5G is a better network ? - Pros and Cons

 Introduction

 These days we hear a lot about 5G and everyone is looking for its deployment. Huawei Technologies being a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices is facing product and 5G wireless network project bans in some countries and thus various controversies on whether it can develop 5G infrastructure in certain countries.

 5G vulnerabilities are set to bring new security challenges as it means more devices, greater traffic, and for-sure broader attack surfaces. As security is a global issue and it is also being said that it could even affect the accuracy of our weather predictions. Some companies have been manipulating customers about their 5G deployment, by a foreign company is said to be revolving around different issues surrounding 5G.

 Before learning about the technological development of 5G – let us first understand the basics of this network.

 What is meant by 5G?

 5G a wireless technology simply the fifth generation (5G) is the most recent major innovation in cellular data. 5G technology is standardized by an international industry group called the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) thus also referred to as 5G NR.

 Covering 15 percent of the world’s population 5G is available in select markets. As per, a forecast it is likely that 5G will rise to only 75 percent by 2027 and the full economic effect can be seen across the globe by 2035.

What’s so special about 5G?

 

1)Types of 5G Networks

 5G network is meant to deliver higher Gbps (Gigabits-per-second) data speed providing 20 times faster data transmission but, in many real-life situations, this connection might get interrupted. To overcome these situations and make sure that at least we have some reliable connection. 5G uses a process known as adaptive beam switching so that it can jump between the different types as per requirement.

 5G runs on a radio frequencies basis it has three different bands, based on the frequencies that they operate at:

 A) Millimeter-wave – This band is the fastest has a short range and can easily be blocked by things like buildings and trees, due to the small wavelengths involved. The range of these bands is from 24 gigahertz (GHz) to 47 GHz (the largest to currently be licensed by the FCC).  It also takes up a larger section of the radio wave spectrum, it is appropriate for areas with high densities of people but without large obstructions, such as sporting events, festivals, and center squares.

 B) Mid-band – This includes the 2.5GHz, 3.5GHz, and 3.7-4.2GHz bands, and it is the most widely deployed form of 5G as it gives a good compromise between speed, range, and reliability.

C)Low-band – This type of 5G uses the 600 MHz, 800 MHz, and 900 MHz bands i:e 0.6 GHz, 0.8 GHz, and 0.9 GHz respectively. One gigahertz is 1,000 megahertz. This is the most common way to see low-band 5G frequencies written. The speeds of low-band 5G are far from ideal and are great for fast downloads, but the long wavelengths make it incredibly resistant to distortion.

 2)Speed

 5G could eventually bring speeds of up to 20 gigabytes per second (Gbps) has been estimated.

5G tests have shown speeds ranging from 470 Mbps to a peak of 1,815 Mbps and in many cases, low-band 5G may not be much faster than 4G.

 It is not only the band type that would affect the real-world speeds but other factors like a person’s proximity to the tower, network congestion, and the technology in the end-users device.

 3)Latency

 The time taken between the data sent and when it arrives at its destination and for the acknowledgment of its arrival to be received by the original sender is called latency.

 4)Capacity

 When too many people try to connect to a network causing congestion that slows down the service or hampers from accessing the data, this is referred to as capacity. This also happens at peak usage hours as everyone goes online at the same time, thus slowing down your internet speed, and making it hard to complete your tasks.

 But 5G will allow a larger flow of data and will set to ease some of this congestion causing less strain on the network.

 5)Energy efficiency

 Energy consumption is expected to be lower in 5G compared to 4G. 5G has been designed to limit unnecessary effort and reduce the power consumption of radio network equipment compared to 4G network base stations which continued to use large amounts of power, even when they are idle. During non-transmission of user data in 4G power is sucked to send out system information, synchronization signals, and reference signals.

Fewer synchronization and other signals are required in 5G thus being more efficient as it can turn off hardware components when not in active use- meaning that its components spend more time in sleep mode.

 6) 5G NR vs 5G E

 5g E – In December 2018, AT&T took some steps to convince its customers that it led the 5G charge and launched the first 5G wireless hotspot device in parts of 12 cities where 5G was available. The indicators on some Android and iPhones are displayed as 5G E.

In 2019, AT&T was accused of deceptive practices regarding its marketing of what was called 5G Evolution (5G E).

 7)5G vs fiber

 5G and fiber are complementary as fiber performs much better over long distances, with minimal loss in signal strength. Fiber cabling is hardly mobile and thus it is best to integrate it with 5G technology and thus maintain strong and fast signals.

 What are the advantages of 5G?

 The Benefits of 5G are as follows:

1) Better speed with lower latency, increased capacity, and greater energy efficiency.

2) Shorter loading times while browsing or streaming videos, cloud gaming, improved coverage, and stability of the connection.  

2)Better quality of video calls.

3)New wearables like smartwatches etc... with additional features.

4)Increased real-time communications for road traffic and self-driven vehicles.

5)M2M communication for automation, like wirelessly connected manufacturing robots and remote healthcare, such as monitoring, consultation, or perhaps even robotic surgery.

 

What are the 5g Security Risks?

 The 5G Vulnerabilities are as follows:

 1)Risks associated with increased data transfers and poorly secured IoT devices that will appear alongside 5G.

2)Risks inherent in 5G technology.

3)Risks associated with Chinese-deployed infrastructure.

4)The risks associated with China and Huawei as a foreign company is involved in the development of your communications infrastructure.

5) Increased usage of IoT-related devices as with 5G has increased risk as the greater capacity of the network