Generations of cellular networks change every 10 years. These years are spent on developing technology and standards and updating the infrastructure. Each of these generations seriously increases the data transfer rate. So new services and new formats of content are born. People get new entertainment and a new quality of life.

The fifth generation of mobile networks – 5G – promises to be especially breakthrough. It is said that the Internet of Things, driverless cars and virtual reality will pass from the pages of technological media into our daily life through the implementation of 5G.

What is 5G-Internet: data transfer speed and other characteristics

5G is the fifth generation of mobile communication technologies with a huge data transfer rate – several gigabits per second. Recently, Sweden set another record – 15 Gb / s. This is 40 times faster than the existing wireless networks.

In addition, 5G reduces the signal delay to one millisecond – versus 10 milliseconds in 4G and 100 milliseconds in 3G networks.

Why do we need 5G

The average users now do not need the giant speeds of 5G. But it will immediately appear after the introduction of technology – people get used to good things quickly.

Technologies require the Internet for a long time. Most programs on devices need a stable connection. And what happens when the Internet will be in a microwave, refrigerator and washing machine? The very concept of the “Internet of Things” implies a constant connection to the Internet of all devices in and around the house (and the house itself). And if the connection speed will vary depending on the number of users, then you can forget about the wonderful idea of remote management of any device.

You can endure washing machine disconnection from network, but concerning the Google-car, you will not stand when it fails connection. The same goes for mobile medical applications, which are gaining popularity recently. There are more and more situations when the reliability and stability of the network can play a decisive role in human life. It is for the servicing of such needs that the fifth generation of communication is created.

Thus, the main problem of 5G will be network coverage. The solution was proposed by Ericsson, announcing 5G Multipoint Connectivity. This technology allows the device to connect directly to two base stations for stability and speed. In this case, an increase in their number in urban development will be inevitable.

In general, the main feature of 5G can be considered a completely new network, which operators will have to build. It is no longer a few dozen base stations in the city. To use the millimeter range (which was taken as the base for the fifth generation), the limit of qualitative data transmission is 500 meters. So, we will get a super-dense network of base stations, which will be located much more often than now. If such a development of events is quite possible in the city (for example, Seoul, where this already exists), then penetration of the fifth generation networks deep into the country seems to be quite protracted. In the case of the distribution of driverless cars, the mains will also be hung with base stations.

5G and the Internet of Things

New generation of network will produce another revolution in business processes. High speeds and a short response time will ensure the mass deployment of robots and the Internet of Things. Modern business has long been digitized and needs a new round of productivity.

And the 5G has all the chances to do it. Despite the whole hype about the Internet of Things, it is not yet possible to combine wireless objects into a single network. The lack of a single IoT standard prevents this. Wearable devices work through Bluetooth, smart homes – via Wi-Fi, in other segments several protocols are used at once.

Especially the 5G is useful in those IOT segments where the objects are heavily removed (for example, in agriculture) or a fast reaction is required (for example, for driverless vehicles). We can say that 5G will multiply the known advantages of the Internet of Things and will bring its widespread.

The high data transfer rate in 5G networks will sharply increase the load on the infrastructure. This will require significant efforts and investments from mobile operators. Mass introduction of IoT will enrich the suppliers of cloud technologies: smart devices will produce huge amounts of data and they will need to be stored somewhere.

Who deals with 5G networks in the world

Over 5G-technologies today work:

1) research laboratories (for example, the laboratory of 5G Lab Germany at the Dresden Technical University);

2) mobile operators (American Verizon and AT & T, British Vodafone, Swedish Telia, Japanese NTT DoCoMo, etc.);

3) suppliers of telecom equipment (Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, etc.).

Mobile operators have long suffered losses due to competition with IT companies. Especially after they missed the appearance of messengers.

5G gives them a chance to catch up and saddle a new technological wave of the Internet of Things. Telecom companies cooperate with equipment suppliers and are testing the capabilities of 5G networks. They try to break the records of competitors by the speed of data transfer.