what is 5G?
5G is the 5th generation of mobile networks, a significant evolution of today's 4G LTE networks. 5G has been designed to meet the very large growth in data and connectivity of today’s modern society, the internet of things with billions of connected devices, and tomorrow’s innovations. 5G will initially operate in conjunction with existing 4G networks before evolving to fully standalone networks in subsequent releases and coverage expansions in addition to delivering faster connections and greater capacity, a very important advantage of 5G is the fast response time referred to as latency.
Latency is the time taken for devices to respond to each other over the wireless network. 3G networks had a typical response time of 100 milliseconds, 4G is around 30 milliseconds and 5G will be as low as
1 millisecond. This is virtually instantaneous opening up a new world of connected applications. HOW DOES 5G WORK?Most operators will initially integrate 5G networks with existing 4G networks to provide a continuous connection.
5G network architecture illustrating 5G and 4G working together, with central and local servers
providing faster content to users and low latency applications.
A mobile network has two main components, the ‘Radio Access Network’ and the ‘Core Network’.
The Radio Access Network - consists of various types of facilities including small cells, towers, masts and dedicated in-building and home systems that connect mobile users and wireless devices to the main core network.
Small cells will be a major feature of 5G networks particularly at the new millimetre wave (mmWave) frequencies where the connection range is very short. To provide a continuous connection, small cells will be distributed in clusters depending on where users require a connection which will complement the macro network that provides wide-area coverage.
5G Macro Cells will use MIMO (multiple inputs, multiple outputs) antennas that have multiple elements or connections to send and receive more data simultaneously. The benefit to users is that more people can simultaneously connect to the network and maintain high throughput. Where MIMO antennas use very large numbers of antenna elements they are often
referred to as ‘massive MIMO’, however, the physical size is similar to existing 3G and 4G base station antennas.
The Core Network - is the mobile exchange and data network that manages all of the mobile voice, data and internet connections. For 5G, the ‘core network’ is being redesigned to better integrate with the internet and cloud-based services and also includes distributed servers across the network improving response times (reducing latency).Many of the advanced features of 5G including network function virtualization and network slicing for different applications and services, will be managed in the core. The following illustration shows examples of local cloud servers providing faster content to users (movie streaming) and low latency applications for vehicle collision avoidance systems.
Example of a local server in a 5G network providing faster connection and lower response times
Network Slicing – enables a smart way to segment the network for a particular industry, business or application. For example, emergency services could operate on a network slice independently from other users. unctions in real-time at any desired
location within the operator’s cloud platform. Network functions that used to
run on dedicated hardware for example a firewall and encryption at business
premises can now operate on software on a virtual machine. NVF is crucial to
enable the speed efficiency and agility to support new business applications
and is an important technology for a 5G ready core.
5G WORKING WITH 4GWhen a 5G connection is established, the User
Equipment (or device) will connect to both the 4G network to provide the
control signalling and to the 5G network to help provide the fast data
connection by adding to the existing 4G capacity.
Where there is limited 5G coverage, the data is carried on the 4G network
providing the continuous connection. Essentially with this design, the 5G network is complementing the existing 4G network
HOW DOES 5G DELIVER CONTINUOUS CONNECTION, GREATER
CAPACITY, AND FASTER SPEED AND RESPONSE TIMES?
BETTER CONNECTION - ALWAYS
CONNECTED5G networks are designed to work in conjunction
with 4G networks using a range of macrocells, small cells and dedicated
in-building systems. Small cells are mini base stations designed for very
localised coverage typically from 10 metres to a few hundred metres providing
in-fill for a larger macro network. Small cells are essential for the 5G
networks as the mmWave frequencies have a very short connection range.
INCREASED SPECTRUM – GREATER
CAPACITY, MORE USERS AND FASTER SPEED
In many countries the initial frequency bands for
5G are below 6 GHz (in many cases in the 3.3-3.8 GHz bands) and similar
frequencies to existing mobile and Wi-Fi networks. Additional mobile spectrum
above 6 GHz, including the 26-28 GHz bands often referred to as millimetre (mm)
Wave will provide significantly more capacity compared to the current mobile
technologies. The additional spectrum and greater capacity will enable more
users, more data and faster connections. It is also expected that there will be
future reuse of the existing low band spectrum for 5G as legacy networks decline in
usage and to support future use cases.
The increased spectrum in the mmWave band will
provide localised coverage as they only operate over short distances. Future 5G
deployments may use mmW frequencies in bands up to 86 GHz.
Mobile spectrum showing the radio frequency range
from 3-100 GHz with new 5G spectrum above 6GHz.
Other radio services (TV, Wi-Fi, Fixed links &
Satellite) are shown for reference. Additional information on the
Electromagnetic Spectrum is available here
MASSIVE
MIMOmultiple-element base station - greater capacity,
multiple users, faster data
5G will use ‘massive’ MIMO (multiple-input,
multiple-output) antennas that have very large numbers of antenna elements or
connections to send and receive more data simultaneously. The benefit to users
is that more people can simultaneously connect to the network and maintain high
throughput.
The overall physical size of the 5G massive MIMO antennas will be similar to
4G, however with a higher frequency, the individual antenna element size is
smaller allowing more elements (above 100) in the same physical case.
5G User Equipment including mobile phones and devices will also have MIMO
antenna technology built into the device for the mmWave frequencies.
4G sector base station and 5G base station with a
new multi-element massive MIMO antenna array. The overall physical size of the
5G base station antenna is expected to be similar to a 4G base station antenna.
MIMO - Beam Steering
Beam steering is a technology that allows the massive MIMO base station
antennas to direct the radio signal to the users and devices rather than in all
directions. The beam steering technology uses advanced signal processing
algorithms to determine the best path for the radio signal to reach the user.
