Operators' 5G services are now available? Don't be fooled!

Some operators have already started running before the gunfire. MUO, a foreign technology media, pointed out on the 3rd that some operators have recently lied blatantly, claiming that they have begun to provide 5G services. However, what is now advertised as 5G service is actually just a faster and better version of the network, which is still based on the current 4G LTE technology. These false advertisements are so rampant that the United Nations has to intervene to manage them.

For each "G", the industry, including manufacturers, operators, etc., must agree on a set of specifications. The organization that defines these standards is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an agency under the United Nations. Recently, it finally came up with a set of specifications that prove that the claims about "5G" in advertisements are actually false.

AT&T's 5G does not meet these specifications, and neither does Verizon's upcoming 5G service. They use 4G technology 4×4 MIMO to increase data speeds, which is not compatible with 5G. Data speed is important, but 5G is not just about data speed, there are many other requirements. So let's take a look at what 5G standards are so that we won't be fooled by marketing tricks.

What is 5G?

5G has not yet been precisely defined, and no one knows what the final specifications will be. But the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has so far agreed on several key requirements for 5G performance.

1. Uninterrupted calls: This is the biggest change for the average mobile user, as the phone switches between towers in the 5G network, the phone will not drop calls or lose network connection. The ITU says that 5G networks do not have these kinds of cell phone interruptions and interference, so unless this specification is met, it is not 5G.
2. Low latency: 5G phones will have a latency between 4ms and 1ms (lower is better). Latency is measured in milliseconds and is the amount of time it takes for the signal your phone sends to reach an internet server. The fastest 4G has a latency of 50ms. Low latency will greatly improve experiences like augmented reality and virtual reality in smart glasses.
3. Battery efficiency: You know how data connections drain your phone’s battery. 5G networks will significantly reduce this consumption, with a “sleep” feature so your phone doesn’t need to be online all the time.
4. Able to operate at 500 kilometers per hour: As the vehicle moves faster, your phone moves faster. This means your phone is rapidly changing mobile towers. Current mobile networks cannot handle these rapid switching between towers. However, with 5G, even if you are on a high-speed train, traveling 500 kilometers per hour will not be a problem.

How fast is 5G?

The actual download rate of the 5G network is 100 Mb/s (megabits per second) and the upload rate is 50 MB/s. Converted, it is a data download speed of 12 MB per second, which takes about four minutes to download an hour of Netflix's HD program.

The ITU distinguishes between "peak data rates" (the highest technically possible in a lab setting) and "experienced rates" (what users experience in the real world). 5G will have peak data rates of 20 Gb/s (gigabits per second) for downlink and 10 Gb/s for uplink. As for lab tests, Nokia and Samsung have been relatively able to cope with 10 Gb/s downlink and 7.5 Gb/s uplink so far.

When will 5G phones and networks become popular?

The estimated time for the average consumer to get a 5G phone is 2020. According to Intel and Ericsson executives, the United States will see the first 5G-compatible devices in 2019. But the ITU timeline uses 2018-2020 as a "defining technology" period, so there may be some changes.

The estimated launch date for 5G in 2020 is based on the 10-year cycle of the mobile world launching next-generation networks, starting with 1G in 1982, digital 2G in 1991, 3G in 2000, and the current 4G network landing in 2010.

Which spectrum does 5G use?

Is your mobile network the fastest? If not, which spectrum do you fall on? Those mobile network symbols can be confusing, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

According to the FCC, 5G networks in the United States are expected to operate in the 28 GHz, 37 GHz, and 39 GHz frequency bands. Generally speaking, 5G will start at 30 GHz so that it can take advantage of millimeter waves. For comparison, 4G operates between 700 MHz and 2100 MHz. Gigahertz is a thousand times more powerful than megahertz. 5G is the first network to operate on millimeter waves, which will allow for much higher data transfers than is currently possible. Millimeter waves will also reduce the size of the antennas needed. This means wearable technology like watches or smart glasses are better suited to connecting with 5G.

How is 5G different from 4G?

For end consumers, 5G will have tangible benefits:

1. Faster download and upload speeds.
2. Better video call quality, especially on the move.
3. Better phone battery life.
4. Augmented reality is better because 5G can track users in real time and load data faster.
5. You can experience virtual reality with your mobile phone because it can support the speed of 4K videos on the phone.
6. Enhancements in wearable technology, such as fitness bands that track your every move.
7. More IoT and smart devices, as 5G’s antennas are smaller and more battery efficient than current technology.
8. A better experience with self-driving cars because latency is greatly reduced.

The benefits of 5G are endless, including indirect benefits. For example, it brings long-term cost benefits to the mobile industry, which in turn will bring new benefits to consumers.

Although some carriers appear to be selling 5G, in fact it is purely based on the faster download speeds of LTE. When you have these 5G common sense, you can smartly distinguish these dazzling advertisements.