May 3, 2018

The Future Of 5G And Mobile Networks

5G mobile networksEvery decade, something big happens in mobile technology. So, what’s the big thing in mobile technology now? it is the 5G. The next gen of mobile technology, 5G is starting to take shape and could be the last standard we ever need. Here is more on the future of 5G and mobile networks!

The first mobile networks appeared in the 1980s and ever since then, a new mobile network technology has emerged every decade or so. First it was 2G, then 3G, then 4G and then came out LTE. Each mobile network was launched to fix its predecessor’s flaws. The security weakness of analogue telephony was fixed by GSM, GSM’s lack of mobile data was sorted out by 3G, and to make data consumption less of an unpleasant experience, 4G was launched.

Now, it is 5G’s turn to set the stage on fire but is it really going to be the next big change in mobile technology?

If yes, then what is the problem that it going to fix? We will answer these and more questions about 5G here so continue reading to find out everything about the future of 5G and mobile networks.

Understanding the 5G Technology

While we will have to wait until 2020 to use 5G, many companies are already investing heavily in this technology to prepare for the new wireless standard. So, what is 5G and what impact will it have on wireless systems in the future.

Although a formal standard for 5G is yet to be set, the technology simply refers to the next and newest mobile standard based on the IEEE 802.11ac of broadband technology. According to a White Paper on 5G by Next Generation Mobile Networks, the connections enabled by this technology must be based on system performance, user experience, management & operations, enhanced services and system performance.

Additionally, the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) says that 5G must fulfill most of the following requirements:

  • 90% reduction in network energy usage
  • (perception of) 100% coverage
  • One millisecond end-to-end round-trip delay
  • Up to ten-year battery life for low power, machine-type devices
  • (Perception of) 99.99% availability
  • 10 to 100x number of connected devices
  • 1000x bandwidth per unit area
  • One to 10Gbps connections to end-points in the field

3G was a breakthrough in communications. The technology receives signal from the nearest phone tower and is used for phone calls, messaging and data. 4G—the technology that came after 3G, works in the same way but with a lower latency and a faster internet connection.

The technology claims to be five times faster than existing 3G services and in theory, it can provide download speeds of up to 100Mbps.

Today, the rapid proliferation in cloud-based services and applications has aggravated the acceleration in user traffic demand. Unfortunately, current wireless systems including 4G technology are not set up to meet these demands.

Mobile network operators are required to significantly improve capacity and coverage across their wireless deployments as a 13-fold growth in mobile data is expected over the next five years. The solution is simple and it lies in the deployment of fifth generation (5G) wireless technology.

The Advantages of the 5G Technology

It will be a few years before 5G technology sees the light of day, but there are clues about where it’s headed and the areas it will improve. The primary advantage of this mobile network technology is that it is easier to implement than 4G or any of the mobile networks that came before it.

Additionally, it promises 90% energy savings per service provided, 10% more battery life, latency below one millisecond, 100 billion simultaneous connection, and frequencies between 6GHz and 100GHz. The technology also allows new user experiences and could potentially improve ecological sustainability by reducing energy consumption.

Perhaps, the biggest advantage of the 5G mobile network is it speed. Just like previous generation, 5G will be faster than its predecessor, which is 4G.  This will enable higher productivity across all capable devices with a theoretical download speed of 10000 Mbps. In addition to faster download speed, the greater bandwidth of 5G will allow running more complex mobile internet apps.

What the Future Holds For 5G and Mobile Networks

2020 is when 5G will bedeployed in phases. However, we can expect to see the 5G smartphones for the first time in 2019 when they are launched in pilot cities. Based on demand for new services and frequency availability, 5G will be phased in from 2020.

While 5G isn’t available for use yet, many companies have already started to create 5G products and filed test them.  Some of the notable advancements in this mobile network technology have come from BT, Ericsson, Samsung, Qualcomm, and Nokia. Also, some companies have formed 5G partnerships and pledged money to continue research into 5G and its application.

The 5G efforts of Samsung and Qualcomm have focused on hardware, with the latter creating a 5G modem and the former producer a home router enabled by 5G. On the other hand, Ericsson and Nokia have focused their efforts toward creating 5G platforms for mobile carriers rather than consumers. Earlier this year, a 5G platform that claims to provide the first 5G radio system was created by Ericsson.However, the multinational networking and telecommunications company began testing 5G in 2015.

3G,4G, LTE and now 5G—mobile network technology has gotten better over the years. While the mobile networks before it helped to accomplish a lot, 5G promises to completely transform the mobile and digital landscape. However, we will have to wait until at least 2020 to see if that actually happens.

by Bobby J Davidson

We love our company and we love what we do.  Check out the ‘Why Percento‘ page to learn more: Love of Technology and Business!  As the President of Percento Technologies International, I provide day-to-day leadership to the company’s senior management and I am personally involved in the strategy, business development and sales activities of the firm.

The company was founded in 1999 with the purpose of providing a one call source for organizations in need of Enterprise IT Consulting and Management.  We also provide a line of products in the boutique Cloud Server space with a touch of high-end website strategy consulting and design services.   We personalizes the IT Service experience with a team approach, working with clients from diverse sectors of industry, including energy services, financial, legal, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, retail and general and/or corporate business.

Our Mission: “Creating innovative IT solutions for business leaders worldwide through cutting edge technologies.”

Contact me today to discuss how our great team can assist: 1 800 614 7886 or our Contact Form.