The promise of 5G networks will continue to dominate the wireless industry in 2020.
Once 5G is implemented worldwide, the proliferation of complementary technologies will offer Internet of Things (IoT) devices with low-bandwidth alternatives, cost-effective power solutions, and flexible low-power options. Globally, these solutions will complement the strengths of the 5G network. The 5G network will provide a broader range of tools for different types of users.
4G and 5G networks target high-performance applications, and more importantly, low latency. Mobile operators will manage massive IoT, but there are many myths or misconceptions about 5G. One of the most significant risks is the health hazard caused by 5G. According to them, the 5G network emits RF radiation that is harmful to human health.
5G Myths
With LoRa devices and LoRaWAN, individuals and businesses can benefit from flexible, easy-to-deploy, cost-effective IoT solutions with low power consumption and long range. However, there are misconceptions about the 5G network
The benefits of 5G are numerous
5G was designed to provide faster speeds and connectivity. LoRa is a low-power wide-area modulation technique. LoRaWAN, on the other hand, is one of the protocols developed for the upper layers of the network. LoRa and the LoRaWAN protocol are designed to serve different purposes. There were only a few communication devices that required batteries, and they could last for a long time in the field.
Thanks to LoRa’s long-range, low-power capabilities, it can penetrate physical structures that 5G signals cannot. Customers are looking for efficiency, and LoRa and LoRaWAN meet this need. In addition, the protocol has a range of communication of over six miles. The 5G mm-wave variant is further ahead.
Although 5G is ideal for video calls or ultra-low latency applications, LoRa and LoRaWAN are ideal for water applications, smart buildings, agriculture, gas meters, smart parks, etc. LoRaWAN’s cost-effectiveness will enable network densification, as well as optimize coverage, network capacity, and battery life.
5G is available everywhere
Congestion on networks is one of the main reasons why 4G isn’t able to reach every corner of the globe. As a result of the expansion or densification of the network, tower acquisition has become a challenge. Carriers across the globe are switching to 5G networks as a result. If not, the current mobile network experience will deteriorate.
The mobile operators are improving the customer experience and leveraging their investments in licensed spectrum. Thus, 5G becomes more attractive due to its efficient use of valuable assets. Although 5G has begun to be available to some consumers, operators are still looking for a revenue model.
Therefore, they want to invest in the best revenue model before deploying 5G. As a result of higher frequencies, 5G will bring more capacity to some areas, which will require more towers.
Installation of 5G at a low cost
Carriers have estimated that installing a 5G network will require $700 billion to $900 billion. Over the next decade, it will be able to cover only 25% of the world’s population. The investment in 5G will take years, and the operators have yet to see a return on investment (ROI).
Further, operators have invested heavily in 4G networks over the past decade, and they don’t want the sun to set too soon. As the infrastructure for 5G is more expensive. The cost-effectiveness of the LoRaWAN protocol is one of the reasons mobile operators will use it.
Furthermore, it is the last mile extension that does not require a licensed spectrum. The initial infrastructure investment and operating costs will be reduced. Additionally, the cost of endpoint sensors will be reduced. Using the long battery life of up to 10 years, the deployment will require less power than other existing solutions. As a result, the overall cost will decrease over time.
5G And IoT Cannot Coexist
The wireless market indicates that a multi-radio access network strategy will be employed for connectivity solutions. Businesses and individuals will be able to use the best technology as long as the data management layer can interconnect the technology of 5G.
5G use cases are vast and complex, and no single technology can cover all of them. Utilizing the technologies, the 5G ecosystem will be adopted for the most appropriate technologies. Thus, it will be able to support applications and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Broadband services will only be available through 5G
Mobile broadband and the Internet of Things will benefit from 5G technology. Fiber optics, Wi-Fi, 4G, and other satellite services already offer valuable ways to serve diverse broadband use cases. For last-mile delivery, 5G might be surpassed by other technologies such as Wi-Fi 6.
Satellites of high capacity are the new generation. They provide broadband services in remote areas where the 5G network will not be implemented. Wired fiber optics will be deployed in urban areas for higher capacity, such as tens of gigabits, and greater reliability as opposed to 5G.
The 5G core will only be compatible with 3GPP technologies
5G is not merely a continuation of 4G, but the first version of a new 3GPP standard. The standard will open up to any type of communication technology, including mobile, fixed wireless, wired, satellite, and unlicensed. LoRaWAN provides versatility, interoperability, and value to many verticals, just like Wi-Fi.
Implementation of 5G is easy
A 5G solution requires an infrastructure set up by the mobile operators. Signals can pass through new radio frequencies with 5G. The radio and other cellphone tower equipment must be updated. Mobile operators can utilize existing 4G networks for 5G solutions depending on the assets they have access to. A hybrid of 4G and 5G architecture will be created. Cellular networks will benefit greatly from this investment.
In addition, the operators must drive a fundamental organization and architectural shift toward the core of the 5G network. The focus will be on virtualization and cloud. As such, it is a step from a unit of physical infrastructure to a network as a service.
A World in Rapid Development Needs
The world is changing rapidly in terms of automation and technology, as you all know. All fields of technology will be affected by 5G. It will coexist with alternative technologies to benefit a variety of fields and industries. Meanwhile, the infrastructure for 5G shows that it is not easy to implement across the globe.
A profitable and sustainable technology like LoRaWAN would be ideal for this purpose. Delivering a solid ROI to the customer through 5G will be challenging without a complementary solution.
The 5G era is near
The deployment of 5G technology started quickly. In recent years, chipmakers have been supplying components for 5G networking equipment. As a result, it will take years for 5G networks to be launched in almost every country.
LoRaWAN was developed half a decade before 5G. Several end-to-end sensors and solutions are available. About half of mobile connections will switch to 5G networks by 2025, according to the GSMA. In the same year, around 60 percent of users will use a 4G network.
5G will not replace 4G LTE as it did when it was launched.
For those without 5G devices and smart home devices, 4G will be the best option. As IoT continues to develop, LoRaWAN networks are leading the way. By 2023, LoRaWAN and cellular IoT will make up more than 80 percent of the global low-power wide-area network (LPWAN).
The 5G network will close the digital divide
It will take time to switch from a 4G network to a 5G network. We all know that countries are testing 5G networks in their covered areas. Currently, there is no global 5G coverage. Most of the areas still use 4G LTE. The 5G network will create gaps in rural areas where communities and businesses will lack reliable connectivity.
5G: Facts Or Myths That Will Impact Our Lives
There are a lot of myths and facts about 5G that will impact our lives in various ways. The installation and investment for the 5G network are said to be higher than those for the 4G network. Installing and covering 5G can be made cheaper by using alternative protocols, such as LoRa and LoRaWAN. Despite claims to the contrary, 5G is not harmful to any living thing. This is because it uses safe RF waves that won’t harm living creatures.
There have been many conspiracies about 5G, but not all of them are true. Several myths have now become facts. It was a myth that 5G would take years to implement. The entire world is still testing the 5G network, so that is true. Only a few companies provide this service in limited areas or to limited consumers. A 5G connection should be fast and low latency so that different devices can communicate with each other. It is a fact.
