Before 5G came out, most smartphone users used the 4G LTE broadband network to download, upload, and transmit data. However, our world is swiftly moving into a digital landscape that could change the way we live, and 5G coverage is a major step in that direction. If you have yet to experience this network’s high speeds and technology, learn everything you need to know about 5G coverage right here.
What Is 5G?
5G is a new cellular network technology that developers first released in 2019. Previously, cellphone users were working on a 4G network. 5G transmits data faster than ever with a massive traffic capacity and ultra-low latency. However, because this network is new, cities around the nation need a larger number of small cells or short-range transmitters to create the same amount of coverage as 4G.
How Does 5G Work?
Like its 4G counterparts, 5G also uses the same orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) method. OFDM is a type of digital transmission that uses digital modulation for encoding digital data onto multiple carrier frequencies. 5G introduces a new interface called 5G NR (new radio) that can enhance the OFDM digital transmission for better scalability and flexibility.
What’s the Difference Between 5G and the Previous Generations?
The generations of mobile networks start with 1G and, over the years, have increased to 5G. The 1G network came out in 1980 and allowed users access to analog voice technology. Not much later, in the early 1990s, 2G came out with digital voice technology. In the early 2000s, 3G brought mobile data. Then, in the 2010s, 4G LTE brought a new era of mobile broadband that allowed users access to faster mobile data and internet speeds.
Building on the development of 1G through 4G, 5G was able to flourish and make its way to new users. The advancement of this broadband network is like none other we’ve seen before. It will change the game for smartphone users and expand and impact other industries, facilitating remote healthcare, safer transportation, precision agriculture, and so much more.
What Makes 5G Better?
First and foremost, 5G has a more unified design that allows the network more capabilities than any other networks it succeeded. This broadband network can also support all spectrum and band types, along with fresh ways to interconnect and various deployment models.
In conjunction with a more unified network, 5G is faster than the rest, with more traffic capacity, lower latency, and better spectrum use. This network delivers speeds of up to 20GB per second and data rates at over 100MB per second. With a 10-time decrease in latency and a 100-time increase in traffic capacity, 5G can handle a wide variety of spectrum paradigms and bands. All this considered, 5G is clearly more improved than the previous networks.
What Can 5G Offer You?
Aside from what makes 5G better, this network can offer you so much more. Gain access to cloud services, shopping in augmented reality, multiplayer cloud gaming, and more. Areas of virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) will also see significant improvements in user experience. 5G is definitely the way of the future!
Where Can You Use 5G?
Although developers created and introduced 5G in 2019, they couldn’t roll out the network instantly due to regulations and testing. Therefore, this service isn’t yet available everywhere in the United States, but it’s getting there.
Generally, 5G is available in parts of dozens of major cities, such as Dallas, Chicago, Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. It could also depend on your carrier—so ensure you ask them if their phones are working on the 5G network. It might not be available in all locations, but 5G is here to stay, so you will eventually find it more accessible.
Can You Use Your Current Phone With 5G?
Now that it’s 2023, most newer smartphone models have the 5G network available to users. However, on older models, this might not be the case. In this situation, you will need to upgrade your phone to utilize the network. However, you can continue using 4G when the newer network isn’t available. This also means that if you purchase a used phone or a refurbished model, it must still be compatible with 5G for you to take advantage of it.
What Are the Downsides to 5G?
The major downside to the 5G network is the coverage it currently offers. As we said, it might not be available in your location right now, but the number of locations it has reached since its rollout has increased drastically.
Some experts also believe that while the speeds of 5G are incomparable to previous generations, the upload speed compared to 4G is lacking. However, researchers have proven that 5G home internet speeds are equivalent to what you can get on the average cable internet plan. This means a typical download speed of 250mbps and upload speed of 25mbps.
Lastly, many individuals worry that the newer technology 5G uses and the number of industries it’s expanding to make it easier for law enforcement to track your whereabouts. The same people are also worried about the advancement of facial recognition technology. While law enforcement could track your whereabouts under specific circumstances, they wouldn’t if you’re not under suspicion of breaking the law. Therefore, the benefits and advancements of 5G far outweigh the potential downsides.
What’s Next After 5G?
Although 6G doesn’t exist yet, experts believe it will be the next phase of wireless technology. This type of broadband network will use higher frequencies than 5G with an even greater capacity and lower latency. 6G will approach an enhancement in AI technologies and edge computing for an entirely new type of internet experience.
After learning everything you need to know about 5G coverage, you can see it is the way to our future. With many new opportunities and advancements, users of this network can accomplish so much more than they previously could.
If you’re looking for a new smartphone to experience 5G, consider purchasing your next device from Wamatek! With us, you can buy an unlocked used phone with 5G capabilities, so you can experience new technology at an affordable price. The digital landscape of our society is ever-changing, and it can only keep improving from here—get on board with Wamatek today!
