5G is the fifth generation of cellular mobile communications with revolutionary services, which succeeds

the 4G, 3G, and 2G (GMS) systems. 5G technology is the next generation of mobile networking
standards and promises to deliver an improved end-user experience by offering new applications and
services through seamless coverage, a high data rate, low latency, significantly improved performance,
and reliable communications.

5G technology will increase energy efficiency, spectrum efficiency, and network efficiency, as well as the
efficiency of other systems.

5G, the fifth generation of mobile network technology, represents a significant leap forward from
previous generations (1G to 4G). It is designed to enhance speed, reduce latency, and improve
the flexibility of wireless services, providing better support for the burgeoning number of devices
and applications in today’s digital ecosystem. Here are some key notes on 5G networks:

Key Features of 5G Networks

1. High Speed:
o 5G offers significantly faster data transfer speeds compared to 4G. While 4G
networks can reach maximum speeds of 1 Gbps, 5G networks can potentially
offer speeds up to 10 Gbps or more, depending on the frequency band and
network conditions.
2. Low Latency:
o Latency is the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for
its transfer. 5G networks are designed to reduce latency to as low as 1
millisecond, which is critical for applications requiring real-time responses, such
as autonomous vehicles, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR).
3. Increased Capacity:
o 5G networks can support a much larger number of connected devices compared to
previous generations. This is crucial for the growing Internet of Things (IoT)
ecosystem, where numerous devices like smart sensors, appliances, and other
gadgets are interconnected.
4. Enhanced Reliability:
o The network architecture of 5G is designed to provide more reliable connections,
which is essential for mission-critical services that cannot afford downtime, such
as remote surgery or critical industrial processes.
5. Network Slicing:
o 5G allows for the creation of virtual networks that are tailored to specific
requirements (network slicing). This means that a network can be sliced into
different segments, each optimized for a particular application or service (e.g.,
IoT devices, high-definition video streaming, critical infrastructure).

Technologies Enabling 5G

1. Millimeter Waves (mmWave):

 o 5G uses higher frequency bands, including millimeter waves, which range from
24 GHz to 100 GHz. These higher frequencies can carry more data but have a
shorter range, requiring a denser network of small cells.
2. Massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output):
o Massive MIMO technology uses multiple antennas at both the transmitter and
receiver to improve communication performance. It increases the capacity of the
network by allowing the transmission of more data streams simultaneously.
3. Beamforming:
o Beamforming is a technique used to direct signals to a specific device, rather than
broadcasting in all directions. This increases the efficiency and range of the
network, especially in environments with a high density of users.
4. Small Cells:
o To achieve the higher speeds and capacity of 5G, networks use small cells, which
are low-powered cellular radio access nodes. These are deployed closer together
than traditional cell towers, especially in urban areas, to provide better coverage
and capacity.
5. Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN):
o These technologies enable more flexible and efficient network management by
decoupling network functions from hardware and allowing them to be managed
virtually through software.

Applications of 5G

1. Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB):

o 5G provides significantly faster mobile internet, allowing for high-definition
video streaming, quicker downloads, and a better overall user experience on
mobile devices.
2. Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC):
o This is essential for applications that require instant, reliable communication, such
as autonomous vehicles, remote surgery, and industrial automation.
3. Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC):
o 5G supports a vast number of IoT devices, facilitating the widespread adoption of
smart cities, smart homes, and connected industries.

Challenges of 5G

1. Infrastructure Requirements:
o Deploying 5G requires significant infrastructure investment, including the
installation of many small cells and upgrades to existing cell towers and network
equipment.
2. Spectrum Availability:
o The deployment of 5G depends on the availability of spectrum, which is often
tightly regulated and can be costly to acquire.
3. Security Concerns:
 o With more devices connected to the network and more data being transmitted, 5G
poses new security challenges that need to be addressed to protect against cyber
threats.
4. Health and Environmental Concerns:
o Some concerns have been raised regarding the potential health effects of exposure
to higher-frequency electromagnetic fields used in 5G networks, though scientific
evidence on this is still being evaluated.

