Highlights of the 5G Network

The Nigerian Communications Commission on 25 November spear-headed the launch of the 5G network in Nigeria, the first 5G demo in West Africa. The honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami MTN and relevant stakeholders were part of the landmark 5G exhibition event which took place in Abuja

According to the commission, the 5G network is the beginning of a new journey for the country, just as 2001 was pivotal in the revolution of mobile communication in Nigeria. 

In a collective message by stakeholders, Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the Nigerian Communications Commission and MTN Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari; the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami; Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta; MTN Nigeria and other vendors – Huawei, Ericsson and ZTE Corporation,  the exhibition is a testament to what good cooperation between the government, regulator and the private sector can make possible

According to NCC, the 5G demonstration is the beginning of the work ahead, “It is more of a call to action than a moment of celebration. While we are excited about the possibilities and the opportunities that lie ahead, we are reminded about the work that needs to be done to achieve the right policy framework for the effective deployment of 5G across the country”. 

“In line with our participatory regulation approach, we will consult widely with stakeholders in developing the right regulatory framework for 5G rollout in Nigeria. We are also not oblivious of the global concerns around 5G network security vulnerabilities and will be working with our parent ministry and security agencies to develop measures to ensure a high level of cybersecurity of 5G networks”.

A research done by JackieOparamedia found that one of the global issues of 5G network is that meteorologists are worried 5G signals could interfere with the radio frequencies used to gather crucial weather and climate data. They advised that as they implement the new super-fast wireless technology, regulators should think of allowing eight years of slightly relaxed standards for how much noise from 5G signals is allowed to leak into neighbouring frequencies. “Water vapour in the atmosphere naturally produces a weak signal near 24 gigahertz, which satellites use to measure humidity, and which sits perilously close to the bands designated for the 5G roll-out, they told Nature news

However, here below are some benefits of 5G Network

Benefits of 5G?

✓ 5G will allow us to stream, download, and upload huge quantities of data at a much faster rate than we are currently able to. This means higher definition video either from TV or using video conferencing. Additionally, 5G is designed to facilitate a wealth of new applications for wireless technologies ✓ Driverless cars and drones will be able to safely and near-instantaneously send and receive information about their surroundings that will allow them to operate safely. ✓ Immersive virtual and augmented realities will become increasingly feasible experiences as the large quantities of data associated with HD graphics and processing external data can be transferred between devices accurately and quickly ✓ Many key healthcare functions are beginning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to determine potential diagnoses and decide on the best treatment plan

for a specific patient. Additionally, AI can help predict which patients are more likely to have postoperative complications, allowing healthcare systems to provide early interventions when necessary ✓ Mobile AR shopping experiences will revolutionize retail, with customers able to visualize products in a local environment. In-store, AR will enable shoppers to view additional information on a product simply by pointing their phones at it. ✓ A key benefit of 5G could be helping businesses work more quickly and more efficiently – in turn, saving costs and increasing revenue ✓ Many countries are looking to 5G to better connect rural communities, allowing more people to start businesses from home and opening up opportunities ✓ The shift from hardware to a software-based network environment will bring about lower overheads for mobile operators. Those savings will, in turn, be able to be passed on to business customers ✓ With network slicing, it will be possible for a business to own their own private 5G network, precisely set up according to its specific business needs. 5G will certainly have much greater capacity across a much wider range of spectrums, but it will also use that space more intelligently, assigning only the resources necessary for each application

 Below are some important information to know about 5G Network

What is 5G?

‘5G´ is the fifth-generation cellular network technology. The industry association 3GPP defines any system using "5G NR" software as, "5G", a definition that came into general use by late 2018. Others may reserve the term for systems that meet the requirements of the ITU IMT-2020. Think virtual realities, augmented realities, streamed Blu-ray quality video, driverless cars, drones and Internet of Things (IoT.) All of these technologies require the extremely accurate and nearinstantaneous transfer of large quantities of data. 5G is designed to allow you do just that.

Is Nigeria Ready for 5G?

 Let us take a step back and perhaps rephrase the question in past tense. Was Nigeria ready for the mobile telephone business in 1999? The answer from all available technological infrastructure was, NO! What the country lacked in technology in 1999 was present in foresight, market and a ready band of Nigerians

ready to make the dream possible. We all know how much progress we have made since that first phone call in 2001.

The GSM service in Nigeria went from an elite preserve to the must-have of every Nigeria willing to have a cell phone. SIM cards went from about forty thousand naira (N40, 000.00) in 2001 to one hundred naira (N100) today. Such is the power of innovative possibility that technology can inspire.

