What is 5G, and how will it affect businesses?

By-Nitin R Rathod 

In telecommunications, 5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019, and is the successor to 4G technology that provides connectivity to most current mobile phones.

Like their predecessors, 5G networks are cellular networks, in which the service area is divided into small geographical areas called cells. All 5G wireless devices in a cell are connected to the Internet and the telephone network by radio waves through a basestation and antennae in the cell. The new networks have higher download speeds, with a peak speed of 10 gigabits per second (Gbit/s) when there is only one user in the network. 5G has a higher bandwidth to deliver faster speeds than 4G and can connect more devices, improving the quality of Internet services in crowded areas. Due to the increased bandwidth, it is expected that 5G networks will increasingly be used as general internet service providers (ISPs), competing with existing ISPs such as cable internet and also making possible new applications in the internet of-things (IoT) and machine-to-machine areas. Cellphones with 4G capability are unable to use the 5G networks.

 

Overview

5G networks are cellular networks, in which the service area is divided into small geographical areas called cells. All 5G wireless devices in a cell communicate by radio waves with a cellular base station via fixed antennas over frequencies assigned by the base station. The base stations, termed nodes, are connected to switching centers in the telephone network and routers for Internet access by high-bandwidth optical fiber or wireless backhaul connections. As in other cellular networks, a mobile device moving from one cell to another is automatically handed off seamlessly.

The industry consortium setting standards for 5G, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), defines "5G" as any system using 5G NR (5G New Radio) software—aa definition that came into general use by late 2018. 5G continues to use OFDM encoding.

Several network operators use millimeter waves, or MM-wave, called FR2 in 5G terminology, for additional capacity and higher throughputs. Millimeter waves have a shorter range than the lower-frequency microwaves; therefore, the cells are smaller. Millimeter waves also have more trouble passing through building walls and humans. Millimeter-wave antennas are smaller than the large antennas used in previous cellular networks.

 

Application areas

The ITU-R has defined three main application areas for the enhanced capabilities of 5G. They are Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), and Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC). Only eMBB will be deployed in 2020; URLLC and mMTC are several years away in most locations.

Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) uses 5G as a progression from 4G LTE mobile broadband services, with faster connections, higher throughput, and more capacity. This will benefit areas with higher traffic, such as stadiums, cities, and concert venues.

'Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications' (URLLC) refers to using the network for mission-critical applications that require uninterrupted and robust data exchange. Short-packet data transmission is used to meet both the reliability and latency requirements of wireless communication networks.

Massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC) would be used to connect to a large number of devices. 5G technology will connect some of the 50 billion connected IoT devices. Most will use the less expensive Wi-Fi. Drones, transmitting via 4G or 5G, will aid in disaster recovery efforts, providing real-time data for emergency responders. Most cars will have a 4G or 5G cellular connection for many services. Autonomous cars do not require 5G, as they have to be able to operate where they do not have a network connection.However, most autonomous vehicles also feature teleoperations for mission accomplishment, and these greatly benefit from 5G technology.

 

Technology

New radio frequencies

The air interface defined by 3GPP for 5G is known as New Radio (NR), and the specification is subdivided into two frequency bands, FR1 (below 6 GHz) and FR2 (24–54 GHz).

 

Frequency range 1 (< 6 GHz)

Otherwise known as sub-6, the maximum channel bandwidth defined for FR1 is 100 MHz, due to the scarcity of continuous spectrum in this crowded frequency range. The band most widely being used for 5G in this range is 3.3–4.2 GHz. The Korean carriers use the n78 band at 3.5 GHz.

Some parties used the term "mid-band" frequency to refer to a higher part of this frequency range that was not used in previous generations of mobile communication.

 

Frequency range 2 (24–71 GHz)

The minimum channel bandwidth defined for FR2 is 50 MHz, and the maximum is 400 MHz, with two-channel aggregation supported in 3GPP Release 15. Signals in this frequency range with wavelengths between 4 and 12 mm are called millimeter waves. The higher the carrier frequency, the greater the ability to support high data transfer speeds. This is because a given channel bandwidth takes up a lower fraction of the carrier frequency, so high-bandwidth channels are easier to realize at higher carrier frequencies.

 

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). This requires placing 5G base stations every few hundred meters in order to use higher frequency bands. Also, these higher-frequency 5G signals cannot penetrate solid objects easily, such as cars, trees, walls, and even humans, because of the nature of these higher-frequency electromagnetic waves. 5G cells can be deliberately designed to be as inconspicuous as possible, which finds applications in places like restaurants and shopping malls.

 

Misinformation 

Misinformation related to 5G technology is widespread in many countries around the world. The spreading of false information and conspiracy theories has also been propagated by the general public and celebrities. In social media, misinformation related to 5G has been presented as facts and shared extensively. There are no scientifically proven adverse health impacts from exposure to 5G radio frequency radiation with levels below those suggested by the guidelines of regulating bodies, including the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Furthermore, studies have shown that there has been no noticeable increase in everyday radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure since 2012, despite the increased use of communication devices.

 

A list of popular misinformation

Origin

There have been conspiracy theories suggesting that the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the epicenter of the pandemic in Wuhan, China, is linked to the large number of 5G towers in the city. However, the truth is that 5G technology is not fully deployed in Wuhan.[12]

 

Health impact

• WHO poster warning about misinformation related to 5G

• 5G causes cancer: It is very unlikely that exposure to the 5G radiofrequency will cause cancer. 5G is non-ionizing radiation, and such radiation does not damage DNA. Cancer is generally caused by ionizing radiation that damages DNA.[13] [14]

• 5G is the cause of COVID-19: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic having started during the deployment of 5G technology, the two are in no way connected. There is undisputable evidence that COVID-19 is a viral disease and has no relationship with 5G or any other cellular technology. [15]

• 5G weakens the immune system: There is no evidence to suggest that the low levels of radiation emitted by 5G technology can have any effect on the immune system (including antigens and antibodies).

 

Environmental impact

5G kills birds or insects: Radio wave emissions above 10 MHz from cell telephone towers are not known to harm birds.The mass bee deaths that happened in many parts of the world are not related to 5G deployment.

 

Government and industrial surveillance

COVID-19 is a cover to embed microchips within the COVID-19 vaccine for controlling people via 5G. A microchip with tracking capabilities or 5G functionality would need to be much larger than the bore of a needle, so it would not be possible to inject through a syringe. Indeed, incorporating the size of such a chip would require a syringe with a bore diameter over a dozen times larger than the ones commonly used to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, the microchip would not function without a power source capable of transmitting a signal through at least an inch of muscle, fat, and skin.