What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of network technology, succeeding the 4G network. It uses a greater radio spectrum that can provide much higher data speeds, reduced latency, and increased network capacity. 5G networks offer transmission speeds that can reach up to 20 gigabits per second (Gbps). This speed is significantly greater than the speeds of wireline networks and it has a low latency of below 5 milliseconds (ms), which makes it ideal for applications that require real-time feedback.

Dissecting 5G

The name "5G" stands for fifth-generation wireless technology, and it follows the previous four generations of wireless technology: 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G. It was developed to address the demand for higher data rates, faster connectivity, and improved network reliability, which the previous generations of wireless network technology struggled to meet. It aims to provide faster and more efficient mobile broadband connectivity to support the ever-growing number of connected devices and applications.

5G is not the product of any single company or organization but rather a collective effort of various telecommunication companies, regulatory bodies, and standardization organizations such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), and others.

While the ITU does not set specific requirements for 5G technology, it has established a set of performance objectives that 5G networks should aim to achieve. The specification sets out the minimum requirements for data rates, latency, and other performance metrics that must be met by 5G networks. The 3GPP has implemented the ITU's requirements and developed the 5G New Radio (NR) standard that defines the radio access network (RAN) for 5G. These performance objectives include:

• Peak Data Rates: 5G networks should be able to provide peak data rates of up to 20 Gbps in the downlink and 10 Gbps in the uplink.
• Latency: 5G networks should have a latency of less than 1 millisecond for ultra-reliable, low-latency applications such as autonomous vehicles and remote surgery.
• Connection Density: 5G networks should be able to support a much higher density of connected devices than previous generations of wireless technology, with up to 1 million devices per square kilometer.
• Energy Efficiency: 5G networks should be designed to be more energy-efficient than previous generations of wireless technology, with a goal of reducing energy consumption by up to 90%.
• Spectrum Efficiency: 5G networks should be designed to make more efficient use of available spectrum, allowing for more data to be transmitted over the same amount of spectrum.
• Mobility: 5G networks should provide seamless mobility support for high-speed, high-capacity connections across a wide range of devices and network environments, including moving vehicles, pedestrians, and IoT devices.
• Network Architecture: 5G networks should be designed to enable flexible, scalable, and programmable network architectures that can adapt to the needs of different use cases and applications. This includes support for network slicing, which allows operators to partition a single physical network into multiple virtual networks, each optimized for a specific set of use cases or applications.

Components of a 5G Network

A 5G network consists of three main components: the core network, the RAN, and user equipment (UE). Together, these components form a complex and interconnected system that enables high-speed, low-latency, and reliable communication between devices and the internet.

Core Network

The 5G core network is the central component of the 5G system architecture that is responsible for managing the overall network, connecting multiple RANs, and handling user authentication, security, and mobility. It is a cloud-native and service-based architecture that allows network functions to be deployed as software modules on cloud infrastructure. The 5G core network is composed of the following functional entities:

• Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF): The AMF is responsible for managing the registration and mobility of UEs in the 5G network. It also handles access authentication and security management.
• Session Management Function (SMF): The SMF manages the establishment, modification, and termination of user sessions in the 5G network. It is responsible for the distribution of user data packets to the correct UPF.
• User Plane Function (UPF): The UPF provides the data plane functionality for the 5G network, including packet routing, forwarding, and filtering. It also supports data plane functions for network slicing.
• Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF): The NSSF selects the appropriate network slice for a UE based on service requirements and operator policies.
• Authentication Server Function (AUSF): The AUSF is responsible for user authentication and authorization. It manages the security keys used for encryption and integrity protection.
• Policy Control Function (PCF): The PCF is responsible for policy and charging control in the 5G network. It determines the policy rules for each UE based on service requirements and operator policies.

The 5G core network is designed to support a wide range of use cases and services, including massive IoT, mission-critical communications, and enhanced mobile broadband. Its cloud-native and service-based architecture enables operators to deploy and manage network functions more efficiently and flexibly, allowing them to quickly adapt to changing customer needs and service requirements.

Radio Access Network (RAN)

The Radio Access Network (RAN) is a critical component of the 5G system that provides wireless connectivity between the user equipment (UE) and the core network. The RAN is responsible for managing radio resources, such as frequency bands and power levels, to ensure efficient and reliable communication between the UE and the core network.

The 5G RAN is designed to support a wide range of use cases, including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). To achieve this, the 5G RAN utilizes several new technologies, such as Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), beamforming, and millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies.

User Equipment (UE)

UE refers to the device used by the end-user to connect to the 5G network. It includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices that support 5G connectivity. To support 5G connectivity, a device must meet certain technical requirements, including:

• 5G Modem: The device should have a 5G modem that can support the necessary frequency bands and bandwidths used by 5G networks.
• Processor: The device's processor should be powerful enough to handle the increased data speeds and processing requirements of 5G. It should also support advanced technologies like Massive MIMO.
• Antenna: A 5G device should have multiple antennas to support beamforming and other advanced radio technologies used by 5G networks. 
• Operating System: The device should have an operating system that supports the latest networking protocols like IPv6.