Drawing from the strength of our past, the Federal Government’s goal of improving the business environment and commitment from investors like MTN, the possibility of 5G revolutionizing our way of life is immense. With the potential applications for medical imaging, video conferencing and gaming, 3D holographic communication, 5G provides the needed speed and required low latency that will support this kind of application on a network.     

Difference Between 4G and 5G?

5G is a transformational change from 4G. 5G has the potential to provide 20X faster data speeds and carries a massive amount of data for a large number of simultaneous users. So users in high-density areas – like airports, stadiums or urban areas – can still experience the fast speeds and low latency of 5G service. As the world replaces more and more household items with ‘smart devices’ that connect to the internet, also known as the Internet of Things, this network capacity will be critical. 5G will potentially be able to handle more than 2.5 million connected devices per square mile.

What Will 5G Mean for Business 5G will support businesses’ innovative ambitions and create new markets, transforming supply chain management and creating smarter, more efficient manufacturing. It is also a fundamental platform for the Internet of Things (IoT) — the rapidly expanding number of devices that collect transmit and share data via the internet. By 2020, more than half of all new businesses will rely on the “IoT” to cut costs, build efficiencies, and grow their bottom lines. However, many of the innovations 5G technology will fuel literally may not be available yet especially in Nigeria. For the “IoT” to realize its limitless potential, 5G is critical.

The speed of 5G?

There is no doubt that 5G is extremely fast: it supports data transfer rates of up to 20Gbit/s. On top of that, wireless data delays drop to one millisecond. This opens up the potential for multiple driverless cars, where large quantities of potentially lifesaving data have to be transferred almost instantaneously.

How much faster is 5G than 4G?

5G network is designed to carry data up to 10 times faster than 4G networks. This means HD movies can be downloaded in seconds. Recent testing by Qualcomm revealed ‘real-world’ download speeds of 100Mbps for 90% of users: even taking signal disruption from buildings, other users, and other transmissions into account, ‘real-world’ 5G will give better rates than ‘ideal’ 4G.

Will 5G work on my smartphone?

 If you currently have a 5G enabled cell phone, the service will work perfectly with that. However, if you do not have a 5G phone, you may need to get one to enjoy a 5G network service. 

Why is 5G important?

5G will enhance technological development because of the extremely fast transfer rate of large quantities of data. 5G is designed to keep self-driving cars aware of one another, stream virtual and augmented reality experiences; allow delivery drones to function safely and efficiently. Overall, it enables interconnected devices for instant communication. This is a new connected world of ‘Smart cities’ made possible by 5G networks.

IMPACT OF 5G ON SMARTPHONE DESIGN?

There have been concerns that 5G’s dependence on lots of antennas for extreme accuracy will have an impact on the aesthetic design of products. Massive MIMO gives 5G networks a better performance than 4G in terms of data transfer rate and link reliability. It also means that 5G devices will require 64 to 256 antennas and beyond. 4G devices, on the other hand, tend to need no more than eight. Finding space for these antennas while maintaining existing designs will require a rethink from the ground up. 

What role will fiber play in the 5G network?

 It will have a large role. Industry consensus is that 5G radio networks opt for fiber as the preferred technology for backhaul and front haul wherever possible because of 5G’s bandwidth requirements. The density of radios for 5G will drive the requirement for network convergence between wired and wireless traffic, increasing the requirement for fiber network solutions that focus on providing the density, accessibility, and flexibility to support multiple applications needed for the future.

How many fibers will 5G small cell sites require?

 This remains an unresolved question at this time as standards and architectures develop, but the answer will likely be somewhere between two and 12 fibers per small cell site. Utilizing passive wave division multiplexing (WDM) technology reduces the number of fibers required at each location by sending multiple signals

along a single fiber at different wavelengths. These components allow capacity upgrades at a relatively low cost, without the costs and delays associated with adding capacity by way of new construction. WDM, packet-based front haul and bi-directional optics all can reduce the amount of fiber required at each cell site, while, at the same time, the new CU/DU split will increase the number of fiber interfaces needed.

What is the cost implication of 5G?

5G requires a lot of investment in infrastructure because of its dependence on massive MIMO. Dozens of antennas and transmitters will need to be installed for each device, and the relatively low distance that 5G signal waves can travel will require regularly spaced transmitters and receivers. This is more evident if a device, such as a driverless car or drone is expected to move while receiving and transmitting information.

 While some operators across the world are skeptical about 5G’s ability to generate profits, governments realization of the importance of implementing 5G for their countries’ future economic prosperity and security, are developing strategies that have resulted in public investment into 5G. This move is aimed at easing the cost for private businesses responsible for creating the required infrastructures.

For consumers, the 5G marketplace will be very competitive, with all major telephone companies planning to offer 5G services and products. Although there are not yet figures on how much 5G packages and devices will cost, competition will ensure that the costs of components and network access are not prohibitive.