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The development of 5G networks was a necessary step to keep up with the growing expectations of communication technology and address the limitations of the previous network, 4G. Due to an increasing reliance on devices and the emergence of advanced technologies, 4G could no longer meet user demands. If 5G was not introduced in place of 4G, users risked experiencing high levels of data traffic and congestion, resulting in slower devices and poorer quality. By improving speed, latency, and capacity, 5G networks meet the current needs of modern technology and lay the foundation for future advancements.
EVOLVING DEMANDS IN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
EVOLVING DEMANDS IN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
5G networks were implemented due to the continuous evolution and technological demands of communication networks. Some reasons the technology was necessary to develop include:
Increased Public Data Use
Largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, data is being consumed faster than even seen before. According to a report by PwC, global data use was at 3.4 million petabytes (PB) in 2022, a 30.5% increase from 2021. Data consumption is also forecasted to keep rising, with an estimated use of of 9.7 PB in 2027. The high data usage levels can be attributed to an uptick in streaming shows/videos, mobile gaming, and the shift to home-schooling and remote work. Implementing 5G technology would increase the network capacity and support higher levels of data traffic without sacrificing speed or quality.
New Emerging Technologies
The rise of new technologies such as virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are transforming consumer expectations and forever changing how individuals communicate and interact with one another. However, in order for these technologies to operate effectively, they need a low-latency, reliable network such as 5G. These new applications require a more constant exchange of data between devices, making it crucial for network connections to be fast and stable.
Rapid Device Quantity Growth
Similarly to the rise in public data usage, the number of connected devices is also growing rapidly. Devices like smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and home systems now typically have connectivity capabilities, increasing network strain. With the increasing availability of these smart devices on the market, a stronger network such as 5G can support the high number of connected devices, even in high-population areas such as cities.
LIMITATIONS WITH PREVIOUS GENERATION NETWORKS
LIMITATIONS WITH PREVIOUS GENERATION NETWORKS
Given the growing needs in communication technology, it is clear that 4G networks no longer have the capability to support industry demands. While 4G is a significant improvement from previous generations, its limitations regarding bandwidth, latency, and connectivity, as we will discuss, make it an unsuitable option for the next generation of technology.
User Experienced Data Rate
As mentioned previously, the rising usage of data for more demanding applications such as video streaming and mobile gaming are extremely taxing to the network bandwidth. 4G networks struggle to keep up with the user needs, resulting in slower speed and poor performance. 5G's higher bandwidth can be up to 10 times faster than 4G networks, more easily accommodating these high-demand applications.
Latency
While 4G network latency levels are considered low compared to earlier generations, they are still likely to slow down when dealing with advanced applications such as virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, and remote surgeries. 5G networks experience latency levels that drop to as low as 1 millisecond, making them the clear option when using these new technologies.
Connection Density
As the number of connected devices continues to rapidly rise, especially IoT devices, 4G networks continue to become less and less capable of handling that capacity. 5G networks are a solution to this issue as they can hold up to 10 times the number of connected devices compared to a 4G network, ensuring high-speed performance and quality.
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
5G Wireless: Capabilities and Challenges for an Evolving Network- Visual under "Limitations with Previous Generation Networks"
What is 5G? - Evolving demands research
2023 Outlook Segment Findings: Markets and Industries- PwC Report
This is how much data we're using on our phones - Evolving demands research
Discuss the challenges faced by 4G networks in handling increasing data traffic. - 4G limitations research
What Is 5G vs 4G? - 4G limitations research
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