5G technology is not a one-size-fits-all solution that enables digital transformation at the push of a button. There are three types of 5G, each with unique use cases and capabilities that business leaders need to understand.
5G wireless is divided into three types, named after the spectrum of radio frequencies it supports: low-band, mid-band, and high-band.
- low band 5G Transmits data on frequencies between 600 and 900 MHz
- mid-band 5G Transmit between 1 and 6 GHz
- high band 5G Transmits between 24 and 47 GHz.
All major North American carriers (and most carriers around the world), including AT&T, Verizon, and Google, offer all three bands. Before we get into the features each band offers, let’s take a closer look at 5G technology itself, how it works, and why businesses around the world are interested in its potential.
What is 5G?
5G (5th Generation Mobile Technology) is a new specification for wireless networks developed in 2018 by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3DPP) to guide the development of devices such as smartphones, PCs, and tablets. 5G network.
Similar to previous wireless technology standards such as 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE, 5G sends and receives data over radio waves. However, due to improved latency and bandwidth, 5G networks offer significantly faster upload and download speeds. Some 5G networks can reach download speeds of 10 gigabits per second (Gbps), making them ideal for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
As 5G use cases increase, so will the demand for networks that can support devices running on 5G. In North America alone, more than 200 million homes now have access to 5G connection speeds (link is off ibm.com), and that number is expected to double within the next four years.
How 5G works
Like other types of wireless networks, 5G technology operates with geographic coverage divided into “cells.” Within each cell, devices such as 5G phones, PCs, and IoT sensors can connect to the internet via radio waves. This same method of establishing a connection was also used in previous generations of wireless networks, but 5G has improved technology that allows for much faster speeds.
New RAT standard
The 5G NR (New Radio) standard for cellular networks established by 3DPP in 2018 defines the next generation radio access technology (RAT) specifications for all 5G mobile networks. Importantly, the new RAT released in 2018 opens up his 5G spectrum above 6 GHz, a frequency band not previously used by mobile phone devices.
network slicing
Another important development in 5G deployment in 2018 was the addition of network slicing. 5G will allow telecom providers to deploy independent virtual networks in addition to public networks using the same 5G infrastructure. Unique to 5G, this feature gives users more functionality when working remotely while providing a high level of security.
private network
5G-enabled businesses can build fully private networks with personalization and security features to increase employee control and mobility across a wide range of use cases.
How is 5G different from other networks?
5G is being hailed for its transformative potential across many industries. This is mainly due to the higher frequencies that 5G utilizes and the new ability to transfer large amounts of data quickly and securely. Since broadband technology was first introduced in the early 2000s, the amount of data generated by wireless devices has grown exponentially. Today, cutting-edge technologies such as AI and ML require large amounts of data to run on older networks. 5G devices, on the other hand, are ideal for applications that require large amounts of data. Here are some key differences between 5G and its predecessors.
- Small physical footprint: 5G transmitters are smaller than those used in 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE networks and require less power in small cells with segmented coverage areas.
- Improved error rate: 5G deployment relies on adaptive modulation and coding (MCS), a much more powerful data transmission method than those used in 3G and 4G networks. As a result, 5G’s block error rate (BER), or frequency of errors on the network, is much lower.
- Improved bandwidth: By using a wider range of radio frequencies than previous generation networks, 5G can support more devices on the network at once.
- Low latency: 5G’s lower latency (a measurement of the time it takes for data to travel between devices on a network) means activities like playing video games, downloading files, and working in the cloud are faster than other types of wireless networks. will be much faster than .
5G network types
Here, we take a closer look at three types of 5G networks and why businesses should consider them.
low band 5g
Low-band 5G operates on frequencies between 600 and 900 MHz, which are very close to the frequencies of TV and radio stations. Although not “super fast” by any means, these frequencies are considerably faster (up to 10 times faster in some cases) than his 4G speeds and can travel long distances and cover large areas. Low-band 5G is a great option for users who don’t mind sacrificing speed.
mid-band 5G
While mid-band 5G is faster than low-band, it still doesn’t reach the speeds needed for cutting-edge applications such as AI, ML, and IoT. Mid-band 5G operates on frequencies in the 1-6 GHz range and has more capacity to move larger amounts of data, but not over large areas. One important consideration for businesses looking to leverage mid-band 5G networks is the fact that buildings and other solid structures can interfere with connectivity, especially at the high end of bandwidth. .
high band 5G
High-band 5G can’t communicate very far, but it can deliver the lightning-fast speeds that 5G’s most exciting applications demand. High-band 5G will set the gold standard for many transformative technologies, including self-driving cars, robotics, smart cities, and more. Much of this vaunted speed and performance is due to 5G’s millimeter wave (mmWave) technology, a specific spectrum between 30 and 300 GHz.
