The Future of 5G

Today, the most advanced form of mobile communications technology, 4G, is now widely available to consumers living or working in metropolitan areas throughout the US as well as locations throughout Europe and Asia. While this technology is still relatively new, those in the fiber optic cabling and mobile communications industries are already interested in the changes that 5G will bring to the network.

Currently, each mobile device connects to the network from a local base station, creating both an uplink and a downlink from that point. In the next generation of mobile technologies, it is predicted that the network will rely on a number of different frequency bands to carry information at varying rates. For example, a single device may use one band as an uplink at a low rate while using a different band to downlink at a high rate. Essentially, devices will be able to choose when to send data and how to send it based on the data needs of the device at the moment of use.

Additionally, new generations of devices are being created to communicate not with a central base station, but only with other devices, such as a server. This means that we will be moving away from the cell-centric networks that we have now, and converting to device-centric networks that communicate numerous information flows to a large set of nodes.

Another predicted change to come in the next generation of mobile technologies is the inclusion of millimetre wave transmissions that range from 3 to 300 GHz. These millimetre wave transmissions will allow bandwidth to be increased, but it is important to note that this technology doesn’t come without its problems. For example, the signals can be blocked quite easily by surrounding buildings and other objects that move between devices and transmitters, as well as weather, such as snowstorms. Advanced transmission technologies will have to be put into place to address issues such as these.

MIMO technology is another up-and-coming technology in which base stations transmit a large number of signals from multiple antennas all at once, increasing the efficiency of the network. Devices in the 5^th generation will also have a number of antennas with the capability to pick up on the multiple signals that are being sent from these base stations.

The above are all major players in the development of the future 5G network, which CTS Cabling, a cable contractor in Tucson, will continue to monitor as it comes closer to fruition. CTS Cabling is always on top of the latest trends to ensure that we are offering the highest quality, technologically advanced fiber optic cabling services in the industry. At CTS Cabling, we offer a number of services in addition to fiber optic cabling, including installation of wireless networks, distributed antenna systems, IP network cameras, and more. We are highly confident in our abilities to meet all of your cabling needs. To learn more about fiber optic cabling or another service, call CTS Cabling at 877-685-2626 or contact us online.