5G
5G, or the fifth generation of wireless technology, is an advanced mobile network technology designed to provide faster speeds, lower latency, and increased capacity compared to the previous 4G (LTE) technology. It enables various applications, including improved mobile broadband, IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, and more. The technology has a theoretical peak speed of 20 Gbps and is intended to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, increased reliability, massive network capacity, and increased coverage
As of now, 5G technology is already available in many countries, and its adoption is growing rapidly. Here’s what we know about the current state of 5G and its future:
- 5G Launch: 5G networks were introduced in 2019, and during that year, several smartphone manufacturers released their first 5G-capable devices. However, in 2020, a wider variety of 5G smartphones from various manufacturers became available, making this technology more accessible to consumers.
- Predictions for Future Users: In 2023, there are approximately 1.9 billion global subscriptions for 5G networks. Projections suggest that this number will grow to 2.8 billion by 2024 and further expand to 5.9 billion by 2027. [1]
- Ubiquitous Availability: By 2030, it’s estimated that only 25% of the world’s population will have access to high band 5G coverage, with an estimated cost of $700–900 billion for the rollout. Availability depends on factors like network capacity and deployment costs. [2]
6G
6G is the sixth-generation mobile system standard currently being developed for wireless communications over cellular data networks in telecommunications. It is the successor to 5G and will likely be much faster. The exact working of 6G is not yet known, as the specification is yet to be fully developed, finalized, and released by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union).
6G networks may coexist with 5G for a while when they are released and will offer significant improvements over previous generations in several ways. The exact workings of 6G are not yet known; however, based on the progression of previous generations of cellular networks, one can anticipate use cases and developments in areas such as Industry 4.0, augmented reality, autonomous transportation, eHealth, and more.
The race towards 6G is getting the interest of numerous industry players, and its anticipated launch is set for 2030. [4][5]
5G vs 6G performance (expected) [3]
1. https://www.statista.com/statistics/760275/5g-mobile-subscriptions-worldwide/
2. https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/5-Predictions-about-5G-Adoption-in-2021-and-Beyond
4. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/08/what-is-6g-and-when-will-it-launch-telco-execs-predict.html
5. https://builtin.com/hardware/6g
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
