Last updated 10 November 2023
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Do you want to know more about 5G technology? Then you're in the right place. On this Q&A page, you'll discover key facts about 5G: Let's see how 5G technology is changing the world. 5G technology is a breakthrough.
The next generation of telecom networks (fifth generation or 5G) started hitting the market at the end of 2018 and will continue to expand worldwide. Beyond speed improvement, the technology is expected to unleash a massive 5G IoT (Internet of Things) ecosystem where networks can serve communication needs for billions of connected devices, with the right trade-offs between speed, latency, and cost. This makes sense if you think about what 5G has to offer. 5G speed tops out at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps). 5G is 10 to x100 faster than what you can get with 4G. According to communication principles, the shorter the frequency, the larger the bandwidth. Using shorter frequencies (millimeter waves between 30GHz and 300GHz) for 5G networks is why 5G can be faster. This high-band 5G spectrum provides the expected boost in speed and capacity, low latency, and quality. However,may differ widely by area. According to the February 2020 issue of Fortune Magazine, average 5G speed measures done in Q3/Q4 2019 range from: That's 10 to 50 times more than 4G LTE 5G speed can vary widely based on your proximity to a 5G tower and the surrounding environment. Close to a 5G tower with a clear line of sight, you could experience speeds surpassing 1000 Mbps—nearly tenfold the rates of 4G. However, these speeds can diminish as the distance from the tower increases or if obstacles interfere with the signal. Here are some other examples of download and upload speeds you can expect with 5G. Some download and upload 5G speed tests in Australia, America, and China In conclusion, 5G speeds are not uniform; they can significantly fluctuate based on factors such as distance from the cell tower, environmental obstacles, and network traffic. But here is the part where you understand the benefits of 5G go beyond speed. 5G technology offers an extremely low latency rate, the delay between the sending and receiving information. From 200 milliseconds for 4G, we go down to 1 millisecond(1 ms) with 5G. The average reaction time for humans to a visual stimulus is 250 ms or 1/4 of a second. People are capped at around 190-200 ms with proper training. Imagine now that your car could react 250 times faster than you. Imagine it could also respond to hundreds of incoming information and communicate its reactions to other vehicles and road signals within milliseconds. At 60 mph (100km/h), the reaction distance is about 33 yards (30 meters) before you pull on the brakes. With a 1ms reaction time, the car would only have rolled more than one inch (less than 3 centimeters). In other words, 5G and IoT create the perfect match. So, let's see what makes 5G so different from 4G. The 5th generation of wireless networks addresses the evolution beyond mobile internet to massive IoT (Internet of Things) from 2019/2020. Compared with today's 4G and 4.5G (aka LTE advanced, LTE-A, LTE+, or 4G+), the main evolution is that, beyond data speed improvements, new IoT and critical communication use cases will require a new level of improved performance. Unlike current IoT services that make performance trade-offs to get the best from current wireless technologies (3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc.), 5G networks will be designed to bring the level of performance needed for massive IoT. It will enable a perceived entirely ubiquitous connected world. In short, that's what makes it transformational. In the last four decades, mobile phones, more than any other technology, have quietly changed our lives forever. Do you remember how much you loved your 2G Nokia 3310? 5G will support all communication needs from low-power Local Area Networks (LAN) – like home networks, such as Wide Area Networks (WAN), with the proper latency/speed settings. This need is addressed today by aggregating various communication networks (Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, LoRa, 3G, 4G, etc.) And 5G is more innovative. 