The capabilities of individual tower sites, the geographic features of covered areas, and the amount of available spectrum all impact the quality of service. This shift to a different part of the spectrum promises better connectivity, but will require a larger number of cell sites.Ĭurrent 4G networks provide service by broadcasting radio waves from large cell towers to extended areas.

The 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE systems all used the same long-range band of airwaves, as does broadcast television. This can result in faster download speeds and more stable connections for wireless devices, but waves at these frequencies have a shorter range. 5G operates on a different part of the spectrum, using bands with little interference, at a higher frequency. In contrast, current 4G technology uses long-range signals transmitted across crowded low frequency radio waves to send and receive data over a broad network of larger cell sites.

A small cell site refers to the area within which this short-range wireless signal can be received. Concerns about data collection, use, and sharing must be addressed.ĥG uses very fast, short-range signals on an unused frequency band to send and receive more total data, within a dense network of specialized small cell sites. While these new products and services may create significant benefits for both businesses and consumers, connected devices can raise substantial privacy risks. 5G technology has the potential to enable another wave of smart devices: always connected and always communicating to provide faster, more personalized services. The leap from 3G to 4G technology brought with it faster data transfer speeds, which supported widespread adoption of data cloud and streaming services, video conferencing, and Internet of Things devices such as digital home assistants and smartwatches. Each previous generation of wireless technology has revolutionized the way people communicate and socialize, and led to waves of novel products and services using the new capabilities. (Except where otherwise noted, this post describes service and availability within the United States.)ĥG, the fifth generation of wireless network technology, is the newest way of connecting wireless devices to cellular networks.

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