculture, manufacturing, and business communications.
• Ultra-reliable low latency communications –5G can deliver much lower latency for a more immediate response and can provide an overall more uniform user experience so that the data rates stay consistently high — even when users are roaming around. Lower latency communications also open up a new world where remote medical care, procedures, and treatment are all possible. And the new 5G NR mobile network is supported by the Gigabit LTE coverage foundation, which can provide omnipresent Gigabit-class connectivity. Mission-critical communication including real-time control of devices, industrial robotics, vehicle-to-vehicle communications and safety systems, autonomous driving, and safer transport networks are going to be possible through the use of 5G.
• Enhanced mobile broadband — It will provide considerably quicker data speeds and greater capacity to keep the entire world connected. New applications will include fixed wireless internet access for homes, outdoor broadcast applications without the need for broadcast vans, and greater connectivity for travelers. In addition to improving our smartphones, 5G mobile technology can bring new immersive experiences like VR and AR with faster, more uniform data rates, lower latency, and lower cost per bit.
• High Speed — It is predicted that 5G will deliver data speed up to 100 times faster than 4G networks. It is designed to transmit data almost instantly with a network latency of less than 10ms. In addition to higher peak data rates, 5G is intended to provide much more network capacity by expanding into new spectra, such as mmWave.

Higher performance and improved performance empower better user experiences and connect new industries. 5G is designed to not only deliver faster, better mobile broadband services compared to 4G LTE, but can even expand into new service areas like mission-critical communications and connecting the large IoT. This is enabled by many new 5G NR air interface design techniques, such as a new self-contained design of the TDD subframe.

Author

Saurav Kumar — Senior Researcher, SIME, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, India

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