What is 5G Network?

5G, or ‘fifth-generation cellular wireless network’, is currently being rolled out to dozens of locations across the country, ready to change our daily usage of phone and wireless equipment by increasing connectivity, boost bandwidth and provide a more reliable and steadier network.

So, what are the uses of 5G?

There are many benefits of 5G, but a few might stand out more than the rest. The most talked about advantage is the drastic increase in speed. With 4G the average latency is around 35-50 milliseconds, while 5G is currently half of that. With the network maturing it is expected to ultimately go down to only 1 milliseconds.

When you are downloading using 4G a typical download time ranges from 2.5 to 7 minutes (32.5/100Mbps to 42/300Mbps) for a full HD film while on 5G its predicted and tested to be between 4-40 seconds download speed (130Mbps-240Mbps/1-10Gbps+ theoretical).

With a higher frequency spectrum than 4G, we will experience a higher number of devices being able to be connected at high speed which in turn should make 5G more stable than the current 4G. Since 5G is more reliable than the older networks it is well suited for places where network reliability is a must, such as with self-driving cars, massive machine type communication and remote surgery.

The last big stand out, to us, is Network Slicing. It is another new and exciting part of technology that will potentially be possible with 5G. It has been in the works since 2017 and could potentially revolutionary change how we look at calls. What Network Slicing means is a network gets divided into multiple virtual networks that can support different radio access networks (RAN’s) to lessen the impact on telephone lines so they have less drop in phone calls. The idea behind it is to open up network for having a separate network for emergency telephone calls to limit the number of dropped calls and have a more stable connection to cover a larger area, so if a crisis hits the phone lines will still connect.

With all these benefits, what will it mean for your business?

5G will be powerful enough to not only power your mobile phone or tablet, it will be fast and strong enough to power multiple computers, smart devices and televisions. With this it could be easier for remote working in difficult to reach areas, and with the streamline connectivity we have already seen AR-filters on Snapchat popping up, and we can expect a smoother VR experience.

We can also expect to see 5G automation of sectors such as mining, oil refineries, factories and automobile industry. With automating these sectors, we are enabling innovation to make it safer, more secure and more comfortable by removing humans from dangerous zones which in turn enable us to explore new, sustainable ways of harvesting energy or production factories while reducing our carbon footprints.

How can Mainframe help with your 5G projects?

We are a UK based company with over 30 years’ experience with designing, manufacturing and supplying first-class infrastructure to multiple sectors, including telecommunications, and provide high quality IP rated indoor and outdoor electrical enclosures, optical fibre, copper fibre and UPS’s internationally. We have worked with many large name mobile operator companies across the globe over the years and cover projects from rural areas to city.

Please contact our expert team for more information on how we can help your projects on 01702 443800 and talk with our engineering experts today.