After over a decade, a new mobile communication standard has arrived, and is all set to usher in a new era of digital connectivity. 5G is the buzzword everywhere and countries all around the world are deploying 5G as quickly as possible. India, being the latest one to auction the 5G spectrums, the telecom operators are ready to launch their 5G services which include Airtel 5G, Jio 5G, and Vi 5G . In the US, 5G is already live with telcos like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon offering their 5G services. In case, you are still unaware of 5G, you can learn about all the developments from this explainer. On that note, let’s go ahead and learn what is 5G and what are the benefits over 4G.
5G Explained: All You Need to Know (2022)
Here, we have explained everything about 5G including the new frequency bands, its practical speed, SA and NSA modes in 5G, benefits of 5G over 4G, and more. You can expand the table below and move to any section you want.
What is 5G?
5G, as the name suggests, is a 5th-generation cellular network standard , a successor to 4G-LTE. In technical terms, 5G corresponds to a set of technical specifications which is defined by 3GPP — an industry consortium that develops standards for mobile communication. Similar to how 4G brought better speed, latency, and wider capabilities over 3G, 5G ushers a new era of ultra-speed gigabit network where devices ranging from IoT to large machines — all can leverage its sheer power.
In 2017, 3GPP approved the first 5G specifications known as Release 15. It estimated 5G peak speeds ranging from 10 to 20Gbps . In comparison, the theoretical peak speed of 4G is 1Gbps. So 5G offers multi-fold improvements over 4G-LTE. The reason 5G is able to deliver such a high-speed network is that finally, higher frequency bands (called NR — New Radio) have been opened up for public and commercial usage.
5G Frequency Bands
5G frequency bands have been divided into two broad categories: sub-6GHz and mmWave . The sub-6GHz spectrum has been divided further into two segments: low-band and mid-band. Here, low-band refers to the frequency range between 600MHz to 2.4GHz, similar to 4G’s operational frequency band. Things get exciting as we move to the mid-band. It operates between 3GHz to 6GHz , hence, the name sub-6GHz and it offers much better speeds than 4G, with a peak download speed of 1Gbps.
Source: Qualcomm
Moving higher on the frequency ladder, the mmWave spectrum operates between 24GHz to 52GHz . This is an elite-tier frequency band that can deliver speeds up to 10-20Gbps. Having said that, as we know in telecommunication, the higher the frequency, the faster the speed. But with higher frequency, the penetration of radio signal drops significantly so the mmWave frequency band can only reach a few millimeters, hence the name mmWave.
Currently, telecom companies are going after the mid-band sub-6GHz frequency band as it can reach far and wide and yet offer better speed than 4G. The mmWave frequency band, on the other hand, requires cell towers every few blocks so its deployment is quite limited around the world. Telcos are selectively using the mmWave frequency band in dense areas around urban cities like stadiums, convention centers, attraction points, etc. So that was all about 5G frequency bands, now let’s go ahead and learn how fast 5G is both in theory and in practical usage.
How Fast is 5G?
As I mentioned above, 5G can theoretically deliver download speeds between 10 to 20Gbps. However, it will require the mmWave frequency band and an SA 5G network (more on this below), assuming there are no solid hurdles between your device and the cell tower. If we talk about 5G’s performance on the practical side, in the US, Verizon offered download speeds up to 1.3Gbps on its mmWave network.
Source: OpenSignal.org
However, according to a recent OpenSignal report , Illinois, and New York ranked on top averaging a peak 5G download speed of around 141Mbps . If we talk about 5G development in India , Airtel reached a massive 3Gbps speed in one of the trials whereas Vodafone Idea pegged 5.92Gbps and Jio recently announced that it will be able to deliver 1Gbps download speed indoors over its true SA 5G network . It seems like, practically, 5G speeds will be around 100Mbps and can go up to 1Gbps if you happen to access the mmWave 5G network with not much traffic around.
