Everyone’s heard of 5G and how it is better than 4G. Most of us think it’s something to do with faster and/or better cell phone and internet services. While this is true, that is only a tiny part of the 5G phenomenon.
Let’s look at what 5G is compared to the 4G it is replacing. It is also important to understand the emerging technologies that depend on efficient and extensive 5G networks. We should consider the crucial role it will play in developing and sustaining better civil societies.
And that will bring us to the crux of this story: what is 5G infrastructure? How do we fund it, and what are the possible constraints?
5G Compared to 4G
The G stands for Generation, and 5G is exponentially more potent than the 4G it is replacing. 5G is up to 100 times faster than 4G, with an average speed of 150 to 200 Mbps, and that can go up to 1 Gbps. 4G gives you around 23 to 35 Mbps, maxing out at 150 Mbps.
While 4G can support around 4,000 devices per square kilometer, 5G pushes that up to one million.
The latency, or lag, that happens when two devices exchange information on a cellular network is reduced from around 20–50 milliseconds to 1–10 milliseconds.
One of the ways 5G is so much more potent is because it can use both the lower frequencies currently used by 4G as well as new, higher frequencies.
Technology That Relies on 5G
Any technology that requires high-speed data, low lag rates, and reliable connections absolutely needs 5G. We immediately think of consumer use, such as streaming services, sharing pictures and videos, and online gaming. Those will improve with 5G, but there are other areas where 5G attributes will change the way you live.
These applications increasingly rely on AI and machine learning happening in real time:
- Autonomous driving is huge, with big companies betting their futures on this technology. But this will not happen unless there is speed, instant data, and stable infrastructure. Smart traffic management can change the operation of traffic signals in real time to improve traffic flow, while increased use of electric vehicles will require smart charging grids to optimize cost and availability.
- The cost of healthcare is going through the roof, and the sector needs technology such as remote surgery, real-time patient monitoring, and telemedicine to reduce costs.
- Manufacturing is increasingly automated, needing real-time machine monitoring, robotics control, and smart factories that can optimize supply and demand.
5G as a Utility
The World Economic Forum views 5G connectivity as a crucial utility, similar to electricity, gas, and water, in its ability to improve healthcare and education and boost economic development. It estimates that a 10% greater penetration of broadband will improve a city or region’s GDP by up to 1.4%.
The problem is that 5G is expensive to build and maintain, which is why the WEF is exploring private/public partnerships to expand the prevalence of this technology worldwide. But how do you build a 5G network, and what are the things you have to pay for?
The Infrastructure That Makes 5G
The rollout of 5G is carried out by many different companies and governmental bodies around the world. Collectively, the creation and expansion of 5G capacity over time will cost trillions of dollars, becoming one of the most comprehensive, important, and expensive human endeavors.
Although 5G is heavily reliant on cloud computing, transforming hardware into software for much of its main operations, the widespread nature of such networks still requires significant hardware in specific locations to function.
5G Infrastructure Components
The main hardware 5G components include 5G small cell infrastructure, macro cells with MIMO antennas, and RAN towers.
Small Cell Infrastructure
Small cell base stations are a big part of the extended 5G networks. You would not normally see them, as they are small and unobtrusive. Small cell base stations are built in clusters in areas with many devices to serve, and they provide continuous connections. They form part of, and enhance, the macro networks that cover wide areas.
5G networks use millimeter waves to carry data fast, but can only do so over short distances in areas with no obstructions to block the signal.
MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) Antennas
Small cell infrastructure is multiplied by using clusters of MIMO antennas to connect to networks while maintaining signal volumes.
Fiber Networks
Small cell infrastructure is cost-effective and efficient as long as there are no obstructions in its path. The nature of device-rich urban landscapes and undulating rural networks often interrupts such signals, which means 5G has to be supported by vast underground fiber networks to maintain the signals.
RAN (Radio Access Network)
RAN uses lower-band radio frequencies, which can carry less data but cover bigger areas. This makes RAN ideal for rural and other areas with lower population density and fewer network requirements.
Building and Expanding 5G Networks
Because building and expanding 5G networks is happening at such incredible speed and over such large geographic areas, it can only be done cost-effectively if all the different components can be guaranteed on-site and on time.
Global supply chains have been severely disrupted recently, first by COVID and its aftermath, then by events such as the ship stuck in the Suez Canal and water shortages curtailing the volume carried by the Panama Canal. Regional conflicts, current and potential, are causing uncertainty, as are the trade disputes roiling global markets.
The success of the 5G rollout depends on operators building resilient sources of supplies of electronics and the supporting hardware and other infrastructure they need.
Guest article written by: William Powell is a writer and educator with a passion for tech and marketing. He also enjoys learning about the latest business trends and analyzing how global events impact domestic and international economies.