By Mashum Mollah
Fifth-generation wireless technology signifies the next big wireless network standard improvement. Compared to the present 4G LTE standard, 5G is newer and faster where wireless Internet is concerned. As 4G replaced 3G, 5G is set to replace 4G. 5G will go above and beyond the scope of smartphones.
Pros of 5G for your Home Connection:
5G has a maximum speed of 10 gigabits per second in contrast to the theoretical maximum of 4G – 100 megabits per second. In other words, 4G is a hundred times slower than 5G is set out to be, at least considering theoretical maximum speeds. This is a giant step forward even if things don’t work out quite as well in practice.
Another advantage promised by 5G is reduced latency. Compared to the latency of 20 milliseconds on 4G LTE today, 5G will offer a maximum latency of 4 ms. That will ensure a more pleasant browsing experience.
With this low latency and high speeds, it looks like 5G will be giving cable providers like Cox, Charter, and Comcast a run for their money. This also goes for bandwidth. Simply put, the bigger the bandwidth you have, the faster the Internet speed will be. This is good news seeing as the equipment and screens used with VR and AR will need bandwidth on a level that just doesn’t exist at the present. Experts estimate that a 50-fold improvement of bandwidth will come with 5G, which will offer a maximum bandwidth of 300 GHz.
The Pioneers:
According to David Orloff, chairman of the Small Cell Forum, the tech industry is witnessing remarkable growth in terms of small cell deployments, which are at the core of 5G deployments in 2018. Small cells will build the worldwide support structure of 5G networks.
As you probably know, Verizon will be the first 5G home internet provider, but not the only one – AT&T has plans to start offering 5G web access by the end of this year. Sprint and T-Mobile have announced intentions to launch a similar service if the government greenlights their merger.
Potential Downsides:
5G promises to be a single Internet channel into consumer homes without a need to differentiate between Wi-Fi, cellular, or wired service. According to Verizon, that’s the only connection a home would ever require. However, critics have pointed out lack of acknowledgment of potential issues such as signal strength attenuation and the propensity of water and air to absorb millimeter band signals with a view to their wavelength. 60GHz signals are absorbed quite well by oxygen. What is more, line-of-sight transmission requirements might not be fulfilled.
Theoretically speaking, urban areas are perfect for 5G deployment because a lot of customers inhabit residential districts. However, enhanced attenuation involves higher capital costs because companies would need more line-of-sight transmitters to reach their clients. As a result of this, LTE devices are far cheaper than their 5G counterparts are expected to be.
The Price is Right:
Experts from McKinsey & Co. find that the cost of 5G rollouts will be as much as twice as high as that of 4G. Analysts with Bloomberg estimate the additional backhaul requirement will cost up to 200 billion dollars. The end user might be stuck with these costs. Will they be worth paying?
The Future of Home Internet:
Potential drawbacks aside, the 5G revolution is coming with full force. Users will most likely be happy to pay a little extra in exchange for finally doing away with cable boxes and cables. Instead, they’ll be using a wireless modem and an Apple TV 4K from Verizon. The package will also include a subscription to YouTube TV, the video giant’s streaming service that will enable TV channel access.
Users will still have a modem at home, but it will serve as a home Wi-Fi router equipped with standard Ethernet ports after connecting to Verizon’s wireless 5G signal. This is how smartphones, the Apple TV 4K, computers, Internet gadgets, and other devices will connect to Verizon’s wireless fifth-generation network. No more cables running throughout the home, taking up space and causing other inconvenience, waiting for cable guys, and drilling holes in walls. All you need to get online is plug in your modem.
Read Also:
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