5G is here, but when can we really go wild?
As IoT professionals, Acal BFi and Sierra Wireless looked at the current possibilities of 5G communication. We support a growing number of projects and advise our customers on their options.
| 4G LTE | 5G | |
| Peak data rate | 1Gbps | 10Gbps |
| Signal delay | 10ms | <1ms |
| Connection density | 1,000/km2 | 1,000,000/km2 |
| Frequency band | 2 to 8 GHz | 3 to 300 GHz |
| Battery consumption | High | 10% more efficient |
Expectations of 5G are high; it offers faster speed, more concurrent users and less signal delay. 5G will increase productivity, stimulate new industries and be a platform for new inventions. Over time, 5G performance will create new application possibilities such as HD streaming, robotics, augmented reality, virtual reality and real-time communication for autonomous vehicles.
5G LPWA and 5G New Radio (NR)
5G is actually three different, related technologies: 5G LPWA, 5G New Radio Sub-6 and 5G New Radio mmWave. What are the differences and what's new? What still raises questions about the move to 5G? Certain features operate in a new, unknown part of the wireless spectrum. Parts of the 5G infrastructure are still in their infancy and technology and components are still being developed. Sierra Wireless helps us in this new world. We offer both ready-to-use units and modules for your own development.
5G LPWA: Just a software upgrade
Primarily intended for sensor-based, low-bandwidth surveillance applications. 5G Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) is an extension and evolution of the LPWA technology used in 4G, namely LTE-M and NB-IoT.
The New Radio (NR)
Unlike 5G LPWA, Sub-6 and mmWave are based on the New Radio, which is different from 4G LTE from a hardware perspective. The new radio requires a new infrastructure and is therefore not compatible with 3G and 4G technologies. The two types of new radios each cover different frequencies.
5G New Radio SUB-6: Higher performance in a familiar format
Anyone who has experience with the development of a 4G LTE product will quickly see that the 5G Sub-6 looks a lot like 4G LTE. Sub-6 may add a few specific bands, but the frequencies used and antenna design have significant overlap with 4G LTE making it quite easy to migrate from 4G LTE to Sub-6. At the same time, the certifications for 5G New Radio Sub-6 are also almost the same as those for 4G LTE. Sub-6 operates in the spectrum between 400 MHz and 6 GHz.
5G New Radio mmWave: A new world above 24GHz
The part of 5G that will feel very new is everything between 24 GHz and 52 GHz. This mmWave spectrum is where 5G's most impressive performance improvements will be seen. In the short term, communication and IT equipment will mainly benefit. In the longer term, as the infrastructure has grown, more applications and innovations will emerge in new directions. New communications such as in smart city applications and HD video streaming will benefit greatly from the significant performance improvements. In particular, mmWave's very high data rates and unique antenna requirements will be a design challenge for developers. Our support helps to anticipate these requirements and avoid delays and additional costs during development. But a ready-to-use unit is sometimes also a great start.
What to expect with 5G New Radio mmWave
The physical differences of the mmWave spectrum above 24 GHz cause some challenges. This is what it means for designers:
Higher heat development – With Sierra Wireless we have detailed thermal models available to help engineers save time and effort prior to hardware design.- More power – Acal BFi has a specialized team to specify suitable power supplies for this.
- Special antenna treatment – The beam-forming technology used by 5G NR mmWave antennas can be affected by other electronics in the system. As a result, a calibration process must take place, both during design and manufacturing, to optimize antenna transmission. We provide technical assistance with this process with Sierra Wireless and the Acal BFi competence center.
- PCI Express – Due to the high speeds, for example, PCI Express will have to be used instead of the well-known USB3.
- New certification processes – Sierra Wireless helps characterize the system while guiding the design through carrier-specific certification and stringent regulations.
Higher heat development – With Sierra Wireless we have detailed thermal models available to help engineers save time and effort prior to hardware design.
Acal BFi supplies a wide range of solutions for both short range and long range communication. With 5G we are expanding and offering our existing customers a growth path from 4G, LPWA, LTE, NB-IoT and LoRa for the long term. We support new projects throughout the entire development process or when using a 'plug-in' unit, from which your own development is possible in the future.
John Baldwins
Business Development Manager
Acal BFi Netherlands bv
Airport Road 53
Eindhoven
Nederlands