5G Network
1. 5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for
cellular networks
2. All 5G wireless devices in a cell are connected to the Internet
and the telephone network
3. 5G networks will increasingly be used as general
internet service providers (ISPs)
4. Cellphones with 4G capability alone are not able to use the 5G
networks.
Overview
5G networks are cellular networks, in which the service area is
divided into small geographical areas called cells. All 5G wireless
devices in a cell communicate by radio waves with a
cellular base station via fixed antennas, over frequencies
assigned by the base station. The base stations, termed nodes,
are connected to switching centers in the telephone network and
routers for Internet access by high-bandwidth optical fiber or
wireless backhaul connections. As in other cellular networks, a
mobile device moving from one cell to another is automatically
handed off seamlessly.
Standards
Initially, the term was associated with 5G NR can include lower
the frequencies (FR1), below
International Telecommunication Uni 6 GHz, and higher frequencies (
on
's IMT-2020 standard, which required FR2), above 24 GHz. However,
a theoretical peak download speed the speed and latency in early
of 20 gigabits per second and 10 FR1 deployments, using 5G NR
gigabits per second upload speed, software on 4G hardware (
along with other requirements. Then, non-standalone), are only
the industry standards group 3GPP
chose the 5G NR (New Radio) slightly better than new 4G
standard together with LTE as their systems, estimated at 15 to
proposal for submission to the IMT- 50% better.
2020 standard.
Fronthaul network
IEEE covers several areas of 5G with a core focus on wireline sections
between the Remote Radio Head (RRH) and Base Band Unit (BBU). The
1914.1 standards focus on network architecture and dividing the
connection between the RRU and BBU into two key sections. Radio Unit
(RU) to the Distributor Unit (DU) being the NGFI-I (Next Generation
Fronthaul Interface) and the DU to the Central Unit (CU) being the NGFI-II
interface allowing a more diverse and cost-effective network. NGFI-I and
NGFI-II have defined performance values which should be compiled to
ensure different traffic types defined by the ITU are capable of being
carried. The IEEE 1914.3 standard is creating a new Ethernet frame format
capable of carrying IQ data in a much more efficient way depending on the
functional split utilized. This is based on the 3GPP definition of functional
splits.
5G NR
The study of NR within 3GPP started in 2015, and the first
specification was made available by the end of 2017. While the
3GPP standardization process was ongoing, the industry had
already begun efforts to implement infrastructure compliant with
the draft standard, with the first large-scale commercial launch of
5G NR having occurred at the end of 2018. Since 2019, many
operators have deployed 5G NR networks and handset
manufacturers have developed 5G NR enabled handsets.
5Gi
5Gi is an alternative 5G variant developed in India. It was
developed in a joint collaboration between IIT Madras, IIT
Hyderabad, TSDSI, and the Centre of Excellence in Wireless
Technology (CEWiT). 5Gi is designed to improve 5G coverage in
rural and remote areas over varying geographical terrains. 5Gi
uses Low Mobility Large Cell (LMLC) to extend 5G connectivity
and the range of a base station.
Non-Terrestrial Network
Several manufacturers have announced and released hardware that integrates 5G with satellite
networks:
• Samsung Electronics introduced a standardized 5G NTN modem technology in Korea in
February 2023, simulated on their Exynos Modem 5300, facilitating smartphone-satellite
communication.
• MediaTek launched the world's first commercially available 5G IoT-NTN chipset, MT6825,
capable of automatic satellite message receipt and extensive power efficiency.
• Qualcomm, in collaboration with Skylo, announced new satellite IoT solutions on June 22,
2023, including the Qualcomm 212S and 9205S modems, supporting the Qualcomm Aware
platform for real-time asset tracking and device management.
• Motorola's Defy Satellite Link hotspot, powered by MediaTek's MT6825, became available in
June 2023, providing a portable satellite messaging solution with robust battery life and built-in
GPS.
• Rakuten Symphony, in collaboration with Supermicro, announced high-performing Open RAN
technologies and storage systems for operators of cloud-based mobile services.
Deployment
5G is also expected to be used for private networks with
applications in industrial IoT, enterprise networking, and critical
communications, in what being described as NR-U (5G NR in
Unlicensed Spectrum) and Non-Public Networks (NPNs)
operating in licensed spectrum. By the mid-to-late 2020s,
standalone private 5G networks are expected to become the
predominant wireless communications medium to support the
ongoing Industry 4.0 revolution for the digitization and automation
of manufacturing and process industries.
The Global Mobile Suppliers Association had identified 224
operators in 88 countries that have demonstrated, are testing or
trialing, or have been licensed to conduct field trials of 5G
technologies, are deploying 5G networks or have announced
service launches. The equivalent numbers in November 2018
were 192 operators in 81 countries. The first country to adopt 5G
on a large scale was South Korea, in April 2019. Swedish
telecoms giant Ericsson predicted that 5G internet will cover up
to 65% of the world's population by the end of 2025. Also, it plans
to invest 1 billion reals ($238.30 million) in Brazil to add a new
assembly line dedicated to fifth-generation technology (5G) for its
Latin American operations.
Spectrum
• Large quantities of new radio spectrum (5G NR frequency bands) have been allocated
to 5G. For example, in July 2016, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) freed up vast amounts of bandwidth in underused high-band spectrum for 5G.
The Spectrum Frontiers Proposal (SFP) doubled the amount of millimeter-wave
unlicensed spectrum to 14 GHz and created four times the amount of flexible, mobile-
use spectrum the FCC had licensed to date. In March 2018, European Union
lawmakers agreed to open up the 3.6 and 26 GHz bands by 2020.
• As of March 2019, there are reportedly 52 countries, territories, special administrative
regions, disputed territories and dependencies that are formally considering
introducing certain spectrum bands for terrestrial 5G services, are holding
consultations regarding suitable spectrum allocations for 5G, have reserved spectrum
for 5G, have announced plans to auction frequencies or have already allocated
spectrum for 5G use.
5G devices
• The first-ever all-5G smartphone Samsung Galaxy S10 5G was
released. According to Business Insider, the 5G feature was
showcased as more expensive in comparison with the 4G
Samsung Galaxy S10e. On March 19, 2020, HMD Global, the current
maker of Nokia-branded phones, announced the Nokia 8.3 5G, which
it claimed as having a wider range of 5G compatibility than any other
phone released to that time. The mid-range model is claimed to
support all 5G bands from 600 MHz to 3.8 GHz.
• Many phone manufacturers support 5G. Google Pixel devices support
5G, starting with the 4a 5G and Pixel 5. Apple devices also support
5G, starting with the iPhone 12 and later models.
Technology
• New radio frequencies
• Frequency range 1 (< 6 GHz)
• Frequency range 2 (24–71 GHz)
• FR2 coverage
• Massive MIMO
• Edge computing
• Small cell
• Beamforming
