5G: Technology
5G Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB)
Providing significant benefits to consumers, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) will be an extension to existing 4G network and will be amongst the first wave of the 5G services. These benefits will include significant improvement of download speeds and more cost-efficient data, up to 10 times cheaper compared to 4G. Here we explore the benefits and challenges to industry.
The year 2019 witnessed the first wave of standards-based 5G commercial launches. According to the Global mobile Suppliers’ Association (GSA), 80 operators had launched 3GPP-compliant 5G commercial services across 42 countries (May 2020). Half of these had launched 5G fixed wireless access services, targeting areas lacking quality fixed broadband connectivity.
The emergence of 5G has potential to radically improve customer experience however poses new challenges to Network Operators, device manufacturers and telecom infrastructure.
Devices
- Electronic devices will be put under new constraints and will require redesigning or retrofitted to ensure that they properly meet the demands of higher data-rates and power requirements.
- Electronics devices are likely to become more complex, to satisfy consumers expectations for small or slim devices, reliability and miniaturisation of component technology and modualization will become a necessity.
- Increased transfer data rate will mean higher device temperature - raising performance and safety concerns - and will demand more efficient power distribution and battery life.
- eMBB will need to provide both higher capacity in congested areas and enhanced coverage for those on the move - Fixed wireless access (FWA) uses the mobile network to deliver internet to a household with a home gateway with integrated mobile technology then distributes the bandwidth as needed. Utilising 5G FWA you can achieve a much higher bandwidth, up to 1 Gbps in some cases.
Infrastructure
- Telecom infrastructure for the short term can be upgraded to include new 5G antenna`s but with the additional spectrum. New towers will be required to ensure mobile phone coverage is evenly spread across cities. This will require the advancements of new technologies such as beamforming to ensure the most efficient data delivery route.
eMBB will transform user-experience, revolutionize the gaming industry with AR/VR cloud gaming and drive 4K video streaming as the new norm, However the full potential of 5G`s commercial benefits are yet to be discovered.
Watch our onDemand webinar:
5G: Managing componet-level risks to commercial success
Duration: 45 min + Q&A
