5G in the future

[IMANUT46]

Does the new 5G network require any hardware changes to existing smartphones? Thanks.

Smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S5, Lollipop 5.0, Verizon network

 

[Rukbat]

That depends on how it's implemented, but probably not. 3G phones still work. Even 2G phones still work. 5G networks will probably still do LTE, 3G and 2G. You'll need a new phone if you want 5G.

However:

1. There's no more spectrum space available. Opening up new band for 5G (which would be required) would put cellphones on satellite frequencies, and changing the frequency of a satellite isn't a simple thing like changing the frequency of a few thousand police radios (the last change) - it requires a space mission for each satellite. That's a significant part of the entire world economy in cost.

2. We already have 40+mbps downloads - on an internet that can't support more than about 2mbps data transfer over any bu the shortest distances. So you can do about 18 simultaneous downloads at a time at full speed. On a phone? Phones don't need more speed, all they need is lower latency, and that can be done by modifying 4G.

3. It wouldn't be done before about 2020 anyway - by which time you'd probably want to replace that aging S5 (or even aging S7 or Note 6).

 

[ironass]

It would seem that the U.K. is utilising existing bands for 5G, that will be auctioned off to network operators this year. As Rukbat states, realistically, it will be around 2020 also before we see it rolling out over here. See...

Ofcom confirms sale of UK spectrum for push towards 5G

 

[IMANUT46]

Thanks.

Smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S5, Lollipop 5.0, Verizon network

 

[Rukbat]

Using the existing bands will mean fewer channels available (you can't violate the laws of physics), so they'll see higher speed, but fewer people able to use it. Higher speed means more bandwidth, and the current bands have the bandwidth they have. You can't slice 20 into 5 pieces of more than 4, or more than 5 pieces of 4. Numbers just don't work that way.