Fifth Generation 5G at your fingertips soon

We may have the highest speed mobile network at hand but it doesn’t stop us from wanting a mobile network which gives us more high speed. Futuristic movies such as ‘Terminator’ showed about a concept called SkyNet which sums up the world at fingertips. Mobile networks in the world are developing rapidly. Sri Lanka is now experiencing 4G mobile networks with the highest net speed. But, it is time for the next and the latest network update; the 5G network to replace 4G. The commercial 5G network, which people always thought of, is expected to roll out in 2020. The Daily Mirror thought of interviewing Dr. Chamitha de Alwis who is the Senior Lecturer of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at University of Sri Jayewardenepura to give us insight to the 5G network.  

What is 5G?  

5G refers to the fifth generation of mobile communication. We are presently on 4G, which is the fourth generation. Each of these generations empowers us to do more and more things using our mobile phones and similar devices.  
1G gave us the option to make calls, whereas 2G enabled us to send text messages. 3G is the technology that connected our mobile phones to the internet at usable speeds. 4G made the Internet even faster so we can seamlessly enjoy many services such as video conferencing, high definition video streaming, high-speed file downloading, etc.  
5G aims to deliver even higher data speeds, minimize latency and support massive numbers of Internet-connected smart devices.  

Why do we need higher data speeds?  

5G will deliver 10 - 100 times improvement over existing data speeds. This will enable the streaming of ultra-high-definition videos, super fast file downloads, usage of augmented reality and virtual reality games and applications over mobile networks, etc.  

What is the importance of minimizing latency?  

Latency is a measure of any kind of delay occurred in a communication network.  
Having a very low latency, which is in the range of about 1 millisecond, is one of the key aspects of 5G. The minimized latency will pave the path for a plethora of new applications such as remotely controlling a vehicle on the road in real-time over a 5G network. It will also enable performing extremely time-critical tasks such as remotely performing surgeries by surgeons who are connected to robotic arms through a 5G mobile network. The extremely low latency will also make game consoles obsolete as we could subscribe to online gaming services and play resource-intensive high-resolution games, even in multi-player mode, using our 5G connected devices.  
We will also be able to interact with virtual and augmented reality applications, such as being present in a virtual class with other students or using virtual lab equipment augmented in an existing laboratory. The possibilities are endless.  

"Being a country that embraces the latest trends in mobile communications, it is envisaged that we in Sri Lanka will also be able to experience 5G in the same time period "

What’s the need to have many internet-connected smart devices?  

Following the trend of basic mobile phones, known as feature phones, being replaced by smartphones, devices such as smart televisions, audio setups, refrigerators, cars, kettles, coffeemakers, bulbs, etc. are now invading our homes and workplaces. These smart devices can communicate with similar devices - this is known as machine-to-machine communication.  
This raises the requirement for mobile networks to support a large number of internet-connected devices. 5G will be able to cater to this requirement as it supports about 100 times of Internet-connected devices per unit area compared to 4G.  
5G will be a core technology that will enable the rise of smart cities where there will be traffic sensing traffic lights, smart billboards, autonomous public transportation systems, etc. 5G will also support low power internet connected devices, such as sensors that will be used to monitor vehicle traffic, air quality, noise and the possibility of having a natural disaster such as an earthquake or a tsunami.  

How can 5G cater to dynamic and unique user requirements?  

5G network will be able to cater to dynamic and unique connectivity requirements of individuals and the corporate.  
Some users may require high download speeds whereas for some applications, having a low latency is essential. In some cases, having a high number of Internet-connected devices might be more important than having a high speed or a low latency. In contrast to offering network resources as a whole, 5G will be able to slice network resources and offer customized solutions using a technology known as ‘network slicing’. This will ensure that we get the connectivity solution to satisfy our exact need and we will not have to pay for facilities that we don’t need. However, the pricing of such a variety of connectivity solutions will be a challenge to network operators.  

What are the technologies that will enable 5G?  

The advancements of 5G owe to many new and advanced technologies such as using ‘millimeter waves’ (signals with higher frequency than microwaves), ‘small cells’ (tiny basestations - maybe one per home), ‘massive MIMO’ (antenna arrays instead of having a single antenna), ‘Beamforming’ (directional signal transmission and reception), ‘Full duplex’ communication, ‘edge computing’, ‘network functions virtualization’, ‘software-defined-networking’, etc. These technologies have been developed thanks to the efforts of many dedicated communication researchers and engineers.  

When will we be able to experience 5G?  

Commercial 5G networks are expected to roll out from 2020. Being a country that embraces the latest trends in mobile communications, it is envisaged that we in Sri Lanka will also be able to experience 5G in the same time period. Initial stages of 5G will bank on 4G network resources so we will not be able to reap all benefits of the new technology. However, later developments in network resources will enable us to enjoy the true benefits of 5G and it is expected to be revolutionary.