Every cellular generation (2G, 3G & 4G) has represented the evolution of the mobile network. Every single one of us has been through the experience of these generations and is well aware of the disturbing problems regarding the network coverage and data speed, especially indoors or at large crowded venues. However, all of this is about to change in the coming future with the launch of 5G. Along with people, a number of devices and applications are also waiting for upgraded mobile internet with wider coverage, lower latency, and unbelievable speed experience, somewhat similar to the experience that we have on the Local area networks (LAN).

It is being said by many operators around the world that by 2020, 5G networks will be widely deployed. However, operators are already racing to etch their name in the history books as the first one to launch the 5G network. Users are also dreaming about the future of mobile data and how it will solve their problems regarding coverage, the number of connected devices, latency and bandwidth of mobile networks. The most important aspect to understand is that mobile networks and devices have been evolving from simple phone service infrastructures to more general IP service gateways, a perfect example of this is how 4G networks with bandwidth up to few hundred Mbit/s are being used by most services and applications on the mobile internet. In theory, the speed of 5G network will be more than 10 Gbit/s, and to prove this theory correct most operators are already successfully testing 5G with latency less than 10ms.

5G is designed to meet low energy consumption needs, meaning that more data can be sent while consuming less power compared to 4G and older generation networks. This show that 5G is very focused on the IoT and M2M sector, allowing them to take the most out of the ultrafast mobile internet, either while streaming ultra-high quality video or just sending a few megabytes of data in low power mode. Although 5G will not be the final frontier for mobile network upgrades, it will definitely open new digital doors for the future.

According to IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineering), the new technologies for 5G will help to deliver data with less than 1ms of delay, much faster than today’s 70ms on 4G networks. However, to meet such high expectations, numerous problems need to be solved such as sharing bandwidth, less interference, and zero disconnections. To tackle these problems several new technologies are being developed and perfected: millimetre wave broadcast, small cells, massive multi-input-multi-output (MIMO); beamforming, which helps massive MIMO arrays make more efficient use of the spectrum around them and full duplex to transmit and receive data at the same time, on the same frequency.

Everyone is keeping a keen eye on the progress of 5G and anticipating that it will actually be the door to the future for mobile communication.