What is 5G and how will it change our lives

What is 5G?

5G (fifth generation) is the abbreviated name for the fifth generation of mobile communications, which will replace the current 3G and 4G. Behind this cut is a whole host of technologies, many of which are still under development. Completion of the testing phase and approval of standards are expected no earlier than 2020.

What are the main differences between 5G and existing standards?

The introduction of the fifth generation of mobile networks promises to be a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of communications due to the following innovations:

Massive MIMO. This technology involves the use of multiple antennas on the transceivers. As a result, the data rate and signal quality will increase in proportion to the number of antennas due to receive diversity.
New ranges. Today LTE networks occupy frequencies below 3.5 GHz. 5G standards imply the use of higher frequency bands. This will get rid of interference, but will force the power of the transmitters to be increased and the base stations more densely located.
Network slicing This technology allows mobile operators to deploy logically isolated networks, each of which will be dedicated to specific needs, for example, for the Internet of things, broadband access, video broadcasting, and so on. Thus, the mobile network of the new generation will be able to more flexibly adapt to various applications.
D2D (Device-to-device). Devices located close to each other will be able to exchange data directly.

What will we get from the implementation of 5G?

The first and most important consequence of the introduction of 5G is a significant increase in data transfer rates. In the course of preliminary testing, the achievement of peak indicators at the level of 25, 3 Gbit / s was recorded. If we talk about the real speeds that ordinary users expect, then in 5G they will reach 10 Gbps.

This means you can download Full HD movies in seconds.

For comparison: now the maximum 4G speed for subscribers rarely exceeds 100 Mb / s. The large network bandwidth is useful for live broadcasts of high-definition video, virtual reality applications, and the organization of remote learning systems.

5G also reduces signal latency to 1 millisecond. Recall that now delays can reach 10 milliseconds in 4G networks and 100 milliseconds in 3G. Improving this metric will allow you to use mobile connectivity even in situations where response time is critical. For example, for remote control of agricultural machinery, industrial robots or unmanned vehicles.

The global spread of fifth-generation networks will most likely lead to the gradual death of Wi-Fi. Your smartphone, tablet or laptop will always and everywhere have access to the Internet, regardless of whether there is a router nearby or not.

Will my smartphone work on the new network?

No. To take full advantage of the next generation networks, you will need to purchase a smartphone that supports them. It is already known about the imminent release of several such devices. Among them are Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, Samsung Galaxy S10, Motorola Moto Z3, ZTE 5G, Huawei Mate Flex, Oppo F11 Pro, Nokia 10 and some others.

However, do not rush to be at the forefront of buyers. 5G technology is actively developing, its standards have not yet been finally approved. It is quite possible that the final implementation will be slightly different from the current one, so the devices sold now will quickly become outdated. In addition, 4G mobile networks have not yet fully exhausted their development potential.

When to expect?

5G is currently being tested in many countries. The full launch of the first new generation networks is planned not earlier than 2020. Most likely, this will happen in the Asian region.

As for Russia, in the first quarter of 2019, a concept for the creation and development of 5G networks will be approved, and by the end of 2019, frequency bands will be allocated. By the end of 2020, the first pilot projects for the implementation of the fifth generation network will be launched. Thus, widespread dissemination of the new technology can be expected not earlier than in 3-4 years.