need to know
- The term “5G” does not refer to any specific technology – it is a classification that several technologies fit into
- It’s often reported that 5G will support speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second, but this is misleading
- If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is
When a new Internet networking technology is in its early stages, you will no doubt see and hear fantastic numbers about its enormous potential. But the reality is often less exciting.
While it’s true that future Internet technologies will eventually surpass current standards, improvements are generally a steady advance with occasional small leaps, and not the significant frontiers you’d expect after hearing the hype.
As an example, let’s look at 5G, which isn’t the only culprit but is currently the hottest technology in town.
Some of the reports about this new “technology” might excite you, but don’t run away and buy a new phone because you’ve seen some impressive numbers about the potential of 5G.
have standards
The term “5G” does not refer to any particular technology – it is a classification that several existing and future technologies fit into. The same was true for 3G and 4G.
The details of these standards are set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Australia’s first successful mobile broadband network to qualify for the ‘3G’ label was limited to hundreds of kilobits per second (Kbps) – suitable for sending email, downloading small apps and using basic mobile web browsers .
In the years that followed, faster and different mobile broadband technologies emerged, but they also fell into the 3G category. Some examples are HSDPA, HSUPA and HSPA+.
By the time 3G was on the rise, some 3G technologies such as HSPA+ had potential top speeds of over 40Mbps – more than 100 times faster than the earliest 3G connections. Instead of just browsing and emailing, we can now stream music and media, play complex games, use image-heavy apps and more, all under the umbrella of 3G.
The technology used in a current 5G network or device will not be able to keep up with these future 5G technologies. Little to no future security happens here
But those earlier 3G devices couldn’t run HSPA+ and therefore didn’t benefit from those higher speeds.
A similar development took place under the umbrella of 4G and will be repeated for 5G as well. It is nothing more than putting multiple technologies in the same category until progress is so advanced that a new category (e.g. 6G) is required.
Therefore, the technology used in a current 5G network or device will not be able to keep up with these future 5G technologies. Little to no future-proofing happens here as far as buying a new device goes.
You might see some improvement over time, but these early-gen devices won’t run at the same speeds as future 5G hardware because they’re based on different technologies.
Excessive 5G download speeds
It is often reported that 5G will support speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second (Gbps).
Compare that to the 1 Gbps of consumer NBN fiber to the premises, or at best 100 megabits per second (Mbps) of slower NBN technologies, and you’ll be forgiven if your jaw drops a little.
On closer inspection, this 20Gbps figure appears to be from the ITU’s specifications for the IMT 2020 standard (a technical name for 5G) and is not based on any actual technology.
The number in question is the IMT 2020 minimum peak data rate, which is 20 Gbps for downloads and 10 Gbps for uploads. But more importantly, the minimum data rate for user experience is 100Mbps download and 50Mbps upload, 200 times slower than the often reported 20Gbps.
You can probably see why the minimum user experience rate isn’t reported – it’s far less exciting.
But none of these numbers matter to the consumer. You only have to worry about how fast your ISP’s current 5G network is and whether your 5G device can keep up with it.
Current 5G speeds in Australia are already faster than the minimum user experience rate of 100Mbps set by the ITU. They can vary from 500Mbps to 1Gbps in well-served areas.
It is certain that one day we will see 20 Gbps mobile broadband. But by then much or most of the current 5G hardware will have been swapped out for new systems. Different technology, same 5G classification.
5G and one millisecond latency (ping)
You may see reports of 5G’s potential for one millisecond (ms) latency – sometimes referred to as “ping”. But that’s unlikely.
Latency is the time it takes for your device to send a signal and receive a response (or vice versa). There are many factors that affect latency, including your device, the server at the other end, the processing speed of any router your data traverses, the responsiveness of your peripherals, and the distance the signal travels, among other things.
The 1ms latency concept is optimistic, even if you ignore all of these factors and just look at distance.
The speed of light is the fastest information that can be transmitted. Light travels about 300 km in one millisecond. Latency requires a round trip, so any server you get a 1ms return from must be within 150km. Most of the services you use online are unlikely to be in this range.
It could be that at some point there will only be 5G networks Add 1ms latency to your connection. However, your overall latency is still affected by all of these other factors, making a 1ms connection over 5G impossible in most situations.
If a 5G plan sounds good based on current network stats, then it’s worth considering. But don’t switch if you expect ultra-fast ping with the current 5G technology
Again, it’s more important to focus on the technology at your disposal. If a 5G plan sounds good based on current network stats, then it’s worth considering. But don’t switch if you expect ultra-fast ping with the current 5G technology.
In 2021, the average latency for 5G connections in Australia was between 18ms and 20ms, which is good for mobile broadband but far from the hype – and slower than the average NBN fixed line connection, according to the ACCC’s Broadband Monitoring Programme.
Not all doom and gloom
Broadband speeds will continue to improve, bringing new industries, ideas and lifestyles to life. But beware of exaggerations.
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So, before you jump out of your pockets at bloated numbers, take a moment to see what products actually exist and what they can do.
Stock Images: Getty unless otherwise noted.
