What’s 5G?
There is a lot of news about 5G right now. There are 5G auctions for the allocation of frequencies, 5G mobile phones are introduced and the first 5G networks go into operation – also in Switzerland. What exactly is hidden behind the abbreviation 5G and what the new technology can do, we want to inform you about here.
5G is a mobile radio standard
When people talk about 5G, they often do so in the context of a new mobile network being inaugurated or the introduction of a new smartphone model being praised for its 5G capability. However, 5G is actually defined as a mobile radio standard that standardizes a certain mobile radio technology, i.e. regulates its properties.
The G in 5G stands for generation. 5G thus refers to the 5th generation of the mobile radio standard. The predecessor generation was called 4G and can achieve download rates of up to 600 Mbps. The reason why people expect so much from the new 5G standard is that download rates of up to 10 Gbit/s are to be possible here, which would make data transmission in the 5G network almost 20 times faster than is theoretically possible to date.
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The special thing about 5G
In addition to the high transmission speed, the advantage of 5G is that the so-called latency time, i.e. the reaction time of an application to an event, can be reduced to less than one millisecond (0.001 seconds) using 5G technology. For comparison: With the previous 4G standard, delays in the two-digit millisecond range are common.
In addition, 5G can handle larger data volumes. The increase in capacity is expected to accelerate the spread of Internet-compatible devices such as intelligent refrigerators and light bulbs. It is also expected that 5G will advance the development of autonomous driving and further digitalize the industry.
Where does a 5G network already exist?
The pioneers in 5G are the USA. There, networks with the new standard were already put into operation in some cities in 2018. In South Korea, 5G was introduced nationwide at the beginning of April 2019.
In Switzerland, too, 5G networks can already be used at certain locations, making the country one of the pioneers in the use of this latest mobile communications technology. At the beginning of April 2019, the mobile communications provider Sunrise switched its 5G networks live; in mid-April, Swisscom followed suit at isolated locations. From 2020, the 5G networks will then be available throughout Switzerland.
Prerequisite for 5G use
In order to benefit from the high speeds of the 5G network, you need to have the right mobile phone. The first devices compatible with 5G are just coming onto the market. These include the LG V50 ThinQ, the foldable Huawei Mate X, the Samsung Galaxy S10 in the 5G version and the Oppo Reno 5G.
You also need the right tariff. For example, you cannot use the 5G network of the provider with every Swisscom subscription. You can search for the most suitable mobile phone subscription here on alao.
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