Why 5G is the ticket to the future for business
The future depends on internet connectivity, from artificial intelligence and virtual reality to telemedicine and technology we were afraid to dream of. Anything that will make our lives easier, safer, and safer will require an uninterrupted, high-speed Internet connection.
While we only dream of remotely conducting operations and relaxing behind the wheel of an unmanned vehicle, 5G is already redefining our understanding of technology and business. How exactly – let’s figure it out together.
5G (generation) is the fifth generation of mobile communications, which replaced the well-known 4G network. Each new generation, as you might have guessed, modernizes the previous one. The 5G network has become a necessity due to the ever-growing number of devices requiring an internet connection. Moreover, the new generation of devices sometimes needs more network bandwidth than 4G can provide.
4G Feature:
Speed – up to 100 Mbps
Latency – 25-50 ms
Coverage area – ≈ 84%
Operating frequency – <6 GHz
Feature 5G:
Speed – ≈ 20 Gbps
Latency – 1 ms
The coverage area – in theory 100%, in reality – while only a limited number of operators can provide a new generation of communications, 5G is practically absent outside of several large cities.
Operating frequency – 30 GHz to 300 GHz
Despite the obvious advantages of the new generation of communication, ordinary consumers for the most part are unlikely to notice any changes if they are not at a Queen concert with tens of thousands of people. The next generation network is focused on those areas that require high data transfer rates and, most importantly, reliability. For example, these areas include the Internet of Things (IoT), telemedicine and future smart cities. That is, the main traffic will be generated not by people, but by machines.
One step ahead
Users who saw the launch of the 4G network could not imagine that Netflix and Instagram would become global platforms. The beauty of the launch of a 5G network is the same – no one knows what will happen. But despite the still incomplete understanding of how exactly the 5G network will affect the development of business and ordinary users, you need to be prepared for the changes coming on your heels.
Remember the 2018 FIFA World Cup? At that time it was possible to watch the Russia-Turkey match in virtual reality format. The game itself was broadcast from five cameras with the ability to shoot in a 180-degree format and with minimal delays – no more than 6 ms. The speed and stability of the connection made it possible to create the effect of visiting a real match, being tens of kilometers from the stadium.
Many Russian companies quickly took up this direction of development, testing the application of new technologies in even the most sensitive areas. For example, Megafon has tested several projects using 5G communications, one of which makes it possible to conduct ultrasound remotely. The doctor remotely controls the robotic arm, which scans the patient’s organs, and transmits the information to the doctor. It is the use of a new generation network that allows achieving special scanning accuracy, as well as minimizing delays when transferring large amounts of data.
The work of another robotic arm using a new generation of communication has been demonstrated in the restoration of precious metals. Now, being outside the museum, specialists with rare expertise will be able to process exhibits with high precision. It should be noted that the speed during the demonstration exceeded 1 Gbps.
As for private use, thanks to a joint project, VimpelCom and Huawei were able to demonstrate a holographic call for two subscribers on a commercially available 5G base station. Communication took place with the help of special glasses. With the help of MR-glasses, the interlocutor sees a holographic model of another subscriber in real time, who was filmed at that moment with the help of 8 cameras. Such projects give hope for widespread use of the tactile Internet in the relatively near future.
What difficulties can prevent 5G in Russia
The network uses three frequency bands to transmit 5G signal. Depending on the selected frequency, the speed and ability of the signal to penetrate various obstacles will change. Since the main advantage of the new generation of communication is speed, it most often implies the use of the highest frequency range – from 24 GHz. However, not everything is so smooth. The main disadvantage of this range is low permeability. Such waves do not pass well not only through walls and trees, but even through rain. Because of this nuance, base stations have to be installed at a distance of, at most, a couple of hundreds of meters. Obviously, this is too expensive for operators, and for users it turns into an unstable signal.
The middle frequency range used around the world – 3.4-3.8 GHz – is already simply occupied. In Russia, this range is used by the RF Ministry of Defense and Roskosmos. The transfer of these structures to other frequencies is impossible for reasons of national security, which means that Russian operators will (if they do) operate in less profitable 5G network frequencies.
The third – less than 1 GHz – and the lowest frequency range is out of the question. Such frequencies provide speeds up to 200 Mbps, and the connection at such frequencies is slightly better than that of a stable 4G signal. This is why operators often use different frequencies to find the perfect balance between signal penetration and speed.
Despite all the difficulties, 5G is providing an impetus for the development of the digital environment. The development of new generations of communication will accelerate the growth of traffic, increase the need to use new, higher frequencies and will definitely improve the characteristics of communication services.