5G is designed to allow simple virtual network configurations to align network costs with application needs better. This new approach will allow 5G Mobile Network operators to catch a larger IoT market by delivering cost-effective solutions for low-band, low-power applications. Some recent illustrations: 5G+ is a step up from standard 5G, designed to boost network speed, capacity, and coverage by as much as 50%. Imagine at busy events, like concerts or games, 5G+ cuts through digital crowd jams, letting you download an HD movie in a minute. While standard 5G utilizes low-band spectrum to extend coverage and enhance reliability, it delivers speeds only marginally faster than 4G LTE. On the other hand, 5G plus leverages millimeter wave technology to achieve breakneck speeds, though with a shorter range. Each new generation wireless network came with a new set of new usages. The next 5G will make no exception and focus on IoT and critical communications applications. In terms of the schedule, we can mention the following use cases over time: Some critical applications, like self-driving cars, require very aggressive latency (fast response time), while they do not require quick data rates. Conversely, enterprise cloud-based services with massive data analysis will require speed improvements more than latency improvements. 5G rollout: Where do we stand? Over four years since its launch, 5G technology has significantly matured, achieving broader and faster coverage. As of June 2023, 5G has reached 1.1 billion subscriptions globally, with an addition of 125 million in the first quarter alone. About 240 service providers have established 5G networks, and 35 have launched 5G Standalone (SA) networks. As of early 2023, users have over 700 5G smartphone models to choose from. GSMA Intelligence predicts rapid 5G expansion, with connections set to reach 2 billion by 2025, outpacing 3G and 4G rollouts. By 2028, 5G is expected to encompass 4.6 billion subscriptions, overtaking half of all mobile subscriptions. Regarding availability, South Korea and Puerto Rico are leading, with nearly half of their 5G users spending most of their time connected to 5G, according to OPENSIGNAL benchmarks of June 2023. The US follows closely with a 31.1% availability rate. However, availability varies in Europe, with Finland and Bulgaria at the top (24.2% - 24.7%) but significant markets like the UK lagging behind (10.1%). Singapore and Taiwan are at 30% in Asia, with Malaysia at 20.5%. Speed-wise, 5G is transforming digital experiences with average download speeds many times faster than 4G, with India (19.2x), Malaysia (14.4x), and Brazil (13.5x) witnessing the most significant jumps. Regarding absolute speeds, South Korea leads at 432.5Mbps, with seven markets exceeding 300Mbps. For gaming and video streaming, 5G provides an enhanced experience, with improvements of up to 37.6% in video and 31.3% in gaming experiences across various markets. North America 5G was available in some locations in 2019. It took off in most areas in 2020. More precisely, ATT announced nationwide coverage in the US in the first half of 2020. Verizon 5G was the first carrier to roll out 5G. 5G is being set up much quicker than 4G ever was. The first 5G network covered the whole country twice as fast as 4G. Also, the top three phone service providers got their 5G networks up and running nationwide 1.5 times quicker than they did with 4G. Currently, 5G networks in the US reach over 325 million people, making America's 5G the most widespread worldwide. According to Ookla, the US leads globally, with more than half of 5G-ready phones using a 5G network most of the time. That's almost 20% more than South Korea and nearly twice as much as China, where only about 27.3% have 5G availability. Deutsche Telekom started 5G in Berlin, Darmstadt, Munich, Bonn, and Cologne in Sept 2019. In December 2021, major cities (53% of the territory) were covered by 5G services. In August 2023, Telefonica Germany reached 90% of 5G coverage. The company is targeting nationwide coverage for 2025. 5G networks covered 89% of Germany's territory as of July 2023. Telcos in France announced 5G offers by 2020 for real availability in 2021. By 2030, France should be covered by 5G. In the UK, many cities have seen 5G in 2019 and more in 2020. EE, Vodafone, and O2 have been actively deploying 5G since mid-2019. The UK was quick to start using 5G in 2019, but now it's not keeping up. Why? According to the Financial Times of 2 August 2023, phone companies haven't been spending enough. Ofcom says that while 82% of homes and workplaces in the UK can get 5G from at least one company, only 22% have it from all the phone services. Find more resources: 5G availability worldwide as of September 2023, or check the interactive weekly updated Ookla 5G map. Over four years since its launch, 5G technology has significantly matured, achieving broader and faster coverage. If you want to learn more, please visit our website jija. This brings us to our next point. The projected adoption rate for 5G differs drastically from all previous generation networks (3G, 4G). While previous technology was driven by mobile internet usage and the availability of "killer apps," 5G is expected to be mainly driven by new IoT usages, such as connected and self-driving cars.
