The Impact of 5G on Wireless Technology
By Safi Khan
July 16, 2024
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
5G represents a revolutionary leap forward for wireless technology. However, some of the claims made before the launch and subsequent rollout of 5G didn’t materialize. In this article, we will examine:
- Which claims about 5G came to fruition
- The speeds and latency
- How 5G enhanced various wireless technology applications
Take 5G for a Test Drive
How the Carriers Deployed 5G
There are two flavors of 5G technology: millimeter wave (mmWave) and sub-6 gigahertz (GHz). Many suspected that mmWave would be the most significant development alongside 5G. However, it didn’t happen the way it was envisioned.
One major mobile network operator (MNO), for instance, was aggressive in deploying mmWave. Still, the market revealed that this technology was too challenging and expensive.
mmWave had technical challenges. One problem was the line of sight. Another issue was the costly installation of small cells on each light pole to ensure good coverage for homes and streets. For homes, it was even more challenging to get mmWave coverage indoors.
As a result, this MNO decided to change its strategy and focus on deploying sub-6 GHz first. They managed to deploy mmWave in many high-density zones but not to the extent they anticipated.
Another variable that hindered the pace of the 5G deployment was that the price points didn’t come down as much as predicted. Even when price points of 5G eventually lowered, it was still not enough to promote mass adoption.
Speed and Latency: 4G vs. 5G
This leading MNO claimed that 5G could be 200 times faster than its current 4G LTE network. More conservative estimates stated that 5G could be 10 times faster than 4G.
Many claimed that 5G could increase download speeds to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) from 4G’s 1 Gbps. This number, while possible, remains theoretical. Moreover, speeds will vary between networks based on the type of 5G technology used.
In addition to higher speeds, 5G promises lower latency. Initial projects thought 5G would reduce the average LTE latency of over 10 milliseconds to just one millisecond. Still, the current latency figures are typically around 10 to five milliseconds.
5 Revolutionary 5G Applications for Wireless Technology
Despite some 5G predictions being slightly off, there are many examples of 5G enhancing wireless technology in various industries. Here are five noteworthy applications.
1. Routers and Gateways for Wireless Technology
Enterprise networking appliances with a broadband connection via a router or gateway can failover to 5G if the main broadband (e.g., fiber or cable) goes down. Failover to 5G ensures operations continue to function, avoiding downtime. 5G’s faster uplink speeds compared to 4G are especially beneficial.
2. SD-WAN
Businesses with multiple locations have routers and gateways that use networking virtualization via software-defined wide-area networks (SD-WANs). If a business needs to add a new remote location, it can leverage a router with 5G connectivity. The router gives the user a view of the network at that remote site as if they were sitting in the main office.
3. Private 5G Networks
Unlike a public 5G network, a private 5G network allows the owner to restrict access while providing licensed or unlicensed wireless spectrum. Some unique use cases of private 5G networks are for robots and drones.
5G-connected autonomous robots in a warehouse can move packages to and from storage shelves for e-commerce processing with high throughput and low latency. 5G-connected drones can use mobile broadband and 5G mmWave to make quick medical deliveries, such as diabetes medication or blood bags.
4. Wireless Technology for Public Transportation
Public transportation, such as trains and buses, require reliable connectivity for passenger use and to improve operational efficiency and safety. Icomera integrated Telit Cinterion’s state-of-the-art 5G data cards with a mobile connectivity and applications router. This innovation resulted in the world’s first 5G-enabled router designed and certified for rail.
5. Live Streaming and Virtual Reality
The faster uplink speeds and lower latency of 5G will improve the experience of applications such as:
- Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
- Multiplayer online games
- Teleconferencing
- Live, ultrahigh-definition video and body cameras
ORBI saw the potential of using 5G to enable football fans to experience games from the player’s perspective. It developed 5G helmets with six 360-degree video cameras that leverage Telit Cinterion’s 5G data cards. These helmets deliver video to audiences through broadcast TV, streaming services and VR headsets.
5G’s faster uplink speeds are handy when multiple video streams must be sent back to the network. 5G RedCap is an example of an enhanced connectivity solution for body cameras, which require high-speed uplink and low power at an optimized cost.
Get Ready for 5G with Telit Cinterion
Since the launch of 5G, Telit Cinterion has successfully launched 3GPP Release (Rel) 15 and 16 products. We are currently in our third generation of 5G products (Rel 17). Telit Cinterion is also leading the 5G charge with 5G RedCap.
Speak with our IoT experts to discover how we can prepare your products for the 5G revolution.
Editor’s Note: This post was first published on 27 June 2019 and has since been updated.
