5G The Future of Mobile Networks
With the constant hype around 5G networks throughout the years, India is finally set to introduce its very own spectrum auctions in the coming weeks. In preparations to launch the 5G wireless network, the government has announced plans to put forth 72 gigahertz of airwaves with a validity of up to 20 years, with regard to the auctions set to take place in the last week of July. According to reports by Ericsson, once the auction is complete in India, it has been calculated to account for almost 40% of mobile subscriptions by the end of 2027. The study also highlights that more than half of Indian enterprises favor the ideology of using 5G within the next 12 months.
However, with all of the cogitations over 5G networks, a basic question is to arise;
What is 5G?
Often referred to as ‘5G’, the fifth generation of mobile networks is a counterpart that succeeds its previous generations, ranging from 1G, 2G, 3G, to finally the 4G network. Essentially, while 5G operates the same way as regular communication systems via radio frequencies, it uses a higher level of the radio frequency which equips it to transmit signals that are less cluttered, allowing it to carry more information swiftly. According to Verizon, this directly impacts the efficiency of business models, giving consumers speedy access to more information with much lower lag and quicker downloads.
The origins of the fifth generation network however, is deemed a bit murky. According to Reuters, while the South Korean Telecom’s 5G service was primarily declared the world’s first 5G launch on April 3, 2019, AT&T and Verizon were quick to counter the claim. AT&T had maintained that it had already announced its launch in 12 U.S cities on Dec. 18, 2018, though available only to customers operating a mobile hotspot device, rather than a 5G phone. On the other spectrum, Verizon countered saying that it had already launched its 5G network available on a Motorola phone, only in the states of Chicago and Minneapolis.
Now, with a basic understanding of the origin as well as 5G in general, it is palpable to dive into another inevitable ponder;
Why 5G? – Advantages
One of the primary reasons as to why 5G is expected to have an advantage over the 4G network currently consumed by over 98% of the Indian population, is its latency. Latency, according to TechTarget, is defined as an expression of how much time it takes for a data packet to travel from one designated point to another. With the ideal latency being as close to zero as possible, 5G guarantees latency under 5 milliseconds (ms), while 4G latency ranges from around 60 ms to 98 ms.
While 4G enabled the usage of cloud services on mobile devices, 5G technology advances this to new heights. According to Ericsson, the 5G network is capable of so much processing that it transcends the boundaries of a network. It can function as a distributed data center to carry out processing activities, either fully utilizing centralized resources or quickly utilizing edge computing done close to the user. The much-anticipated “smart cities” may one day exist thanks to the 5G network’s promise of a ‘hyper-interconnected environment’, according to BBVA. The bandwidth of 5G and the Internet of Things will be necessary for these new dynamics to operate properly.
Alongside these pros, the 5G network is also deemed to have upto 100 times more capacity than possible with 4G. According to TOI, this enables businesses to transition between cellular and Wi-Fi wireless solutions, which will significantly aid in achieving improved performance. Additionally, it offers efficient ways to access the internet, making the process so much more easier than its 4G counterpart. Verizon claims that the goal of 5G was to increase capacity for social networking, video streaming, and other common activities while also allowing a variety of new smart devices and industrial digitalization use cases.
Another crucial element when it comes to the usage of 5G networks is its bandwidth. The fact that 5G offers additional bandwidth, which speeds up data transfer, is one of the technology’s key benefits. Additionally, by selecting a 5G network, mobile phone users may get a quicker connection with greater capacity. When obtaining crucial data, 4G networks frequently experience congestion, which causes a number of issues. However, because 5G networks have higher speed and more bandwidth, it benefits the consumers by reducing such congestion.
Regarding these pros of a 5G network, it is anticipated to probe the future.
Future of 5G
So what does this say about the future of 5G in India? According to Saurabh Kumar Sanu, the MD of Accenture to The Hindu, in terms of 5G readiness, India has been advancing steadily. The establishment of laboratories and innovation hubs has been a priority for telecom firms as they get ready for the commercial roll-out. In reality, use-case-based roll-outs of 5G services via private networks are already happening across a variety of sectors with the goal of enhancing productivity, efficiency, and agility.
Further more, Ericsson reports that Although 5G has not yet been commercially introduced, India has already laid a solid groundwork for its adoption. An Ericsson ConsumerLab survey found that 40 million smartphone users would switch to 5G in the first year it is available, demonstrating the high level of consumer interest in the technology. In addition, 21% of respondents who use smartphones said they already own a 5G-capable gadget. Additionally, Indian customers claim that they would be prepared to pay a 50% premium for 5G bundled services.
India’s ambitions for digital inclusion can be significantly aided by 5G, particularly in terms of extending connectivity to families in rural and distant areas. Trials have demonstrated the potential of 5G to overcome the digital divide by offering Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) to high-speed broadband.