In 2019, 5G got here to the world. In 2020, it’s going mainstream, and bringing with it a completely new cellular expertise. With 5G speeds and connectivity, customers can obtain feature-length films in seconds, and stream 8K video in a flash. They can stream crystal-clear video calls and play graphics-rich cellular video games with out lag. And the most effective half—that is just the start. As 5G applied sciences proceed to evolve, our connections shall be stronger, our communications shall be quicker, and our lives shall be extra handy.
To perceive the total potential of 5G, it’s useful to take a step again. Here’s a have a look at how we bought right here, what 5G seems like right this moment, and what we are able to count on from 5G sooner or later.
Setting the Stage with Non-standalone 5G
When the primary 5G networks turned on final yr, they represented the start of a serious transformation in cellular know-how. These networks—known as non-standalone 5G networks—supplied a glimpse of the hyper quick 5G future simply across the nook.
Non-standalone 5G networks use completely different radio frequency ranges on the identical time. In explicit, they use two completely different 5G frequencies with greater bandwidths for quicker throughput, which implies extra knowledge (like a film or a TV present) can get to the machine far faster than through a 4G LTE community.
The first frequency vary overlaps with 4G LTE and is known as sub-6GHz. The second, higher-frequency vary is known as mmWave. While mmWave affords the potential of lightning-fast speeds, sub-6 GHz frequencies can journey farther and penetrate stable objects, similar to buildings. As a outcome, cellular carriers need to stability what they hope to offer to customers with the spectrums they’ve accessible.
Non-standalone 5G has been essential in driving early 5G adoption—nevertheless it’s simply step one within the journey.
Opening the Doors for Broader Coverage with Dynamic Spectrum Sharing
Leveraging current 4G infrastructure, dynamic spectrum sharing is the driving force behind the fast and expansive progress of 5G protection. More importantly, it lays the groundwork for really transformational 5G networks (see the subsequent part) by making certain that when the 5G core launches, there’ll already be broad protection.
Traditionally, as networks transitioned from 2G to 3G to 4G, and extra spectrum was added to the cellular ecosystem, carriers encountered an issue: they needed to wait till sufficient customers had upgraded earlier than they may repurpose previous bands for the next-generation know-how. Here’s an instance: Let’s say they’d 40MHz of mid-band spectrum. Until lately, they must break up it in half, giving 20MHz to 4G LTE and 20MHz to 5G regardless that, right this moment, there are nonetheless many extra 4G LTE customers than there are 5G customers.
Dynamic spectrum sharing solves this drawback by utilizing algorithms to permit carriers to share spectrum between 4G LTE and 5G units—and to repeatedly optimize the break up because the extra clients shift from 4G LTE to 5G.1 For this motive, dynamic spectrum sharing makes for a neater transition to 5G.
Entering the Next Phase with Standalone 5G
Unlike its non-standalone counterpart, standalone 5G doesn’t use current 4G LTE infrastructure. Rather, it requires a brand new structure to assist blazing-fast speeds.
This structure features a new 5G Core that may act as the guts of the community, in addition to a New Radio 5th Generation Node B, the know-how that permits cellular units to speak to the community. Standalone 5G’s new structure is much more environment friendly than its 4G predecessor and can enhance knowledge throughput efficiency as much as the sting of the community by leveraging mmWave, in addition to low and mid-band frequencies. What’s extra, it’ll permit companies to leverage the community to create unbelievable new merchandise and experiences—like 4K livestreams and autonomous automobiles.
Standalone 5G additionally improves the bandwidth of the community. It can ship knowledge to and…