5G Deployment Modes: SA and NSA in 5G
In 2017, when 3GPP first approved the 5G specifications, it was the NSA standard which stands for Non-standalone 5G. NSA 5G is a deployment mode that telcos can implement to quickly build a 5G network. In this mode, you can utilize the existing 4G-LTE core (also known as the EPC) over 5G frequency bands to offer 5G services to compatible 5G devices. In the NSA mode, you don’t need to upgrade the 4G-LTE core to the 5G core. In essence, it’s not a true 5G network as it’s still relying on legacy network infrastructure.
Source: Mobolanle Bello / researchgate.net
SA 5G or Standalone 5G is a true end-to-end 5G network where all the components are based on 5G specifications. Starting from core to frequency bands and end devices, all must be based on the latest 5G specs . This kind of network infrastructure coupled with the mmWave frequency band will give you the best 5G experience such as sub-10ms latency, over 1Gbps download speed, and more.
5G vs 4G: Benefits of 5G Over 4G
There are many benefits of 5G over 4G such as gigabit download speed, close to zero latency, power efficiency, and more. Go through the below points to understand the difference between 5G and 4G in detail.
- 5G can deliver much faster speeds than 4G. Its operational frequency band is between 600MHz to a massive 52GHz which opens the door for unparalleled performance.
- 5G offers very low latency, generally below 10ms . This means you can do cloud gaming with 5G, interact with users while watching live content, monitor or navigate a self-driving car, and more. In the medical field, it can facilitate remote robotic surgery and doctors can supervise 5G-connected ambulances from far away.
- In comparison to 4G, 5G can scale massively and handle a large swathe of users. It can handle more than 1 million devices in a 1 square kilometer area. Additionally, Massive MIMO and Beamforming improve throughput and efficiency in dense areas.
- According to the Release 15 specifications, 5G is much more power-efficient than 4G. As we grapple with climate change, 5G can help with building a sustainable future.
- 5G also offers voice calls over New Radio (VoNR) which is superior to VoLTE, but the network must be on an end-to-end SA 5G network.
- Just like 4G, 5G supports carrier aggregation which combines multiple frequency bands to create a single data pipeline . Apart from that, there is DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) support that shares 4G and 5G spectrums to offer a better experience.
- 5G also brings a host of new features like network slicing , real-time analytics, accurate location tracking, and more. Among them, network slicing is an important one. It lets mobile operators create virtual networks from a single physical network. This can be helpful for providing low-latency communication.
Do You Need a New 5G SIM Card?
Generally, you don’t need a new 5G SIM card. Your existing 4G or 3G SIM should work fine with 5G networks as the 5G standard is backward-compatible with 4G and 3G SIM cards. Having said that, some carriers in the US and UK have asked users to get a new 5G-compatible SIM card for a better experience. In such a case, you should upgrade to a 5G SIM card. You can learn in-depth information about carriers region-wise from our article on whether you need a new 5G SIM card or not.
Learn Everything About 5G in Detail
So that was everything about 5G and how it’s going to change our lives in the future. Apart from speed improvements, I like the fact that 5G is power-efficient and consumes less energy. Not to mention, it can also work with existing network infrastructure which makes for better utilization of old network gears. Anyway, that is all from us. If you want to learn about India’s 5Gi standard , head over to our detailed explainer. And to check 5G bands supported on your phone , click on the linked tutorial. For a list of all 5G bands supported in India , go through our curated article. Finally, if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section below.
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As we enter the second phase of the 5G rollout, where we actually get to use the 5G services , we bring you a list of 5G bands in the US for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. We have compiled this list with various 5G frequency bands , including the popular n41 band that’s offered by some carriers, so you can pick your mobile carrier with ease. You can find the spectrum range, the kind of frequency bands US telecom companies are using, and the sort of coverage and speed you will get on your 5G smartphone. So on that note, let’s go ahead and find the complete list of 5G bands for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the US.