Ericsson reports that as of early 2023, there are now 1.1 billion 5G subscribers worldwide, with an increase of 125 million in the first quarter alone. About 240 service providers have rolled out 5G networks, and approximately 35 have introduced or set up 5G Standalone (SA) networks. By the end of 2028, the number of 5G users is projected to hit 4.6 billion, representing more than half of all mobile users globally. Ericsson announced 4.6 billion 5G subscribers at the end of 2028. 5G is still a cellular broadband technology and is a network of networks. MNOs' expertise and knowledge in building and operating networks will be crucial to the success of 5G. Beyond providing network services, MNOs will develop and operate new IoT services. Implementing 5G networks while keeping 3G and 4G networks operational will likely trigger a new challenge for MNOs regarding the ability of frequencies in the spectrum (mainly if the forecasted massive volume of IoT occurs). MNOs must operate a new spectrum in the 6 to 300 GHz range (typical 5G bandwidth), which means massive network infrastructure investments. To reach the 1ms latency goal, 5G networks imply connectivity for the base station using optical fibers. 5G networks are planned to support virtual networks such as low power, low throughput (LPLT) networks for low-cost IoT on the cost savings side, unlike today where LORA networks address that need separately from 4G. 5G for consumers means faster mobile internet, but mainly internet connectivity in many more objects than you see today. The car and the house are two examples of the big IoT revolution coming ahead, supported by 5G networks. According to the GSA report (April 2023), there are 1,513 commercially available 5G devices, representing 79.8% of all announced 5G devices. This is an increase of 51.3% in the number of commercial 5G devices since the end of March 2022.
The number of commercially available devices has been growing steadily since the start of the year and should continue to increase as more devices reach the market. 5G SIM cards made their debut in 2019 and 2020. Discover the definition benefits of a 5G SIM for 5G virtualized networks. Discover the 5G SIM definition and benefits. 5G satellite communication -directly from the sky to the device- will soon become a reality. Indeed, a new generation of satellites will bring onboard 5G capabilities to ensure full 5G coverage of the Earth and the terrestrial mobile 5G networks. Specifically, with space-based systems, 5G will offer higher accessibility, reliability, resilience, and broadcasting and multi-broadcasting capabilities. We expect 5G to support a wide variety of applications (e.g., agriculture, logistics, public safety) so that everybody in the world can be connected. Along with space and mobile phone manufacturers, Thales Alenia Space supports the efforts of 3GPP to develop solutions embracing the vision of a single global space-based network fully integrated with mobile operators' 5G networks. At the beginning of 2021, South Korean operator KT SAT, a subsidiary of the world's first 5G commercial service provider, Korea Telecom, led a 5G satellite demonstration using the geostationary Koreasat 5A telecommunication satellite to provide a 5G network to remote areas. More recently, Hellas Sat performed a successful 5G demonstration in Greece: it backhauled the connection between a 5G Core Network and a 5G gNB through Hellas Sat 3 / Inmarsat S EAN satellite. Thales Alenia Space manufactured both satellites. 4G networks use the USIM application to perform strong mutual authentication between the user and their connected device and the networks. The entity hosting the USIM application can be a removable SIM card or an embedded UICC chip. This strong mutual authentication is crucial to enable trusted services. Today, security solutions are already a mix of security at the edge (device) and the core (network). Several security frameworks may co-exist in the future, and 5G is likely to re-use existing solutions used today for 4G networks and the cloud (SEs, HSM, certification, Over-The-Air provisioning, and KMS). The standard for strong mutual authentication for 5G networks was finalized in 2018. With the increased impact of IoT services, the need for 5G security, privacy, and trust will be as strong as for 4G, if not stronger. Local SEs in devices can secure network access and support secure services such as emergency call management and virtual IoT networks.
5G connectivity promises to break traditional data delivery paradigms by providing network connectivity almost everywhere. New business opportunities drive data-in-motion security requirements to include network transparency, low latency, high-level bandwidth, consistency in delivery, and complete interoperability. Older, more traditional data-in-motion security methods are no longer viable solutions to these diverse 5G requirements. Additionally, these older technologies cannot meet today's challenges of auditable compliance and the not-so-distant future's quantum threat challenges. Security, performance, interoperability, and auditable compliance are just some 5G challenges that require immediate attention.
There is a need for a more intelligent data-in-motion security solution to accommodate the diverse range of 5G use cases. While traveling abroad, 5G users will seamlessly enjoy a 5G roaming experience on visited networks. A fallback to 3G-4G will be guaranteed. Wi-Fi wireless is a "Local Area Network" technology limited in operating range, speed, and latency. IoT services demand more ubiquity, mobility, performance speed, and response time. 5G will truly unleash a vibrant IoT ecosystem. The "perception" of speed, instantaneous response time, and IoT performance will become a reality thanks to 5G. It's set to change our world in many ways: 5G isn't just a new way to connect phones; it's a foundation for a more connected and efficient future. What do you think? If you've something to say on 5G technology and networks, testimonials on 5G speed, a question to ask, or have found this article useful, please comment below. We'd also welcome suggestions on improving it or proposals for future papers. We look forward to hearing from you.
