5G Speed vs. 5G Range: Key Differences and Value

This article explores the differences between 5G speed and 5G range, providing insights into the values associated with each within a 5G network.

What is 5G? An Introduction

• 5G represents the Fifth Generation of wireless technology, designed for both voice and data communication.
• It’s a cellular wireless technology, following in the footsteps of GSM (2G), CDMA (3G), and LTE/LTE-advanced (4G).
• Specifications for 5G are outlined in the 3GPP NR standards, similar to how 4G (LTE) is defined.
• 5G operates across various licensed and unlicensed frequency bands, including those below 1 GHz, below 6 GHz, and above 6 GHz.
• It utilizes advanced antenna technologies like Massive MIMO and sophisticated modulation schemes such as OFDM, FBMC, UFMC, and GFDM.
• With a latency of less than 1ms, 5G minimizes connection setup time, offering a superior user experience.

Figure 1: 5G Deployment Scenarios

Figure 1 illustrates various 5G deployment scenarios for 5G smartphones, which can operate in either standalone or non-standalone modes.

• Non-Standalone Mode: 5G smartphones can leverage existing cellular networks such as LTE/LTE-a.
• Standalone Mode: 5G smartphones operate independently, relying solely on the 5G network for control signaling and data channels.

5G Speed: Defining Throughput

• “5G speed” refers to the rate at which data is transmitted over a 5G cellular network.
• It’s also known as 5G throughput, typically measured in Mbps or Gbps.
• The connection from a 5G smartphone to the 5G network (gNB or base station) is the uplink, while the connection from the network to the smartphone is the downlink.
• Uplink and downlink speeds can differ due to factors like resource allocation, modulation schemes, MIMO, and beamforming (BF).
• 5G networks aim for speeds of approximately 20 Gbps downlink and 10 Gbps uplink as the technology matures.
• Many operators have recently achieved 5G throughputs around 5Gbps.
• 5G cell towers can support numerous antennas in a MIMO configuration, significantly more than 4G LTE networks, which typically support a maximum of 8 transmitters and 4 receivers.

5G Range | 5G Coverage Range

Figure 2: Network of 5G Small Cells

• In cellular technology, “range” typically refers to the area covered by cell towers, providing service to mobile devices. In the context of 5G, it denotes the distance from 5G small cells to compatible devices.
• 5G range is generally shorter than that of 4G LTE or 3G networks, more closely resembling Wi-Fi range due to several factors.
• 5G devices connect to small cells placed in close proximity, which are in turn connected to 5G cell towers to extend coverage in areas with limited access. The concept is shown in Figure 2.
• Higher 5G frequencies have shorter wavelengths, making it harder for signals to penetrate solid objects like walls and trees.

Figure 3: Illustrative 5G Range

• Small cells are portable base stations placed every few hundred meters (around 250 meters) in urban areas to provide cellular coverage.
• They function like Wi-Fi access points but operate in licensed spectrum and are managed by network operators.
• The typical range of a metro cell, a type of 5G small cell, covers a radius of a few hundred meters.