One important point: Unlike previous cellular network transitions, 5G won’t completely replace 4G. It will, instead, work on top of and alongside it.
Special to USA TODAYFOSTER CITY, Calif. – Most technologies don’t really require you to understand them to appreciate what they can do for you. With 5G, however, things are going to be a little different.5G works to enjoy the potential speed increases and other cool capabilities it will eventually offer. However, you do need to be aware of some 5G basics to really understand what future smartphones, connected devices, and carrier plans are going to offer – and how they’ll differ.
One of the primary differences with 5G is the frequencies that are used to transmit those signals to and from the cellular networks. While all existing 3G and 4G phones in the US use frequencies that are below 3GHz, most of the action in 5G will be at higher frequencies. This is critically important because radio signals at different frequencies function in very different ways.
From a frequency perspective, the most important thing to know is that not all 5G offerings are the same. That’s the source of a lot of potential confusion. First, because millimeter waves don’t travel very far – typically no more than a few hundred feet – you either have to get very close to a 5G tower or transmitter and just stand there, or, if you want to move around, there have to be a lot of millimeter wave-capable 5G transmitters installed near where you are.
In fact, that’s part of the reason that several U.S. carriers are not directly selling these first 5G phones to consumers. As part of the process of installing 5G-capable equipment into their networks, the big carriers are also upgrading their existing 4G LTE equipment to take advantage of a development known as LTE Advanced .
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Qualcomm, Tencent agree to collaborate on gaming devices, 5GQualcomm Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd said on Monday they will coopera...
Read more »
Apple will launch 3 new iPhones with 5G compatibility in 2020, according to a reliable Apple-watcherApple-watcher Ming-Chi Kuo says 3 iPhones with 5G will help Apple to compete against cheap Chinese phones.
Read more »
This 'Mean Girls'-Inspired Cover of Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Is So Fetch'You pointed out my flaws again when you wrote it in your burn book!'
Read more »
Former BET Networks Chief Debra Lee Joins AT&T BoardDebra Lee, who last year stepped down as chairman and CEO of BET Networks after a three-decade career at the Viacom brand, has been added to the board of directors at AT&T. She becomes the firs…
Read more »
Former BET CEO Debra Lee Joins AT&T Board of Directors and Exits Twitter’s BoardUPDATED: AT&T has named Debra Lee, former chairman and CEO of BET Networks, to its board of directors, while she will be leaving Twitter’s board. Lee joined Viacom’s BET Networks in…
Read more »