5G Bands Supported by US Carriers (Updated September 2022)
In this article, we have covered 4 major US carriers, and you can find their 5G frequency bands from the list below. You can use the table below and move to a carrier of your choice.
Verizon
Of all the carriers, Verizon offers the fastest average 5G speeds, up to 722Mbps, in the US, according to an Opensignal report . It’s because Verizon has a healthy balance of 5G bands from mid-band sub-6GHz to mmWave bands . On top of that, Verizon also uses DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) to bring 5G speeds in non-urban areas by combining 4G spectrums.
Not to mention, Verizon has the highest share of the 28GHz band , which makes it one of the biggest potential mmWave carriers in the US. Note that Verizon calls sub-6GHz frequency as Nationwide 5G and mmWave frequency as Ultra Wide Band 5G.
AT&T
While AT&T won the 39GHz spectrum in May 2020, it’s still relying on its old 850MHz frequency band to offer low-band 5G to users in the US. The average 5G speed of AT&T mobile network currently is 59.3Mbps. According to a report , AT&T has launched 39GHz 5G in parts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s expected that AT&T’s 39GHz 5G will offer speed up to 3Gbps.
Sprint
Sprint is now merged with T-Mobile, so Sprint users can access T-Mobile’s 5G network as well, offering a better experience. As for Sprint’s 5G band, it only has one 5G frequency band, but the 2.5GHz frequency band is a sweet spot when it comes to offering fast speed and good coverage.
After the merger, T-Mobile is taking great advantage of the 2.5GHz frequency band to extend faster 5G services to its users. The mid-band frequency in Sprint’s 5G network is offering a download speed of around 180Mbps on average.
T-Mobile
After Verizon, if there is one carrier that offers both mmWave and Mid-band 5G, then it’s T-Mobile. As I mentioned above, after the Sprint-T-Mobile merger, the company is offering Mid-band 5G services using the 2.5GHz band. In addition, it has the spectrum for mmWave 5G as well: 28GHz and 39GHz . And to serve the downtown areas, T-Mobile is using 600MHz 5G. The best part is that it has an average 5G speed of 243Mbps, right behind Verizon.
Learn All About 5G Bands of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile
So these are the 5G bands that you need to know if you are based out of the US. Currently, there are only a few carriers who are offering mmWave 5G to the masses. Even in such cases, the coverage area is rather limited and restricted to a select few urban places. So before choosing your mobile carrier in the US, do take a look at all the 5G frequency bands they are offering. Anyway, that is all from us. If you found the article helpful, let us know in the comment section below.
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Jio and Airtel officially started rolling out 5G in India in select cities last month and while most of the phones were eligible, iPhones didn’t and required an update for users to start using 5G. After some criticism and pressure from the government, Apple confirmed that the 5G update will be out in December and now, it is expected to start testing the same next week.
iPhones in India to Soon Support 5G
Apple has confirmed (via Economic Times ) that it will add support for 5G as part of the iOS 16.2 beta in India next week . The company is also planning to meet members of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology MeitY) to update them on the rollout.
So, if you have signed up for the iOS beta program, you will be able to test 5G and give feedback to Apple for it to solve the possible issues before the stable rollout begins.
iPhone users on the Jio or the Airtel network will be able to test 5G out before the official rollout begins. There’s no word on the exact release date, though. For those who don’t know, True Jio 5G is currently available on an invite-only basis in Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, and Kolkata. Airtel 5G Plus, on the other hand, is rolling out in a phased manner in Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Siliguri, and Nagpur.
For those who don’t know, Samsung is also expected to release the 5G update in December. Even Motorola will release one , starting this month, following the government’s push to enable 5G support on phones as soon as possible. Most Android phones already supported 5G once it went live in India last month.
Started off as a stranger but tech is more like a good friend, thanks to over 5 years in the industry. While everything is attractive about tech, phones, social media, and quirky gadgets attract me the most. When not working, I find my solace in shopping and everything that concerns doggos!
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