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5G is on the horizon, promising data speeds that could rival fixed-line fiber connections. Achieving that level of performance will require operators to adopt new approaches, beginning with access to dedicated spectrum, which the FCC has recently made available.
Tom Wheeler, former chairman of the FCC, summarized the potential this way: “Fifth-generation, or 5G, connectivity is likely to be more than an incremental evolution in wireless technology. It promises quantum leaps in three key areas: speeds that may be at least 10 times—and possibly 100 times—faster than today’s 4G LTE networks; responsiveness measured in less than one-thousandth of a second, enabling real-time communication; and network capacity that is multiples greater than what’s available today.”
As demand for data continues to grow, driven by smartphones, streaming, gaming and an expanding array of connected devices, operators are looking to 5G to deliver faster connections and dramatically lower latency. Beyond consumer mobile devices, the higher speeds and reliability expected from the next generation of cellular networks will support a rapidly expanding Internet of Things (IoT) landscape and connected vehicles.
Wheeler added: “Combining ultra-fast, low-latency, high-capacity connectivity with the nearly limitless processing power of the cloud will enable super-fast wireless broadband, smarter city energy and water systems, immersive education and entertainment, and countless other innovations. In a 5G world, the Internet of Everything will be closer to reality: everything that can be connected will be connected. Most importantly, 5G will enable breakthrough applications we have not yet imagined.”
Today’s cellular networks rely on mid- and low-frequency bands that propagate well over long distances. While 5G standards are expected to be finalized around 2020, the technology is likely to combine multiple approaches, including the use of ultra-high-frequency spectrum. Those higher bands can deliver exceptional throughput but have much shorter range.
Historically, ultra-high-frequency bands were considered impractical for mobile broadband because their signals require line-of-sight and attenuate quickly. That is changing. 5G will often require a direct line-of-sight between a device and its access point, prompting a shift away from large, distant cell towers toward dense deployments of small access points placed throughout urban and suburban environments.
These access points are designed to be compact—roughly the size of a smoke alarm—making it easier to obtain permission to install them on buildings, street furniture and other structures. However, the density of equipment needed for ubiquitous coverage will substantially increase deployment costs. In addition to the sheer number of units, operators must run backhaul connections—fiber or other wired links—into buildings to support each access point, which adds complexity and expense.
To manage cost and scale, operators are expected to pursue greater infrastructure sharing than in previous generations. Governments and municipal authorities will also play a greater role, particularly by granting access to public buildings and assets to facilitate widespread infrastructure deployment.
Some companies are developing mesh and wireless backhaul solutions to reduce the need for a dedicated wired connection to every access point. For example, Facebook has worked on an antenna system called Terragraph that enables wireless access points to share backhaul links if a sufficient number of them have direct line-of-sight connections with one another. This approach can cover entire neighborhoods or cities without running fiber to every single node, lowering costs and accelerating rollout.
In practice, 5G will blend line-of-sight, high-frequency technologies with more traditional lower-frequency solutions. The near-term challenge—through at least 2020—will be integrating these diverse technologies so devices can switch seamlessly between bands and access methods based on signal conditions, mobility and application needs. Standardization work began within bodies like the International Telecommunication Union in 2012, but making high-frequency spectrum available through regulatory action, such as the FCC’s recent move, is a major step toward real-world deployment.
While many technical and logistical hurdles remain—density of access points, cost of backhaul, coordination among operators, and regulatory cooperation—the combination of new spectrum, innovative backhaul strategies and shared infrastructure models sets the stage for a significant transformation in how wireless networks are designed and used.
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