5G

 By Sanjay Ram

Cellular networks have been upgraded on course to improve connectivity and with each upgrade, in bandwidth, a new generation is defined based on its range. With generation, higher frequency radio waves are increased, but the physical range decreases with high frequency. A cellular network or mobile network works on the concept of wireless communication which is distributed over land areas called “cells”. A cell uses a different set of frequencies to avoid interference for better audio quality.

So when the increase of bandwidth in telecommunication is defined as generation,5 G or fifth generation is the successor of 4G or fourth generation, To provide better connectivity by giving higher download speed up to 10 Gigabits(GB) per second and will generate possibilities of IoT or internet of things.

Work on 5 G was started way back in April 2008 when NASA decided to develop 5G to enhance M2Mi Machine to Machine intelligence. Several works on 5G were conducted in countries like the US, South Korea, UK, China, India, Israel, Austria, Belarus, and the Philippines to pioneer in 5G wireless communication and were keen to develop lesser energy and less radio spectrum compared to 4G.

5G TECHNOLOGY

5G can be categorized based on Frequency range :

Frequency range 1 (< 6 GHz)

The maximum channel bandwidth defined for FR1 is 100 MHz.It can be beneficial in crowded spaces as the density of population is more, the consumption of people will be more henceforth a drop in signal can be faced.

Frequency range 2 (> 24 GHz)

The minimum channel bandwidth defined for FR2 is 50 MHz and the maximum is 400 MHz, with two-channel aggregation supported. In this frequency range, the transfer of data speed be faster and can be used with a reasonable amount of speed as the connectivity promised by the companies will not meet the reality, which is the speed received by the people.

FR2 coverage

5G in the 24 GHz range or above uses higher frequencies than 4G, and as a result, some 5G signals are not capable of traveling large distances (over a few hundred meters), unlike 4G or lower frequency 5G signals (sub 6 GHz).FR2 coverage can be best used where signal drops happen frequently, like shopping malls, basements, and Lifts.

5G IN INDIA

The main question is are we ready yet because the auction of the 5 G spectrum is yet to be decided, though big companies like Jio and Airtel are expected to be the ones introducing 5G to the people of India.

However, the spectrum slated for March 1 this year does not include the desired frequency band for 5G services. As per recent discussions, the 5G network will not require a separate SIM and reports have noted that the transition to 5G will be different from earlier cellular generation shifts. According to Qualcomm, "5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users."

In the recent parliamentary panel, headed by Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, it was highlighted that there would be a delay in the launch of 5G technology. As per the panel report tabled in the Parliament, the government expects 5G services to roll out by early 2022 after another spectrum auction that is planned to be held after six months. The Standing Committee on Information Technology pulled up the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the delay in the launch of 5G services when several countries have commercially rolled out the next-generation technology.

We can expect the launch of 5 G by end of this year or the start of 2022.