Definition: 5G

(1) (5th Generation) The fifth version of a product or system.

(2) (5 GHz Wi-Fi) The 5 GHz frequency band used in various Wi-Fi versions (see 802.11 and 5 GHz band).

(3) (5th Generation cellular) The fifth generation of cellular technology. 5G supersedes but is compatible with 4G LTE. Governed by the 3GPP, 5G increases transmission speed to roughly 1 Gbps from 4G's maximum of about 200 Mbps. Response time is greatly reduced from approximately 100 milliseconds to as little as one. In addition, more devices can be connected at the same time.

5G also embraces prioritization. As video calling and streaming increase exponentially, real-time content must be given a higher priority than Web pages. A potential business disrupter, 5G is intended not only for mobile phones, but for in-home Internet access, especially in rural communities (see 5G home Internet).

Frequencies, Small Cells and Micro Towers
5G can transmit in a variety of frequency bands from 600 MHz to 71 GHz (see 5G frequency bands). Because high frequencies do not propagate far, high-band 5G requires many small cells with antennas on utility poles rather than high towers. In an urban environment, a 5G antenna might be only a few feet from an apartment window (see electromagnetic hypersensitivity). However, most 5G uses low frequencies, generally in the 3-4 GHz range (see low-band 5G and mid-band 5G). See 5G radiation.

5G New Radio
5G New Radio (5G NR) is the global air interface for 5G. Designed to deliver data rates for gigabit-per-second downloads over the air, 5G NR uses OFDM modulation just like 4G. Qualcomm was the first manufacturer to release a 5G radio chip, and in late 2018, Verizon was the first carrier to deploy in-home 5G. Phones employing 5G emerged in 2019. See OFDM.

By 2025?
5G is also expected to provide a huge boost for connecting billions of IoT devices (see IoT). In addition, 5G may make wireless virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) more viable. However, nationwide 5G service is expected no sooner than 2025. See H.R. 2881, cellular generations, millimeter wave and 6Genesis.