The way the world connects and communicates is changing. As we link more people, more machines, more objects and more devices, the need to deliver significantly higher data speeds is driving the development of new technologies.
Technologies capable of transmitting at higher frequencies with greater bandwidth.
As we transition into the 5G and WiFi 6E reality, it’s important to define exactly what this means and how the shift will impact lives across the globe.
What is 5G technology?
The fifth-generation mobile network is not a single technology but a combination of technologies that work together to provide faster multi-Gbps data speeds, next to no latency, improved reliability and availability, massive network capacity and a more consistent user experience to more users.
Some of the core technologies that differentiate 5G from 4G LTE include:
- Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) to reduce interference when modulating a digital signa across multiple channels
- Wider bandwidths through the expansion of spectrum resources including sub-6 GHz
- mmWave spectrum access for extreme capacity
- Ability to natively support all spectrum types as well
as low, mid and high band frequencies - New ways to interconnect and a wider range of deployment technologies
5G is a more unified platform designed to deliver next- generation user experiences across a broad range of new services, including a massive expansion in the IoT (Internet of Things.)
The 5G difference
The advantages of significantly faster speeds, negligible latency and expanded capacity expand well beyond more reliable, far reaching mobile service and the ability to stream video in real-time on a mobile device. 5G has the power to reshape our lives unlike any other new technology since the commercialization of the internet itself.
5G can help us to realize a fully connected world, with life-changing applications, including those that have not yet been imagined. Unlike previous generations, 5G is designed for forward compatibility, providing the flexibility to support future services still waiting to be conceptualized.
Once 5G is ubiquitous we can expect:
- Smart city technology to save electricity, monitor air quality, redirect waterflow, manage traffic, lower crime and interconnect millions of IoT devices.
- Improved efficiency in industrial settings, manufacturing, shipping and agriculture, including the automation of dangerous jobs using robotics and AI
- Telemedicine, including the implementation of wearable or implanted medical devices
- Expanded virtual reality and augmented reality experiences and applications
- Safer, more efficient transportation systems and driverless cars
While peak data rates up to 20 Gbps are impressive, a defining difference in the 5G experience will be more consistent average data rates, with the possibility to maintain 100+ Mbps speeds, even while moving. Lower latency and consistent average speeds will lead to a more responsive, dependable user experience.
Connected services
5G promises to revolutionize all three major categories of connected services.
- Enhanced mobile broadband services will allow users to consume 5x more data each month, along with the launch of immersive local content and advanced app capabilities, including always connected cloud-based applications. The 5G mobile network will also usher in a new alternative to fiber, DSL or cable for home internet connectivity.
- Mission-critical communications will enable new services that change the way we do business and transform healthcare, infrastructure and heavy industry.
- The number of devices connected to the Internet of Things is predicted to explode from hundreds of millions to billions by 2023.
Bringing WiFi 6E into the fold
WiFi 6E allows devices to have access to the 6 GHz frequency spectrum recently released by the FCC. As this higher frequency provides a wider bandwidth, WiFi 6E naturally improves data transmission speeds across WiFi networks – but the true benefit of WiFi 6E has less to do with increasing internet speeds and more to do with creating a seamless user experience across networks.
As 5G rolls out and becomes ever present in our world, devices will adapt functionality and applications to take advantage of the more robust infrastructure – without a WiFi technology to match the bandwidth capabilities of 5G, user experience would degrade when a device switches from the mobile network onto a WiFi network.
In essence, WiFi 6E complements 5G to deliver harmonious performance across both types of networks.
While the importance of WiFi 6E may not be evident to the average consumer right out of the gate, cutting-edge speeds will soon be required to keep up with applications needing the 6 GHz spectrum for optimum performance.
Akoustis and 5G and WiFi 6E
Akoustis is well-positioned to play an integral role in the rollout of 5G and WiFi 6E technology across the globe. Our patented proprietary XBAW RF filters provide the superior performance needed to overcome the limitations of incumbent RF filter technologies.
Explore the next generation of solutions with Akoustis.