The mobile connectivity is currently in its 4th generation. The hopes of super high speed, low latency 5g connectivity is starting to bubble up, but how close is America to really getting this new generation of connectivity?
When 4g was first integrated it had increased internet speed by up to 500 times its previous state. The 5g connectivity is expected to increased internet speeds to take streaming or downloading time to 1/10 of what it is currently. Telecom giants such as Sprint, At&T, and Verizon are making moves towards integration. Consumers can expect lower buffering times, quicker downloads, less lag, and fewer dropped calls. There are other advancements that will be associated with the new connectivity adoption as well, such as, virtual and augmented reality, live monitoring of patient health remotely, management of heavy smart traffic, and much more.
What Is Needed to Achieve 5g Connectivity
There are three main components needed to achieve 5g status – allocating a portion of the C-Band spectrum, an increased amount of low-orbit satellites, and small cells. Companies like SpaceX have already been launching low-orbit satellites. Most individuals are fairly familiar with satellites and how they work with our modern telecom infrastructure but small cells may have readers pondering…
Small Cells
According to Florida Trend magazine, “a small-cell ‘node’ is a connectivity point consisting of antennas and a cabinet attached to a buried fiber-optic cable. To implement 5G, thousands of antennas and “cabinets” will have to be installed on traditional utility poles, atop streetlights, atop freestanding poles and in some cases on the sides of buildings.” Antennas transmit or receive wireless signals, then the optical fiber connects the information from the nodes to communication hubs, and the small cell’s cabinets interpret wireless signals for numerous carriers at once. These small cells also encompass shorter range transmissions for a wireless system that requires less power and covers a smaller geographical area as opposed to conventional cells. There are three subcategories of small cells:
- Femtocells – cover 10 m – 50 m
- Picocells – cover 100 m – 250 m
- Microcells – cover 500 m – 2.5 Km
These cells range from the size of a refrigerator to a backpack and can be placed 500 to 1500 feet apart. There are various advantages of utilizing smalls cells for 5g connectivity. They are cost-effective, capable of delivering higher amounts of data, and can be implemented easily. The main disadvantage is that there is a need for a massive deployment of installations.
Timeline
5g connectivity started developing media buzz in 2017. In October 2018, most companies had developed a plan on how to carry out 5g delivery and have it become a reality. Halfway through 2019, we have seen portioned rollouts of the 5g network, but it is not estimated to be in full capacity until the year 2023.
However, in the state of Florida, there is still no concrete timetable of geography-specified deployment from carriers. Although the city of Jacksonville did report receiving permit applications from 26 companies and there have been a handful of 5g small cells antennas and nodes erected around the city. The reason for Florida’s slow development in the past had to do with aesthetics, control, and revenue. Fortunately, government officials are making moves to resolve these issues.
GeoTel is the leading provider of data in the telecommunications field and can provide information on wireless broadband ranges. If your company could benefit from services offered by GeoTel, then contact us today!
Author: Valerie Stephen
