5G Technology Overview
5G technology is a revolution. It promises to change our relationship with the mobile phone and what surrounds us, leaving far behind the current 4G. It will do so in three axes: a higher speed (exceeding the gigabyte per second), a lower latency (the response time will decrease to two or three milliseconds, below even the human being) and a huge capacity to connect thousands of devices per square kilometer, allowing the decisive takeoff of the so-called internet of things and solving coverage problems. But, is 5G already a reality? When will the average user notice its advantages?
"We are working on it". It has been the most listened answer in the Forum 5G held last week in Malaga and where representatives of operators, manufacturers and other actors involved in the development of this technology participated. The implementation dates offered have been very similar for some: the first mobile phones will reach the market in the coming months, 2020 will be the year of the deployment of the infrastructure and 2021 when the operators launch the first data rates. Then the massive irruption will arrive, which will be definitive in 2023. "The user will then become a super user," says Jesús Martín, head of technology at Samsung Iberia. Each person will spend 30 gigas a month on average compared to the current two, according to the data that Huawei handles. "All this taking into account that this technology will reach the big cities first,
It still remains. And the first thing that must be built are the foundations of this information highway. "Without the infrastructure of the operators, it will not do to have a 5G cell phone," explains Virginia Teixeira, Director of Systems Engineering at Cisco, a communications technology manufacturer, who believes that this deployment should be done "in the future". that is not obsolete soon. "Technology is, now is your turn," insists Álvaro Villegas, director of Nokia Bell Labs Spain. Vodafone, Orange, Telefónica and MasMóvil do not reject their role. They have been testing and learning about 5G for years in various cities in Spain. But it is difficult to take the step because they bring the lesson learned after the experience of 3G and 4G. "Doing all the deployment of infrastructures involves a great expense," says Tomás Palacios, Director of Product Engineering at Orange Spain. "And to have a return on investments, we still need a more mature technology," he adds.
Renew or Adapt
Of course, nothing to open streets or install large antennas. Thousands of small cells will be installed next to the existing facilities or the urban furniture will be used. And they will not emit waves so that each device captures them like the current equipment: they will go directly to each terminal, as if it were a laser beam. Your reach is yet to be seen. There are tests that have shown a range of one kilometer, but others recommend that only 200 meters away from the devices. Whatever the final option, the cost of your installation will be high. It is debated if the option is to adapt part of the current 4G technology for use as 5G, although the experts assure that to get the best performance a complete renovation is better.
The next step will be the terminals. Huawei brought its first commercial smartphone with 5G connection to Malaga on Thursday. It is the Mate 20X model, which will soon be joined by other competitors such as Samsung, which will begin selling its Galaxy S10 model, presented at the last World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, in the second half of the year. In total, "about 20 manufacturers announced terminals for this year," announces Javier Fernández, project manager with the administration of MasMovil, the youngest operator in Spain that integrates brands such as Yoigo, PepePhone or LlamaYa.
And, finally, the uses. The 5G is the umbrella that will strengthen virtual and augmented reality. Also Big Data, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence or biopharmaceutical. And, above all, it will revolutionize the internet of things by allowing a high number of devices connected at once, whether phones, cars or washing machines. "The connection between people and mobile phones will be broken: from then on we will be connected with things," says Javier García, head of radio network engineering at Vodafone Global.
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And for the average user to endorse the technology, the entire 5G ecosystemgoes crazy to discover what the next killer application will be. That is, the application that determines the future use of this technology and makes it desirable and massive for citizens, as was the case with SMS messages or video calls. The e-sports and everything related to gaming can be the key. The autonomous car, the emergency drones, the improvement of the industrial productivity or the remote surgeries will be possible thanks to the 5G. But for the average citizen there are still gaps: their use will be similar to 4G. Of course, the expectations are high: "Whatever you think, it is going to be able to do," says García. And so that they can be done, the deployment of the 5G has already begun to travel its path. "We are working on it," says Álvaro Villegas, although his words could have been put in the mouth of any assistant to the 5G Forum of Malaga.
"SPAIN HAS A VERY GOOD STARTING SITUATION AND WE CAN NOT MISS IT"
The United States and South Korea, headquarters of Samsung, are the two countries that are already deploying general and successful 5G. The rest of the world is reordering frequencies, testing and promoting investment with pilot projects. Except Germany, one step ahead, Spain is in a situation similar to the rest of Europe and with an identical road map. This has been explained by a dozen responsible for manufacturers and operators to EL PÁIS. Also the government. "The starting situation is very good and we can not miss it," says Antonio Fernández-Paniagua, deputy general director of planning and management of the radioelectric spectrum and one of those responsible for the National 5G Plan.
In addition to promoting and promoting the 5G or improving the Telecommunications Law to facilitate the deployment of infrastructure, the executive is already working on reorganizing and defragmenting the frequency spectrums that the new technology will use. One of the bands was already put out to public contest last year and now the other two are already organized. Especially the 700 megahertz that now uses digital terrestrial television that should be available for 5G on June 30, 2020.
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