Revolutionize Your Internet Experience: How 5G mmWave Technology is Changing the Game for Mobile Networks
5G, the latest mobile network technology, is set to revolutionize how we use our devices and access the internet. Qualacom’s Visak Dhingra has put forward the company’s position in wanting 5G mmWaves to succeed despite their massive drawback.
The Qualacom director says we are getting used to poor connections in big avenues such as football games. However, he emphasizes that 5G mmWaves are the key to delivering optimal results in these venues.
One key aspect of 5G is the high millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum, which allows for faster speeds & lower latency than previous generations of wireless technology. Many mobile service providers, such as Verizon, would love to rush and acquire this high mmWave spectrum to stay ahead of the competition.
However, it is good to note that while the mmWave spectrum can provide significant improvements over 4G, it has a limited range and can be more easily obstructed by physical objects. So, the big companies are leaning toward the sweet spot in the industry.
High mmWaves
Millimeter waves (mmWaves) are high-frequency waves that fall between 25 GHz and 100 GHz, allowing faster data transfer speeds and lower latency than previous generations of wireless technology. The use of mmWaves for 5G networks is made possible by advances in semiconductor technology.
The main advantage of mmWaves is that they can support very high data rates. Still, they also have limitations such as a limited range, typically only a few hundred meters, and are easily absorbed by obstacles and affected by atmospheric conditions.
As a result, many service providers supplement their 5G networks with other frequencies, such as sub-6GHz, which have a longer range but lower data transfer speeds.
The Sweet Spot
Many companies began their deployment of 5G networks by utilizing low-frequency bands, with T-Mobile leading the way by acquiring a 600MHz spectrum for over $7.5 billion. This low-frequency spectrum offers a longer range than mmWave but with lower data transfer speeds.
However, T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint for $25 billion was a strategic move that allowed the company to gain access to Sprint’s mid-band 5G spectrum. Mid-band spectrum, also known as the “sweet spot” in the 5G world, is a balance between the high-frequency mmWave spectrum and the low-frequency spectrum.
As a result, the mid-band spectrum offers a longer range than mmWave and provides faster speeds than low-frequency bands. This middle ground is because the frequency range is higher than that of the low-band spectrum but lower than that of mmWave. As a result, Sprint’s mid-band 5G spectrum is particularly valuable as it can support many use cases and applications, from mobile broadband to IoT.
Qualacom’s Interest In mmWaves
Qualcomm, being a chip designer, would benefit from the success of mmWave technology in 5G networks as they sell chips that allow smartphones to connect with these signals and the silicon needed for small cell hotspots that deliver 5G mmWave signals.
However, the limitations of mmWave technology, such as limited range and easily obstructed signals, have led to a shift in focus towards mid-band frequencies by service providers in the US. Despite this, Qualcomm continues to push for mmWave technology.
It expects it to provide fixed wireless service to some homes where broadband can’t deliver and for 5G enterprise use by corporations that require a private network.
