Introduction of 5G
5G is the fifth-generation technology for cellular networks. It promises to deliver blazing fast speeds, low latency, massive capacity, and greater reliability. The capabilities of such a network go far beyond telecommunication. After all, it has the potential to replace traditional broadband internet. 5G will expand the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem and transform tons of industries. To cater to different applications, 5G operates across several frequency bands.
The radio spectrum ranges from 3 kHz to 300 GHz. 5G frequencies are divided between the Sub-6 GHz range (frequencies below 6 GHz) and mmWave range (starting at 24 GHz). Sub-6 5G can be broken down into Low-Band 5G and Mid-Band 5G.
The 5G spectrum is made up of three layers: Low-Band, Mid-Band, and High-Band (aka mmWave).
Low-Band 5G
You may know this band as “Nationwide 5G” because of Verizon or “Extended Range 5G” because of T-Mobile. Whatever you call it, Low-Band 5G refers to frequencies between 600 MHz to 1 GHz. Some sources say it covers up to 2.3 GHz. This frequency range is adjacent to where 4G and 3G networks operate, making it very important for 5G deployments. Carriers used existing spectrum and infrastructure to quickly deploy 5G on top of existing networks. This explains the recent 3G shutdown process: those frequencies are being reclaimed for 5G.
Since it's on the lower end of the 5G spectrum, Low-Band 5G frequencies have greater range and aren't as easily affected by obstacles. Speed can be slightly faster than 4G at times. Though, it's not noticeable most of the time. That may change in the future.
To coexist amongst 4G frequencies, Low-Band 5G uses Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) technology. This technology automatically allocates bandwidth between 4G and 5G based on demand. 4G traffic tends to take priority, which is why speeds aren't noticeably different. As more people upgrade to 5G devices, 5G traffic won't have to yield to 4G traffic, improving performance.
Mid-Band 5G
Mid-Band 5G spans from 1 GHz to 6 GHz, but it’s considered to be more in the 2.4 GHz to 4 GHz range. This is where the famous C-Band, ranging from 3.7 to 3.98 GHz, lives.
Mid-Band 5G can be thought of as the “Goldilocks” band. It can cover large areas and provide fast speeds that range from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps. It blends speed, range, penetration, and capacity. Here is where you start to see performance that rivals traditional broadband internet. The C-Band section is supposed to be the ultimate sweet spot.
The main application for Mid-Band 5G will be in suburbs and cities where demand is considerably high.
Mid-Band 5G
Mid-Band 5G spans from 1 GHz to 6 GHz, but it’s considered to be more in the 2.4 GHz to 4 GHz range. This is where the famous C-Band, ranging from 3.7 to 3.98 GHz, lives.
Mid-Band 5G can be thought of as the “Goldilocks” band. It can cover large areas and provide fast speeds that range from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps. It blends speed, range, penetration, and capacity. Here is where you start to see performance that rivals traditional broadband internet. The C-Band section is supposed to be the ultimate sweet spot.
The main application for Mid-Band 5G will be in suburbs and cities where demand is considerably high.
High-Band 5G
The radio spectrum is scarce. So, to deliver on everything 5G claims, new frequencies were made available in the millimeter wave spectrum. Frequencies are much higher here.
High-Band 5G ranges from 24 to 39 GHz. This is where you’ll experience those blazing fast speeds and ultra-low latency 5G promises. It provides 1 Gbps speeds but can reach up to 10 Gbps under optimal conditions. Latency can be as low as 1ms. However, the trade off is range.
mmWaves can only travel short distances and can’t penetrate buildings. Waves are easily disrupted. Whether it be for signal boosting or 5G internet, 5G antennas and equipment will be needed to relay these signals inside buildings.
This spectrum is ideal for densely populated urban areas and busy venues. Featuring higher capacity, the network will be able to handle more devices at a time. Unreliable connectivity due to high traffic can be significantly mitigated with High-Band 5G.
Out of all 5G layers, this one will take the longest to deploy. Since 4G frequencies don’t operate in the mmWave, carriers can’t piggyback on existing infrastructure.