What is 5G?
5G technology is driven by 8 specification requirements:
How fast is 5G?
What makes 5G faster? Good question!
What is 5G low latency?
Just think about it.
A millisecond is 1/1000 of a second.
Use cases associated with low latency are:
5G vs 4G - What is the difference?
5G and the previous mobile generations at a glance
Virtual networks (5G slicing) tailored to each use case.
What is 5G+?
What are the real 5G use cases?
When is 5G coming?
5G availability and speed in 2023
5G availability
5G speed in 2023
When did 5G come out in the US?
5G in Germany, France and the UK
5G in India
5G and China
How fast will 5G take-up be?
What are the implications of 5G for mobile operators?
What does 5G mean for consumers?
5G SIM
What's the relation between 5G and satellites?
Will 5G technology be secure?
To accommodate this new paradigm in data delivery, the build-out of 5G infrastructures is underway.How will 5G impact roaming?
How will 5G boost the commercialization of IoT devices relying on cellular rather than Wi-Fi technology?
How will 5G network use cases change the world?
Now it's your turn.
TCL is having a busy start to 2024. First, it announced a staggering number of new smartphones and two new tablets at CES, and now it’s unveiling something else at MWC 2024 — one of the world’s first 5G dongles that takes advantage of the latest power-efficient 5G standards.
TCL Mobile’s Linkkey IK511 is a pocketable new 5G adapter that’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF system, which debuted last year as the first 5G modem to support the new NR-Light “RedCap” standard.
TCL Linkkey IK511
TCL
RedCap is short for “reduced capability,” and while that may not sound like what you want from a 5G modem, it’s actually a good thing as it fills an important void and promises to bring 5G to a whole new class of devices.
While Qualcomm’s flagship modem chips, like the new Snapdragon X80, are incredible powerhouses, great power comes with great energy consumption. That’s fine for something like a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Still, not every device needs to achieve the insanely fast 5G speeds delivered by mmWave networks and new technologies like 5G Carrier Aggregation. These premium chips also don’t come cheap.
There’s more to 5G than just raw speed. A higher capacity allows more devices to stay connected in busy places, and low latency means that you get much fasters response time on all the little back-and-forth things that most of us do much more often — such as instant messaging, checking social media, and receiving notifications. Plus, 4G/LTE networks won’t be around forever.
The result is that there are whole classes of devices that need 5G connectivity, but can’t handle the power requirements of a smartphone or tablet 5G modem. Qualcomm’s X35 was initially heralded as a 5G modem chip to power the next generation of smartwatches. That will still likely be the most common use case, but as TCL’s new Linkkey IK511 proves, it’s not the only one.
TCL Linkkey IK512
TCL
While pricing has yet to be announced, the Linkkey IK511 promises to deliver a more affordable way for users to move away from 4G/LTE networks and enjoy the benefits of 5G. The reduced capabilities also mean reduced costs, but for most folks, the IK511 should deliver more than enough performance for everyday use, as the RedCap standard is still capable of delivering download speeds of up to 150Mbps and upload speeds reaching 50Mbps.
To put that in perspective, a 4K UHD stream from Netflix only requires 15Mbps of bandwidth, while even the highest-0quality streaming services, like Disney+ and Apple TV+, peak at around 40Mbps.
TCL hopes its new 5G dongle will help to democratize 5G. “Together with Qualcomm Technologies, TCL will bring 5G to more customers and help to mark a new chapter in the future of connectivity and interconnected devices, to accelerate global connectivity,” said Jesse Wu, TCL’s general manager of Smart Connected Devices.
TCL Linkhub HH132 Pro
TCL
The Linkkey IK511 joins the more powerful Linkkey IK512, which is designed for situations that require more bandwidth. It supports 5G speeds of up to 2.46Gbps, along with the Linkhub HH132 Pro router for delivering fixed wireless access (FWA) to homes and small businesses. While TCL says the Linkkey IK512 will be available in Europe later this year, pricing and availability for the IK511 hasn’t yet been confirmed.
For more information, please visit 5g Dongle.