5G represents a transformative technology that is set to revolutionize how we connect and

interact with the world. Its deployment will enable new applications and services that were not
possible with previous generations of mobile networks.

Evolution from 1G to 5G Technology

1G, 2G, 3G & 4G ("G" stands for "Generation") are the generations of wireless telecom connectivity.

1 - It was the first wireless telecom network system introduced in the 1980s.
G - Early devices like“brick phones” and “bag phones” operated on 1G technology.

2
- Launched in the 1990s, 2G represented a shift from analogue to digital cell phones.
G
 - The 3G came with the new Wireless Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.
3
- Introduced in the 2000s and provides mobile phones with broadband-speed internet access.
G
- Further development led to the creation of 3.5G; Speed- up to 7.2 MBPS.

- The 4G, was launched in 2009 globally (India 2012).

- LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is a fourth-generation (4G) wireless standard that provides increased
network capacity and speed.
4
 LTE is also called 3.95G and has been marketed as 4G LTE and Advanced 4G.
G
- VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution) allowed voice calls via the 4G network, supporting
simultaneous voice and data services.

- Speed: Upto 1 Gbps.

- 5G, the 5th Generation Mobile technology, revolutionised the use of cell phones with its high
bandwidth capabilities.

5 - The network utilises advanced technologies to deliver ultra-fast internet and enhanced
G multimedia experiences.

- It supports a virtual private network and offers high resolution in cell phones.

- It also provides subscriber supervision tools for fast action.

Different Bands of 5G

A band refers to a specific range of frequencies in the electromagnetic frequency spectrum assigned to
certain applications. There are essentially three types of 5G bands supported in India.

 Low-band 5G transmits around the 600 to 700 MHz range, providing blanket coverage but
offering slow speeds around 50 Mbps.

 Mid-band 5G transmits around 1.7 GHz to 2.5 GHz, offering a solid balance between coverage
and speed (100-900 Mbps).

 High-band 5G operates at 24 GHz or higher, providing the fastest speeds (1 Gbps speeds) over
short distances.
Advantages of 5G Technology

5G technology is positioned as the next-generation wireless technology; it builds on predecessors,

introducing a paradigm shift and unlocking new possibilities for industries and consumers alike. The
following are the advantageous features of the 5G technology:
 Increased Connectivity: 5G technology is expected to deliver faster and more reliable internet
connectivity, facilitating more devices to connect to the internet and enabling new technologies
and applications to operate with lower latency.

 Enhanced Experiences: 5G is expected to offer new and improved experiences in virtual

and augmented reality, gaming, and video streaming.

 Enabling Real-Time Collaboration: People will be able to interact and collaborate in real-time
in virtual environments via 5G technology, which will eliminate the delays and lag that are
currently experienced on slower networks.

 Supporting High-Quality Content: 5G technology is enabling the creation and delivery of high-
quality content such as 3D graphics.
  Enabling new applications and services: 5G technology is expected to enable new metaverse
applications and services such as virtual education, virtual healthcare, and virtual tourism.

Limitations of 5G Technology

5G technology has the potential to improve enterprise operations and the competitiveness of the digital
economy. However, there are also some negative aspects to consider, including the following:

 High infrastructure cost: 5G service is likely to be more expensive, at least initially, because the
deployment of 5G networks requires significant investment in infrastructure and its improved
features may also be reflected in the price of 5G service.

 Security Risks: 5G networks, like any new technology, may be vulnerable to security threats
such as hacking and cyberattacks.

 Privacy Concerns: Concerns about personal privacy may arise as a result of the increased use of
data and connected devices enabled by 5G technology.

 Device Compatibility: The transition to 5G necessitates compatible devices, with newer models
supporting it. Older devices may not work with 5G, causing a fragmented user experience.

o This rollout may worsen economic and social inequalities by unevenly distributing access
to technology.

 Health Concerns: There are concerns about the potential health consequences of 5G, such as
increased exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation.

o However, the World Health Organization has determined that the levels of RF radiation
emitted by 5G technology are safe.

