1 of 9

5G Wireless Network

Computing in the News

By: Sophia and Lealah

2 of 9

Agenda

  • Description - What Is It?
  • Why it’s important
  • How Does It Work? - Computing Aspects
  • Positive Aspects
  • Negative Aspects
  • Opinions
  • Resources

3 of 9

Description

When your texts aren’t going through, or the videos you watch aren’t working, you usually check the top right corner to see how many bars of data you have. Sometimes, if you look closely, there will be a little icon that says 5G. This icon represents the fifth generation of mobile cellular technology. It is designed to help your phone function faster, reduce delay, and add more capacity for connected devices, (meaning more devices can use the same network.)

Intro/description Clip

Intro image

4 of 9

Why It’s Important

5G wireless network is extremely important because it provides very low latency(delay in data transmission), greater network capacity, (multi gigabit speeds) and faster speeds for your phone overall. It supports industries in health, manufacturing, entertainment, environmental monitoring, and more. It is tailored so it is a more enhanced and effective version of 4G network. 5G wireless network helps emerging technologies grow quickly and efficiently.

We picked this topic for our Computing in the News report because 5G wireless network is something that we see and use everyday on our phones, but no one (including us) really know what is is, how it works, or what it does. We researched this topic to learn how 5G wireless network really helps us in our daily lives.

5 of 9

How Does it work: Computing Aspects

5G wireless technology uses a broader spectrum of radio frequencies to send more data quickly and effectively. These radio frequencies, (high frequency millimeter waves) are caught by new technology (such as large MIMO antennas and small cell transmitters). These factors all combine into a more flexible network structure that is more effective, developed, faster, and supportive of connected devices. (Unlike 4G wireless network)

6 of 9

Positive Aspects

Access/Equity

  • 5G wireless network is greatly affordable, with monthly plans of $50-$70 per month; some getting as low as $15-$45 per month
  • 5G wireless network providers don’t need expensive and unnecessary cable lines to connect to homes, reducing the labor and cost of easy network access for both the providers and the customers
  • The number of 5G customers is increasing, meaning that 5G access is becoming easier to obtain

Resources & Finances

  • Places with higher population are often prioritized for 5G access, meaning more people in cities can have access to 5G network
    • 5G wireless can be an alternate choice from mainstream traditional broadbands
    • 5G is designed for an easy self-setup for customers to do themselves easily

7 of 9

Negative Aspects

Access/Equity

  • 5G wireless network is not necessarily easy to obtain because its global deployment (the process of installing, configuring, and giving service to multiple geographic locations) is ongoing.
  • 5G network is not universal yet. It is concentrated in urban areas, and many rural areas lack 5G network.
  • To access 5G network, your device must be a 5G-compatible phone; older devices will not connect.

Resources & Finances

  • The focus for 5G access is mainly focused around urban areas and cities, so locations in more rural places often have a hard time getting 5G access
    • There are security risks that come from 5G’s complex, decentralized structure
    • Achieving 5G network access is a slow process that leaves some areas without a reliable service

8 of 9

My Opinion

My opinion is that although 5G wireless network is a great tool that helps many devices across the world, it is unfair that only urban and concentrated city areas get access to it. 5G is such a useful tool for everyone, so everyone should have the opportunity to use it. (AKA 5G should continue to be worked on.

My opinion is that 5G is very helpful in connecting devices across the world, but the only problem is how concentrated the access is. It is extremely hard for people living in rural settings to access, and this makes it difficult for people living in more isolated areas to communicate with one another. 5G is incredibly helpful, but it needs to be open for everyone.

9 of 9

Resources

  • Gkagkas, Georgios, et al. “The Advantage of the 5G Network for Enhancing IoT Technology: A Survey.” PMC, 2024.
  • Mendonça, S., et al. “The Rise of 5G Technologies and Systems.” Telecommunication Policy, vol. [insert volume if known], 2022 ScienceDirect
  • Dangi, R., et al. “Study and Investigation on 5G Technology: A Systematic Review.” PMC, 2021
  • Imam-Fulani, Y. O., et al. “5G Frequency Standardization, Technologies, Channel Modeling, and Enabling Techniques: A Review of Prior Works from 2010 to 2022.” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 6, 2023, article 5173 MDPI
  • Sahu, Vinay; Sahu, Neetu; Sahu, Rani. “Challenges and Opportunities of 5G Network: A Review of Research and Development.” American Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, vol. 8, no. 1, 2024, pp. 11-20.