This increases efficiency as it reduces interference (unwanted radio signals).
Massive MIMO antenna and advanced beam steering
optimises EMF and increases efficiency.
what is 5G?
5G is the 5th generation of mobile networks, a significant evolution of today's 4G LTE networks. 5G has been designed to meet the very large growth in data and connectivity of today’s modern society, the internet of things with billions of connected devices, and tomorrow’s innovations. 5G will initially operate in conjunction with existing 4G networks before evolving to fully standalone networks in subsequent releases and coverage expansions in addition to delivering faster connections and greater capacity, a very important advantage of 5G is the fast response time referred to as latency.
Latency is the time taken for devices to respond to each other over the wireless network. 3G networks had a typical response time of 100 milliseconds, 4G is around 30 milliseconds and 5G will be as low as
Most operators will initially integrate 5G networks with existing 4G networks to provide a continuous connection.
5G network architecture illustrating 5G and 4G working together, with central and local servers
providing faster content to users and low latency applications.
A mobile network has two main components, the ‘Radio Access Network’ and the ‘Core Network’.
The Radio Access Network - consists of various types of facilities including small cells, towers, masts and dedicated in-building and home systems that connect mobile users and wireless devices to the main core network.
5G Macro Cells will use MIMO (multiple inputs, multiple outputs) antennas that have multiple elements or connections to send and receive more data simultaneously. The benefit to users is that more people can simultaneously connect to the network and maintain high throughput. Where MIMO antennas use very large numbers of antenna elements they are often
referred to as ‘massive MIMO’, however, the physical size is similar to existing 3G and 4G base station antennas.
The Core Network - is the mobile exchange and data network that manages all of the mobile voice, data and internet connections. For 5G, the ‘core network’ is being redesigned to better integrate with the internet and cloud-based services and also includes distributed servers across the network improving response times (reducing latency).
Many of the advanced features of 5G including network function virtualization and network slicing for different applications and services, will be managed in the core. The following illustration shows examples of local cloud servers providing faster content to users (movie streaming) and low latency applications for vehicle collision avoidance systems.
Example of a local server in a 5G network providing faster connection and lower response times
Network Slicing – enables a smart way to segment the network for a particular industry, business or application. For example, emergency services could operate on a network slice independently from other users. unctions in real-time at any desired
location within the operator’s cloud platform. Network functions that used to
run on dedicated hardware for example a firewall and encryption at business
premises can now operate on software on a virtual machine. NVF is crucial to
enable the speed efficiency and agility to support new business applications
and is an important technology for a 5G ready core.
5G WORKING WITH 4G
When a 5G connection is established, the User
Equipment (or device) will connect to both the 4G network to provide the
control signalling and to the 5G network to help provide the fast data
connection by adding to the existing 4G capacity.
Where there is limited 5G coverage, the data is carried on the 4G network
providing the continuous connection. Essentially with this design, the 5G network is complementing the existing 4G network
HOW DOES 5G DELIVER CONTINUOUS CONNECTION, GREATER
CAPACITY, AND FASTER SPEED AND RESPONSE TIMES?
BETTER CONNECTION - ALWAYS CONNECTED
5G networks are designed to work in conjunction
with 4G networks using a range of macrocells, small cells and dedicated
in-building systems. Small cells are mini base stations designed for very
localised coverage typically from 10 metres to a few hundred metres providing
in-fill for a larger macro network. Small cells are essential for the 5G
networks as the mmWave frequencies have a very short connection range.
INCREASED SPECTRUM – GREATER
CAPACITY, MORE USERS AND FASTER SPEED
In many countries the initial frequency bands for
5G are below 6 GHz (in many cases in the 3.3-3.8 GHz bands) and similar
frequencies to existing mobile and Wi-Fi networks. Additional mobile spectrum
above 6 GHz, including the 26-28 GHz bands often referred to as millimetre (mm)
Wave will provide significantly more capacity compared to the current mobile
technologies. The additional spectrum and greater capacity will enable more
users, more data and faster connections. It is also expected that there will be
future reuse of the existing low band spectrum for 5G as legacy networks decline in
usage and to support future use cases.
The increased spectrum in the mmWave band will
provide localised coverage as they only operate over short distances. Future 5G
deployments may use mmW frequencies in bands up to 86 GHz.
Mobile spectrum showing the radio frequency range
from 3-100 GHz with new 5G spectrum above 6GHz.
Other radio services (TV, Wi-Fi, Fixed links &
Satellite) are shown for reference. Additional information on the
Electromagnetic Spectrum is available here
MASSIVE MIMO
multiple-element base station - greater capacity,
multiple users, faster data
5G will use ‘massive’ MIMO (multiple-input,
multiple-output) antennas that have very large numbers of antenna elements or
connections to send and receive more data simultaneously. The benefit to users
is that more people can simultaneously connect to the network and maintain high
throughput.
The overall physical size of the 5G massive MIMO antennas will be similar to
4G, however with a higher frequency, the individual antenna element size is
smaller allowing more elements (above 100) in the same physical case.
5G User Equipment including mobile phones and devices will also have MIMO
antenna technology built into the device for the mmWave frequencies.
4G sector base station and 5G base station with a
new multi-element massive MIMO antenna array. The overall physical size of the
5G base station antenna is expected to be similar to a 4G base station antenna.
MIMO - Beam Steering
Beam steering is a technology that allows the massive MIMO base station
antennas to direct the radio signal to the users and devices rather than in all
directions. The beam steering technology uses advanced signal processing
algorithms to determine the best path for the radio signal to reach the user.
This increases efficiency as it reduces interference (unwanted radio signals).
Massive MIMO antenna and advanced beam steering
optimises EMF and increases efficiency.
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