A Summary of the Key Technological Advances of 4G LTE & 5 G Mobile Networks- By Rudra Tiwari

 

 In mobile communication, radio access is provided by Radio Access Network (RAN) and at this moment we have 2G GSM, 3G UMTS, 4G LTE, and 5G RAN. The radio frequency spectrum that is used for mobile networks is from 700 MHz to 2600 MHz. There are different links for different services and budget requirements. There are different link budgets for downlink and uplink.  If the radio signal is better then the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) is higher for data services. When the MCS is higher then the data is faster. 4G technology supports mobile broadband and some IoT use cases. The LTE refers to the Long-Term Evolution but it is no longer used and it supports radio channels with bandwidths of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. Like 4G, 5G is standardized by 3GPP it supports enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC) and massive machine type communication (mMTC) use cases. It supports radio channels from 100 MHz and up to 400 MHz. 5G also introduces the concept of massive MIMO and beamforming to increase spectral efficiency. In the 4G LTE network, voice calls are carried with QoS-VoIP or VoLTE. There is a separate control and user plane for optimal scalability and deployment and mobility is managed within the RAN with an option for core-based mobility if required. In the 5G network, the user plane path is from UE to gNB to UPF to the content service platform. It is built on the principles of 4G EPC. The mobility is managed within the RAN with an option for core-based mobility. The demand for mobile data is only growing and 4G LTE will support mobile broad and IoT and 5G will support eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC. There will be automated factories, flying drones, improved health care, and low latency gaming with the help of 5G. There will be a wide range of radio frequencies used with different behaviors. According to a blog by Qualcomm Technologies till date, there are over 70 mobile operators who have already deployed 5G services commercially around the world. The expansion of 5G will help in operate in all spectrum types and bands. 5G will enable a new kind of network that will connect everyone virtually and that includes machines, objects, and devices. 5G is based on Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). It uses wider bandwidth technologies, 5G NR air interface alongside OFDM principles, and so on. Like 4G LTE, it operates based on the same mobile networking principles (Qualcomm). According to a blog by I'MNovation, 4G LTE mobile network only arrived in the world three years ago and it provides a speed of 21 Mbps but with 5G connect we will able to achieve a speed of 10 Gbps. The main improvements that the 5G network brought to the 4G network are increased range, better speed, less energy-intensive, low latency, and better user connection. It is creating an ecosystem that will be capable of transcending the smartphone world to the missing piece to build a truly smart city.

 

Social and Business Impacts of 4G LTE & 5 G Mobile Networks

The 5G mobile networks are expected to be the next big leap in the society of mobile broadband. People will be able to access high download speeds which are as high as 20 gigabits-per-second. There will be many changes in the world around us where we will be able to get remote precision medicine, connected cars, and many more internet of things application. There are chances of virtual and augmented reality with the help of the 5G internet (Turner-Lee). As the days go, we will need broadband networks of low latency like the 5G to meet the demands of the increasing data-intensive application. 5G network will also support many devices that will use the internet at the same time better than 4G LTE was able to handle. We will able to use many applications that will be helpful for healthcare, education, transportation, and so on. 

4G LTE and 5G has a lot of business impacts as it will help the mobile dependent user to take part in the global digital economy from their smartphones. There will be cell phones and other wireless enabled devices that will be the gateway to internet with the help of these networks. There were increased economic opportunity for people who are from poorer communities. There will be people who will be able to access better and improved social services like health care, education, transportation, energy, and employment. According to an article by The Brookings Institutions, people from the lower-income groups will be able to depend on their mobile services for online access of many things that will be affordable, available, and able to support with the help of the 5G technology (Lee).

 

Evolution of the Future Trends for 4G LTE & 5 G Mobile Networks in Next 5 Years

Like anyother technology, 4G LTE will phase out or get obsolete when 5G will more common in the market. The introduction of 5G wireless technology enabled connection and interaction of many people around the world. There are many technologies like artificial intelligence and extended realities will only be available to common people when 5G wireless internet will be available to every corner of the world. With time, 5G will create conditions for new business opportunities for people and it will be a reason of transformation of many industries. With 5G there are promises of change in wireless technology as well as the society that we are living and it won't just improve the level of work that we were able to do by 4G but open up new cases for business where the speed and reliability will be very critical. Over the period of time, 5G will be affordable for businesses. With COVID-9 pandemic, the industries are already transforming. As the network is furthr build, we will get a access to better speeds and better future.

 

 

Works Cited

IMNOVATION. “What Is 5G Technology and What Will Its Impact Be like in Our Everyday Life.” IMNOVATION, www.imnovation-hub.com/society/what-is-5g/.

Narcisi, Gina. “5 Predictions On The Future Of 5G From CES 2021.” CRN, 13 Jan. 2021, www.crn.com/news/networking/5-predictions-on-the-future-of-5g-from-ces-2021?itc=refresh.

Qualcomm. “What Is 5G: Everything You Need to Know About 5G: 5G FAQ.” Qualcomm, 12 Feb. 2021, www.qualcomm.com/5g/what-is-5g.

Turner-Lee, Nicol. “Enabling Opportunities: 5G, the Internet of Things, and Communities of Color.” Brookings, Brookings, 9 Jan. 2019, www.brookings.edu/research/enabling-opportunities-5g-the-internet-of-things-and-communities-of-color/.