Feature by Shreya Agarwal
“4G and 5G mobile networks work really well”.
I am sure you must have heard this a lot of times. But what exactly does that mean? What is 4G or 5G?
1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G… These are all generations of mobile networks.
Here, ‘G’ means ‘Generation’ while the numbers represent the number of the generation.
Certain technologies are used to run these networks properly. Here’s a table explaining all the generations in brief.
| 1G | 2G | 3G | 4G | 5G | |
| Year Launched | Early 1980s | Early 1990s | Early 2000s | Early 2010s | 2019-20 |
| Usual Services | Simple voice calling | Highly secure voice calls, text messages, limited mobile data services | Highly secure voice calls, text messages, limited mobile data services | Highly secure voice calls, text messages, limited mobile data services | Voice calls, SMS, and mobile data. More stuff related to IoT. |
| Technologies used | AMPS, NMT, TACS, C-Netz | GSM, D-AMPS, IS-95 A | UMTS, CDMA2000, EDGE | LTE | NR |
| In use/ not in use? | No more in use | In use | In use | In use | In use/ will come into larger usage later |
*AMPS: Advanced Mobile Phone System
*NMT: Nordisk MobilTelefoni/ Nordic Mobile Telephone
*TACS: Total Access Communications System
*C-Netz: Funktelefonnetz-C/ Radio Telephone Network C
*GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications
*D-AMPS: Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System
*IS-95: Interim Standard 95
*UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
*EDGE: Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution
*LTE: Long Term Evolution
*NR: New Radio
*IoT: Internet of Things. It is a network of devices with sensors and softwares that can exchange data and information through the internet.
5G could transform the cyber industry.
The basic changes we can expect around us are higher internet speeds (10 to 100 times faster than 4G), quicker downloads and communication, lower latency (delays in transferring and processing data) advanced devices, etc.
Downloading of movies and video games would become a matter of seconds.
According to a study, in a given sq.km, 4G can connect one-tenth the number of devices 5G can connect. Things that are impossible in the case of 4G networks, could happen because of the new 5G networks.
How does 5G work?
5G uses the NR (New Radio) technology. It would use higher radio frequencies called millimeter waves that carry much information quickly.
But since the waves won’t be able to spread over large areas, and can also get disrupted by various obstacles, a lot of ‘small cells’ (small versions of the big cellular towers) would be put around the area. These will use a technology called beam forming which would lead to better transmissions.
What all does 5G offer?
5G is not just higher internet speeds, better downloads, quick communication, and lower latency. It has a lot more interesting stuff to offer which includes:
- A boom in IoT applications
- More virtual reality since it’s not really possible in the case of 4G.
- Better digital entertainment
- Autonomous cars
- Smart cities, buildings and homes
- In the medical field, remote surgeries
- Rise in the global economic output
- A lot of new jobs
A lot of industries and businesses are partnering with 5G offering companies for various purposes. For example, A mobile company in South Korea is working to build a 5G enabled traffic system in Seoul, the capital.
Smart harbors are being developed in Germany and China where ship-to-shore crane lifts, and sensors with real time traffic monitoring are being made, all with the help of 5G!
As 5G prepares to take over the world..
A lot of countries are trying to make their own 5G networks and are investing in 5G. Some countries and companies of the respective countries (along with the year) that have rolled out 5G networks (mostly partially) are:
Asia
Japan: NTT DOCOMO and Softbank; 2020
China: Three major Chinese network operators China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, 2019-20
South Korea: SK Telecom, LG Uplus, KT Corporation; 2019. South Korea is reportedly one of the first country to actually implement 5G network in the country (3 million subscribers).
India: Airtel, Tata; 2020.
UAE: Etisalat; 2019
Thailand: Advanced Info Services; 2020
Taiwan: Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Star, Asia Pacific Telecom; all in 2020
Singapore: Singtel; 2021
Phillipines: Smart, Globe Telecom; 2021
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Telecom Company (2019-20), Zain (2020)
Bahrain: Saudi Telecom Company (2019-20), Zain (2020)
South Africa: Vodacom and MTN; 2020.
Germany: Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone; 2019.
United Kingdom: Vodafone, EE, BT Mobile, Tesco Mobile, VOXI, O2, Sky Mobile; all in 2019-20
Spain: Vodafone, Telefonica; 2020
Greece: Vodafone, Cosmote, WIN; 2020
Sweden: Tele2, Telenor; 2021
Denmark: TDC, Telia, Telenor; 2020
Belgium: Proximus (2020), Telenet (2021)
USA: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon; 2020-21
Canada: Rogers Communications, Telus Mobility; 2020
Australia: Telstra (2020-21) , Optus (2019), Vodafone (2020)
New Zealand: Spark New Zealand (2020-21), Vodafone (2019)
Most of the 5G networks will work only on certain devices that are compatible with it. A lot of devices have already developed, and are developing more and more devices compatible with 5G. One such example is the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G.
Health Issues and 5G
We know that 5G would work on radio frequencies.
One of the problems raised by people are the possibly carcinogenic 5G radio frequencies. The WHO (World Health Organisation), along with the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) has classified all radio frequency radiation as “possibly carcinogenic” (carcinogenic: something that can cause cancer). Mobile signals come under this category as well.
5G usage has been (currently) banned in parts of Belgium, UK, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, USA, France, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh etc.
Another problem that has gained attention is the heating effect of the 5G radio waves. 5G radio waves use a higher band of radio frequencies part of which falls under the microwave band. These microwave waves can heat up any place they’re falling into.
This is why some organisations are protesting against the rollout of 5G technology.