5G: More than just faster mobile phones

Article Excerpt

Mobile technology has come a long way since the first cellphone was commercialized in 1984. 2G brought text messaging, 3G brought Internet access to phones and 4G added higher speeds. 5G networks are the next generation of mobile connectivity, offering faster speeds, quicker response times, fewer delays and more reliable connections. The new technology behind 5G will use a higher-frequency spectrum. The spectrum available in wavelengths like 30 GHz to 300 GHz allows for very fast and very “wide” channels for broadband communication service. Known as “millimeter wave frequency,” these channels have one significant drawback—the signals don’t travel nearly as far as the lower-frequency signals do. To offset this, millimeter wave 5G will require small cellphone tower sites that are much closer to each other than current cell towers. 5G leaders ramp up for deployment According to some estimates, 56% of U.S. firms involved in mobile services are now targeting a roll-out and implementation of 5G before 2020, while the remaining firms will do…