- Millimeter wave (wwWave): The use cases for mmWave are slightly different from other types of 5G networks, including data centers, streaming video, and augmented/virtual reality (AR/ VR) included. . Although mmWave 5G is superior to other types of 5G in terms of speed and performance, it has the same limitations when it comes to line-of-sight interruptions. For example, buildings, dense foliage, or even heavy rain can interfere with 5G mmWave connectivity.
- Dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS): To address some of the line-of-sight issues with high-band 5G frequencies, some carriers are deploying 5G on the same frequencies typically used by 4G phones and devices. . Dynamic spectrum sharing (known as DSS technology) allows organizations to achieve 5G speeds without replacing their existing infrastructure.
5G features and standards
In addition to its speed, 5G technology is more secure and reliable than previous generations of wireless networks, enabling new features and benefits that businesses of all types should consider.
- Highly reliable and low-latency communication: Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) is a new communications capability specifically designed to support the latency and reliability requirements of IoT and other high-demand applications running on 5G networks. With URLLC, communication speeds change instantaneously, no matter where both parties are physically located. URLLC enables a wide range of tasks, from automation and remote control of vehicles to gaming using AR/VR headsets.
- Enhanced mobile broadband: Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB technology) is a new standard for 5G services that provides enhanced bandwidth and reduced latency compared to 4G. Developed by 3GPP as part of the 5G NR standard, the eMBB guidelines help increase data rates, bandwidth, and throughput across 5G networks and improve a wide range of media services. Applications covered by the eMBB standard include video streaming, gaming, and AR/VR operations.
- Large machine type communication: Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) is another standard that 3GPP has rolled out as part of its 5G NR guidelines, specifically addressing services and applications that utilize IoT technology. mMTC typically covers network architectures designed for high-speed, low-latency communication between large numbers of IoT devices and machines on a single network. Examples of mMTC include smart transportation networks, smart factories, and smart energy grids.
5G use cases
5G is becoming one of the most talked about enabler technologies today due to its speed, latency requirements, and reliability. From driverless cars to smart energy grids to remote operating rooms, here are some of the most exciting developments enabled by 5G.
- Self-driving car: From taxis and drones to pilotless planes, some of the most advanced designs for self-driving cars are powered by 5G. Until the advent of 5G, self-driving cars were a bit of a pipe dream due to data requirements that couldn’t be met by previous wireless network standards. Today, 5G connectivity speeds are revolutionizing the remote and autonomous operation of cars, trains, and airplanes.
- Smart factory: 5G, along with AI, ML, and IoT technologies, will mean breakthrough advances in everything from fuel efficiency and equipment repair to remotely controlled cameras that help prevent theft and make workplaces safer. Making factories safer, smarter and more efficient. For example, in a crowded warehouse, drones and cameras connected via IoT, operating on a 5G network, can locate and transport goods faster and more efficiently than human employees, reducing CO2 emissions. Emissions are also reduced.
- smart city: Hyperconnected urban environments are beginning to rely on 5G networks to drive innovation in areas such as law enforcement, waste disposal, and disaster mitigation. Some cities are using 5G-enabled sensors to track traffic patterns in real-time and adjust traffic lights to change flow, minimize congestion, and improve air quality. Additionally, 5G power grids monitor supply and demand across populated areas and deploy AI and ML applications to “learn” when energy demand is high and low.
- Smart healthcare: The healthcare industry has been one of the earliest to benefit from 5G connectivity speeds. One example is the field of robotics and remote surgery using high-definition live streams connected to the internet via his 5G network. The other is mobile health. 5G gives frontline healthcare workers faster and more secure access to patient records, enabling faster, more informed decisions that could save lives. Finally, 5G-enabled contact tracing and outbreak mapping played a huge role in keeping people safe during the pandemic.
- Edge computing: Edge computing is a computing framework that allows calculations to be performed close to the data source, and is rapidly becoming the norm for companies that consider data processing as one of their core competencies. According to a Gartner white paper (link is located outside ibm.com), by 2025, 75% of enterprise data will be processed at the edge (compared to just 10% today). This transition, leveraging the connectivity and speed of 5G, will help businesses save time and money, and give them better control over large amounts of data.
5G solutions using IBM Cloud Satellite
Before businesses can fully take advantage of 5G, they need a platform built for 5G. IBM Cloud Satellite enables businesses of all types to consistently deploy and run apps across on-premises, edge computing, and public cloud environments on 5G networks. And it’s all made possible with secure, auditable communications within IBM Cloud.
Explore IBM Cloud Satellites
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