34b - An overview of 5G

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Read the article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G

The 5G specification is called NR (New Radio). It is divided into two frequency bands:

• FR1: Frequencies below 6 GHz. Reality: only slightly faster than LTE-A (2.5x). Channels are up to 100 MHz width, 256-QAM.
  • FR2, mmWave: Above 15 GHz. 24 GHz and 52 GHz bands. Channels are up to 400 MHz width.

Three usage scenarios:

1. eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband): Mobile Phones and home USB modems.
2. Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC): Industrial applications and autonomous vehicles.
3. Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC): Sensors.

Main features:

• High data rate (up to 20 Gbps)
• Reduced latency (< 1ms)
• Energy saving
• Cost reduction
• Higher system capacity
• Massive device connectivity
• Massive MIMO (up to 64-Tx/64-Rx antenna system). Each cell will have multiple antennas communicating with the wireless device, each over a separate frequency channel, received by multiple antennas in the device, thus multiple bitstreams of data will be transmitted simultaneously.
• Beamforming. The base station computer will continuously calculate the best route for radio waves to reach each wireless device, and will organise multiple antennas to work together as phased arrays to create beams of millimeter waves to reach the device.

Modes of deployment

NSA (Non Standalone) will be the first implementation of 5G. It will rely on existing 4G core network (EPC: Evolved Packet Core). This will help carriers with cheaper installation costs.

Later on, carriers will update their core equipment and offer SA (Standalone) connectivity, leading to the full 5G.

More info

Orange y ZTE realizan la primera llamada de voz y datos con una red móvil 5G en España

Orange muestra las ventajas del 5G con aplicaciones para la industria

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