5G is not just about faster Internet as it also allows people to do things not possible before
MALAYSIA'S national fifth-generation (5G) network will be launched by the end of this year starting with Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, but what do we know about it and its benefits to our lives generally.
According to Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia head of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department at the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Prof Dr Hafizal Mohamad, the upgrade to 5G networks is inevitable as we are all connected.
"The massive increase in connected devices will result in a congested network and 5G offers more space for all the devices to stay connected.
"However, it is not the time to say goodbye to 4G LTE," he said, as the fourth-generation network would continue to evolve because it would play an essential role in next-generation 5G networks.
He said 5G adoption is a tad more complex than the previous generations and this is basically because "...5G frequency spectrums are divided into three — low-band that uses a similar frequency range to the 4G network of 600-900MHz, mid-band (uses microwaves of 2.3-4.7GHz) and high-band that has millimetre-wave of 24GHz up to 54GHz.
"The massive growth of mobile users will spread to significant numbers of small cells for the 5G mobile network, which will overlap the 4G network... and it is important to understand that the low-band spectrum means bigger, wider coverage. We certainly want wider coverage and also speed, hence we need 5G," he said.
BETTER CONNECTIVITY
5G is more than just a better mobile broadband service. It expands to new service areas, such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC), massive machine-type communications (MMC) and fixed wireless access (FWA).
According to Hafizal, the 5G network comes with extreme data rates and it meets the coverage goals for urban settings, as well as offers downloads at peak speeds and low latency.
"For public users, who rely on connectivity only for communications, 5G may not offer much difference as compared to what we have now, but for those with high video consumption, for example, it does make a difference.
"Beyond rapid downloads, 5G brings more possibilities such as real-time augmented reality and virtual reality applications. And of course for gamers, a community that relies on latency for success, 5G will certainly benefit them, especially in urban environments, where there are plenty of connected devices," said Hafizal.
As much as 5G brings "more lanes" for connectivity to almost narrowed paths for high-density areas, Hafizal said it also opens up more possibilities for the industries.
"5G is highly anticipated by many for its reliability, secure and low latency communications requirements that are needed in critical applications in healthcare, factory automation, emergency responses and automotive industry.
"With low latency, more things are possible as even a millisecond makes a lot of difference like when doctors are performing an operation. It makes things, which were not possible before this, possible," he said.
However, all the above involve changes with how mobile connectivity, base station and networking are done. These enhancements include new waveforms, hardware and approaches.
5G IN MALAYSIA
To assist in delivering what is needed to make 5G accessible to everyone, a single neutral party, Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), was set up and mandated to undertake the deployment of 5G infrastructure and provide wholesale 5G coverage nationwide.
Delivered via one common network, Single Wholesale Network (SWN), 5G in Malaysia is built, owned and operated by DNB, and eligible licensees can integrate their networks and infrastructure with a new single wholesale network established by the company.
DNB will also facilitate the deployment of FWA to address last mile connectivity, particularly for rural and outlying areas of the country. With FWA technology, the 5G coverage can be extended to homes and businesses in areas where fibre deployment is not feasible, and at the same time, promote greater digital inclusivity, allowing rural communities to participate in and benefit from Malaysia's growing digital economy.
BENEFITING EVERYONE
Most cellular wireless users today are individuals using smartphones or tablets, but it is slowly being dominated by Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Dispersed IoT and machine devices require a very diverse range of communication requirements as they intercommunicate, report sensor information, and act on control data throughout urban areas, factories, industrial installations and transportation networks.
The wide frequency spectrum of 5G makes it the best network to have now, because "...it is more adaptable, it can support systems such as battery operated sensors with low-power and low-data rate requirements like the smartwatch and it is also suitable for high-data rate and low-latency technology like autonomous robots in factories".
A BIG WELCOME
Looking at how neighbouring countries have rolled out a certain degree of 5G network, Hafizal said Malaysians should not worry too much about being left behind in the 5G race.
"There are times when being a bit later is actually beneficial. In this case, not being the first few to have 5G connectivity gives us the time to study and understand the technology better.
"We are not late. I believe we are at the right time. We're not far behind and we have had the time to see how 5G best suits us as a nation," concluded Hafizal, who encourages everyone to embrace 5G as it is the only way moving forward in a highly connected world we are in today.