5G is the fifth generation in cellular networks, but there are many layers to consider as we start to become immersed in this new technology. Using a different type of encoding than 4G LTE service, 5G is designed for much lower latency and greater flexibility. Its method for dispersing signals is almost spider web like in the way the infrastructure is set up. A system of cell sites are divided amongst different territories and send encoded data through radio waves. These cells are connected to the network backbone and can change size and shape as network capacity requires. This only adds to the complexity of maintaining LTE.
As you may have seen just about anywhere, 5G coverage is not very expansive at this time. The industry is fixated on that, as well as increasing capacity (ideally by 4x over current networks). Accomplishing this will require leveraging new frequencies and antenna technologies. Believe it or not, but in addition to more coverage and capacity, there’s buzz about speeds up to 20Gbps and latency as low as 1ms! We’ll just wait and see.
Now with all the different names 5G has picked up over the last year, it’s important to know that not all 5G is created equal! There’s low band, middle band, and high band. If you’ve noticed different “Cat” versions of LTE modems, you’ve seen some support more frequencies than others (i.e. Cat 12 supports more than 6 and Cat 18 supports more than 12). 5G works similarly, and can run on the same bands as LTE, but as it is set on a range of airwaves – low, middle, and high. It’s also much like LTE band aggregation, which allows the cellular modem to connect to the cellular network using multiple frequency bands. The wider channels and range of frequencies 5G can operate over gives it the advantage.
When it comes to low, middle, and high, it’s all about how many channels you can use when connecting, and the frequency at which they’re operating on. More channels won’t always mean more bandwidth in this case. Since 5G has the flexibility to work on any band, carriers can share those from 4G – this is known as dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS). This is how Verizon is able to say they have “nationwide” 5G. It’s just reusing some old LTE spectrum.
Low-band 5G operates in frequencies below 2GHz. While the coverage is great, the channels aren’t very wide and some are primarily for 4G, which makes this type slow.
Mid-band 5G is in the 2–10GHz range. These networks have decent range and because of that, it will likely be the one to carry the most traffic. T-Mobile’s “ultra capacity” 5G network runs on this mid-band, as well as low band at this time. AT&T and Verizon just bought into some spectrum here also, which they’ll likely start rolling out in late 2022.
High-band 5G, or millimeter-wave, is the newest and quite a bit faster than LTE. This is a range of spectrum that has never been used in the consumer market before. It’s very short range, but it can get to speeds over 3Gbps. This is what Verizon uses for their “ultra wideband” 5G network. AT&T and T-Mobile also have some high-band, but there hasn’t been much information about this.
For even more technical details about the differences in 5G, as well as application examples, check out the source article from PC Magazine.