An Insight into 5G: What are mmWave and sub-6Ghz?
Until 3G, there was no substitute for broadband internet, which very few people in developing countries could afford. We saw a massive wave of web inclusion.
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Key takeaways
- Until 3G, there was no substitute for broadband internet, which very few people in developing countries could afford.
- To use mmWave technology, one must be within a cell tower’s block!
- Ultimately, global cooperation is needed to make 5G sustainable and accessible to the masses.
Mobile internet has evolved through five generations now. Until 3G, there was no substitute for broadband internet, which very few people in developing countries could afford. We saw a massive wave of web inclusion with the advent of 3G, more so after 4G. Mobile internet and cheaper internet plans have helped in a lot of digital inclusion. Now, it’s time for their big brother 5G to forward that legacy. In 2018, South Korea became the first country to introduce 5G to its people. The development and disbursal of this technology have major infrastructural concerns. 5G signal works in three different frequency bands – with three different speeds and three different levels of infrastructure intervention. The high bands are also called mm-wave, and mid and low bands form the sub-6Ghz spectrum. In this article, we will learn about their differences.
Sub-6Ghz Spectrum
The sub-6Ghz band ranges from <1Ghz to 6Ghz and forms the low and mid bands of the spectrum. The low band spectrum(<1Ghz) allows wide coverage. Thus, cellular towers can be installed at large distances from each other, requiring less expenditure on infrastructure. Since 5G network speeds depend on proximity to the cell tower, the speed of the network running in the low band spectrum will be low. However, with high speeds and low latency, 5G will be much better than the 4G technology running in the same spectrum.
The mid-band ranges from 1-6Ghz. This frequency is more favorable because it is economical. The connection can provide better speeds than the low band, and the requirement for very close cell towers is still low. Mid-band spectrum seems to fall in the right place. This frequency band has also been in the news recently due to the interference it causes with the radar altimeter of airplanes. The 3-3.8Ghz frequency, which is already designated as 5G by many countries, is a reason for the interference. Thus, it raises a major policy concern.
Most of the 5G supported smartphones available in the market use the sub-6Ghz spectrum. Thus, contributing toward digital inclusion, especially in developing countries. Hence, we can conclude that the sub-6Ghz is more economical for governments and companies. Consequently, more accessible to the common people.
mmWave Spectrum #
A spectrum of 24Ghz or higher is called mmWave. While other bands are used by 2G, 3G, and even 4G, this frequency band is dedicated exclusively to 5G. This band makes possible the flagship 5G speeds of 1Gaps. However, it requires more cell towers in proximity to each other. To use mmWave technology, one must be within a cell tower’s block! This requires more capital expenditure. More often, telcos provide mmWave as a premium service to offset their expenditure. We also see mmWave support in the more premium smartphones hint at the market it’s aimed at.
mmWave has a huge advantage in crowded areas. Unlike 4G, mmWave 5G can handle much more connections without a significant loss in speed. 5G has a huge role in the development of Web3. With its lightning-fast speeds, it is supposed to play a huge role in the development of metaverse. mmWave technology deployed in limited places like stadiums, airports, or big studios can help create wonders in VR and AR experience. Virtual concerts are a recent buzzword in this field. It can benefit from the speed of mmWave technology. Airted recently showcased the possibility of live holographic imagery through mmWave at an event in India. mmWave is still a hugely developing technology. Some technological advancements like Massive MIMO, adaptable beamforming, and miniaturization of complex antenna processing functions have contributed to its development.
Although sub-6Ghz is going to be more widely available, the expectation from 5G is very high, and the speed that people expect of it can only be delivered by mmWave.
Conclusion #
LTE has provided a really fast and inclusive internet experience to all people. The comment section of teach blogs is filled with people saying they think LTE has set a great bar for future technologies, and they don’t see any better use case scenario in 5G. However, with every generation, we have seen a paradigm shift in how people use the internet. We’ll have to wait until 5G is widely available to know how much potential it entails. The growing environmental concerns are to be thought of too. More infrastructure means more energy consumption, emission, and e-waste. However, we cannot rule out the benefits. With its incredible speed and connectivity, 5G will create many secondary environmental conservation opportunities. 5G technology with IoT will be able to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable more use of renewable energy.
As countries are trying to be less dependent on Chinese companies like Huawei or ZTE, the infrastructure costs are going to be a challenge. UK’s initiative to create a platform of ten democracies for an alternate pool of 5G technology has been in the news. Ultimately, global cooperation is needed to make 5G sustainable and accessible to the masses.
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