We may have been aware of the generations of mobile communication from the 1G (1st generation network, also called "Nordic" Mobile Telephone) to 2G, 3G and 4G which we are very familiar with. But a new generation has arrived in the world of cellular communications, and this is called the 5G (5th generation) mobile network.
Introduction
As proposed, the 5G cellular network will basically be a wireless network. So you won't be wrong to call it "5G wi-fi". This will be a step further from the current 4G, and it is meant to operate in the milimeter wave bands [60, 38, and 28 GHz] according to the standards of IEEE 802.11ac.
Requirements for the standardization of 5G
There are some standardized requirements that must be followed by the 5G cellular network. These include:
- Data Rate: The following data rates are stipulated - 1Gb/s for Local Area Network, LAN. 100Mb/s for Metropolitan Area Network, MAN. And 10-100Mb/s for Wide Area Network, WAN.
- It should have an enhanced spectral efficiency compared to the 4G.
- It should also have a significantly reduced latency as compared to 4G and LTE.
With the advances in the world of ICT, like the "Internet of thing", 5G is one of the indispensible options to fully actualize it.
Researches on 5G cellular network
Since the proposition of the 5G network, a lot of researches have been carried out to enhance and advance its development. Some of these researches include:
- Wireless Network Virtualization (WNV): This is the interconnection of several wireless networks into an integrated single network. These multiple networks may be operated by various service providers, but they will be integrated into a single wireless infrastructure.
- Cognitive Radio: This technology is also called "smart radio". This permits many radio techs to share a single spectrum in the 5G wi-fi network.
- Light Fidelity (Li-Fi): This is the ultimate destination of the 5G cellular network. This is the propagation of network through the visible light spectrum.
The advancements of 5G will eventually sideline the 4G and the LTE.
Advantages of 5G network, and how it will change the world
No doubt, the global race has already begun and we are approaching the era where exabytes of data will be processed on per second basis throughout the world. And for this reason, a marching network tech is indispensible. That is what 5G cellular network has come to do.
Have you ever thought about downloading a 1Gb file in just 1second? Now this sounds weird, but I welcome you to the future of ICT, where everything is possible.
Here's what one of the lead researchers on 5G network; Professor Rahim Tafazolli has to say:
5G cellular network will be a dramatic harmonization and total overhaul of the radio spectrum - Professor Rahim Tafazolli
Current and potential applications of 5G cellular network
Here are some of the current and potential applications of this emerging technology:
- Used for the connection of smart cities.
- In medicals; for remote surgery.
- In automotive industries; for the driverless cars.
- Integration of "Internet of things".
Technology can only get better.
Tech Rules!!
References for further reading: Ref1, Ref2, Ref3, Ref4