Applications of 5G Technology

5G Technology will enable wireless service providers to develop innovative business models, benefiting
various sectors like industrial, commercial, educational, healthcare, agriculture, etc.

 Health Sector: 5G technology can facilitate high-quality telemedicine services, allowing for
remote consultations, real-time monitoring of patients, and tele-treatment where doctors can
treat patients while maintaining social distancing norms like those required during COVID-19.

 Internet of Things (IoT): 5G’s promise of low latency and high network capacity helps to
eliminate the biggest limitations to IoT expansion.

 Augmented and Virtual Reality: 5G backhaul enables data speeds that are several times faster
than 4G, ensuring real-time and uninterrupted AR/VR experiences.
  Agriculture: Using data from sensors installed directly in fields, farmers can pinpoint which areas
require water, have a disease, or require pest management.

 Manufacturing: Factories will also use 5G to control and analyze industrial processes with an
unprecedented degree of precision.

o 5G offers unimaginable possibilities to power Industry 4.0, from video monitoring to

fixed wireless access, immersive experiences and smart stadiums toe-health, machine
remote control, cloud robotics, process automation, and assisted/autonomous vehicles.

 Logistics:Inventory tracking is costly, slow, and difficult in shipping and logistics. 5G has the
potential to improve vehicle-to-vehicle communication as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure
communication.

o Fleet monitoring and navigation will become significantly easier at scale with 5G.

India and 5G Technology

5G services were launched in India in October 2022. The 5G network has been rolled out in all 28 states
and 8 UTs now. This is one of the fastest 5G rollouts in the world. As of October 2023, the number of
5G users now stands at over 100 million.

 According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, by the end of 2028, there will be 700 million 5G
users in India.

 5G services are also expected to play a major role in achieving the economic goal of making
India a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.

 Promoting Digital India: Fast and reliable mobile communication technologies provided by 5G
are helping the government realize the objectives of the Digital India programme by
empowering citizens through services like Unified Payment Interface (UPI).

 BharatNet Phase-III: It aims to provide broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats (village
councils) in the country, with the ultimate goal of connecting every village in India to the
internet.

o 5G and BharatNet will together have 1.2 billion internet users, making India the single
largest connected nation.

Initiatives for 5G in India

The government of India has taken several steps for the 5G rollout in India:

 5G High-Level Forum: It was set up in 2017 to articulate the vision for 5G in India and to
recommend policy initiatives & action plans to realize this vision.
  ‘Indigenous 5G test bed’: This three-year program began in March 2018 to build proof-of-
concept 5G prototypes that are broadly compliant with the 3GPP standards.

o The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has offered the usage of 5G test beds
free of cost to the Start-ups and MSMEs recognised by the Government of India up to
January 2024.

 The National Digital Communication Policy-2018: It envisages the following with respect to the
rollout of 5G services:

o Enabling high-speed internet, the Internet of Things, through the rollout of 5G

technologies

o Implementing an action plan for the rollout

o Ensuring availability of spectrum for 5G in 6 GHz bands

o Reviewing industry practices with respect to traffic prioritization to provide 5G-enabled

applications and services

Challenges for 5G Rollout in India

 Lack of infrastructure: To have ubiquitous 5G network connectivity in India, it is important to

enable the use of street infrastructure for hoisting small cells, deployment of in-building
solutions, and fabrication of towers.

 5G standards: A variant of the global standard for 5G (3GPP- 3rd Generation Partnership
Project) has been developed in India, known as Telecommunications Standards Development
Society, India (TSDSI)’s Radio Interface Technology (TDSI-RIT).

o TDSI-RIT improves rural coverage while lowering costs to cover a specific, defined area.
As TDSI-RIT standards are not globally harmonised this could lead to increased costs for
network and customer devices and interoperability issues.

 Low tower fiberization: India’s low tower fiberization is hampering the ambitious 5G
deployment, which has not yet reached the halfway level against a goal of 70% by 2024.

 Setting up of 5G use case labs: Telcos are struggling to develop relevant use cases, besides
faster speeds, for wider adoption and monetisation.