5G Technology Explained In This Essential 5G Overview
In this 5G overview, we’re going to look squarely at the development and applications of wireless network technologies that have led to the current emergence of 5G, one of the hottest tech terms of the last couple of years. This article will start with the basics, answering the question: What is 5G technology? We’ll look at how earlier network generations evolved to current-state 5G; address when 5G is going to finally be here in full effect; and we’ll consider how 5G technology will impact your personal life and business. This basic 5G overview is the first installment of a trio of articles explaining and exploring 5G. Subsequent articles in the series will address mobile applications directly as well as 5G impacts that go beyond your smartphone. You can also read about how 5G will impact dimensional technology applications for business in this latest article by IKIN CEO Joe Ward.
What Is 5G Technology?
5G is the latest iteration of broadband cellular network technology–the fifth generation, thus “5G.” Once fully implemented, 5G will replace 4G networks, just as 4G replaced 3G and so on through earlier generations.
Earlier Network Generations: 1G Through 3G
1G:
The first of these network standards, 1G, began in Japan in the late 1970s, introduced first to Tokyo by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone in 1979, and expanded countrywide through the early 1980s. 1G came to the US in 1983 and subsequently spread throughout North America. The capabilities of 1G networks were comparatively limited to modern standards. Consisting of analog radio waves, 1G allowed for voice calls–if somewhat unreliable–and no data transferring.
2G:
Finland took the lead on 2G technology in 1991. The major 2G overhaul included introducing digital signaling within the radio network, which in turn allowed for limited data transferring. These new data capabilities introduced texting to cell phones, and subsequent versions of 2G (2.5G, GPRS, and 2.75G EDGE networks) upped data rates through the early 2000s, further advancing mobile experiences. In addition, 2G refined cell call sound quality by reducing signal interference and improved network security with the introduction of call encryption.
3G:
3G marked a major step forward in network technology. Emerging in the early 2000s, 3G boasted further refined cellular sound quality and–even more importantly–it supported high-speed data transfer, which exploded mobile applications, ushing in the era of the smartphone. 3G smartphones introduced novel mobile functionality like video calls, filesharing, and that defining smartphone function: internet access, which allowed for everything from online gaming to social networking and mobile television. The introduction of 3G also standardized network protocols for mobile vendors, which allowed users to access data anywhere, even when outside of the range of their network provider’s cell towers. “Roaming,” as it was termed, expanded mobile service’s geographic reach to a global scale. 3G was superseded by 4G in 2009, launching first in Scandinavia before its commercial debut in the US in 2010. Today, we are witnessing the crossover into 5G, a process that has been slowly emerging since 2019.
What Is The Difference Between 5G And 4G?
4G:
If 3G introduced smartphones, 4G vastly advanced their capabilities, defined modern smartphone expectations, and expanded the scope of mobile beyond smartphones to include the many types of mobile devices we all use today. Like previous generations, 4G improved sound quality and data speeds. Introductory standards for 4G included 12.5 Mbps download speeds, but the technology has improved to speeds between 14Mbpst and 150Mbps, or in excess of 5x that of 3G. This scale of data processing has eased internet usage significantly. Better latency has made mobile video conferencing and live streaming reliable and commonplace.
5G:
By comparison, 5G is promising to deliver download speeds in excess of 1 Gbps and ultra-low latency, both of which will dramatically improve current mobile use expectations. A major focus of improvement for 5G is in the realm of IoT, or the inter-connectivity of diverse devices for various functions, personal and professional, that will ultimately include the metaverse. Qualcomm identifies 5G as “a new kind of network,” one that is “designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.” This pitch for 5G speaks to its inherent function as a conduit for IoT, connecting any number of wireless devices with lightning speed and consistency. The expanding scope of IoT encapsulates both consumer and business applications, with the latter promising to reframe how businesses operate with a particular eye toward increased efficiencies.
When Will 5G Finally Arrive?
The promise of 5G is huge–and the term sizzles in print–but the question remains: when will we actually be able to experience 5G? In short, 2022 may be the year that 5G begins to impact US mobile experiences. Officially, 5G started its rollout in 2019. Today, most of the major network providers in the US have introduced some form of 5G mobile network, but the user experiences of these 5G networks have been less than impressive. However, much is being made of Verizon and AT&T’s C-Band 5G, which only recently began operations. C-Band operates on higher frequencies (between 3.7GHz and 3.98GHz in the US) than these earlier 5G networks (under 1GHz.). The high-band frequencies of C-Band 5G, though limited in range, offer the superfast speeds that have been a central selling point of 5G.
Looking To The Future Of IKIN And 5G
Leading dimensional technology company IKIN is particularly interested in the ways 5G will expand and ease IoT and business practices. In fact, this 5G blog series was directly inspired by IKIN CEO Joe Ward’s recent 5G Evolution News piece, wherein he elucidates how 5G dimensional technologies will impact internal business operations and expand B2B applications. IKIN’s current holographic devices, the RYZ and the IKIN ARC, operate across both 4G and 5G networks, but they are specifically oriented to capitalize on the low-latency 5G affords. The RYZ is intended to pair with existing mobile devices, meaning it will be available for consumer use, but currently it is being employed in groundbreaking test cases, including as part of a joint effort private 5G testbed–a smart warehouse for the US Marine Corps. In this case, IKIN’s holographic tech works within a unified system of technologies, teasing the potential of 5G IoT.
Keep Your Eyes On The IKIN Blog For More On 5G
We’ll explore additional applications for 5G, both in general and for IKIN’s holographic tech specifically, in subsequent installments of the IKIN Blog’s focus on 5G. As always, to learn more about IKIN’s ongoing developments in holographic technology and hologram applications, please visit the IKIN Blog. And, remember to follow IKIN on social media.
