There are two far more interesting reasons to want 5g, latency and congestion. Speeds are great but most people don’t need them (I used about 4GB last month). But when you’re in a city, have full signal but can’t make a call that’s a pain and this should help with that.
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mmWave vs. Sub-6GHz 5G iPhones: What's the Difference?
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In some cases, yes.
However, the problem you describe may occur due to different reasons, most commonly due to sparse network. 5G is needed only if there are no 4G channels (frequencies) available, and all base stations are modern MIMO base stations with good beamforming capabilities. In that case “the air is full”.
This is not necessarily the case too often. Usually, the congestion could be fixed just by adding LTE base stations.
I am not saying there wouldn’t be any situation where 5G would be very beneficial or even necessary. A stadium full of people streaming video is a clear use case for mmWave. But your average downtown scenario may be well served by LTE, as well.
I bet it will before too long. I'm with Xfinity Mobile (Verizon) and it has already upped it's "by the Gb" plan $3/Gb for 5G even though there are really no phones to use it (except perhaps the latest Samsung flagship). I don't see myself needing the extra speed as I'm usually around Wi-Fi.
The main argument would be against: 5G density will enable up to 100 times more connected devices in the same physical area that 4G LTE operates today.
However how many situations is the device density that high?
The telecoms actually want to use cells plus internet of everything connected devices could greatly add up. The fallacy is 30 Ghz propagation is horrible. Any tree or wall can attenuate the RF signal between your phone and cell antenna. Even with line of sight no obstacles is at best 1500 feet range with mm5G. Your usual high density urban environment would not permit that range.
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I've never tried using LTE during a concert, but it's always worked for me in dense cities.
And when that day comes, I probably won’t pay extra for it on my phone. If I think I need it for iPad streaming, I might consider it depending on the price.
It was just an example, chief.
Prior to Covid I would meet friends at a large outdoor concert in our area. It was often a struggle trying to reach them when we all arrived at different times.
I agree with you there, probably not worth the extra cost for the few times when it would be useful.
Thank you. This is a good article on mmWave and sub-6GHz.
I have a 3G bar phone and I do not use data. I feel that I am being forced to upgrade. My understanding is that after January 1, 2021, 3G phones may no longer work. The 3G spectrum is being re-purposed to expand 5G coverage. It seems like no one is talking about this.
Yes, I am shopping for a new phone; however, I am not concerned about mmWave and download speeds. I am looking for voice over new radio support (VoNR). I want a 5G phone that can make and receive calls without relying on a 4G LTE connection. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem does not support this out-of-the-box, it requires a software update. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X60 modem has native support for VoNR. I will be disappointed if the iPhone12 uses the X55 modems.
www.macrumors.com
I have a 3G bar phone and I do not use data. I feel that I am being forced to upgrade. My understanding is that after January 1, 2021, 3G phones may no longer work. The 3G spectrum is being re-purposed to expand 5G coverage. It seems like no one is talking about this.
Yes, I am shopping for a new phone; however, I am not concerned about mmWave and download speeds. I am looking for voice over new radio support (VoNR). I want a 5G phone that can make and receive calls without relying on a 4G LTE connection. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem does not support this out-of-the-box, it requires a software update. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X60 modem has native support for VoNR. I will be disappointed if the iPhone12 uses the X55 modems.
Qualcomm Introduces Snapdragon X60, Smaller 5G Modem Suitable for 2021 iPhones
Qualcomm this week introduced the Snapdragon X60, its third-generation 5G modem for mobile devices. The company says the first 5G smartphones...
www.macrumors.com
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No. And this what people miss in this whole discussion about 5G. While sub-6GHz 5G may be only moderately faster than LTE, that is comparing typical sub-6GHz 5G with the best LTE speeds.
With the increase in speed comes an increase in capacity. The article quotes LTE Speeds when you don’t have congestion. Congestion isn’t an issue for sub-6GHz 5G so you will always get 50 Mbps which rivals most cable internet service.
I still don’t even get LTEA where I live which is super disappointing since it didn’t take long to get hspa+. If the 12 doesn’t have 120 refresh rate it seems that we will have yet another extremely minor upgrade not worth the money.
I remember when I was a kid In 1983 and my dad got a Motorola TAC phone 1G And the phone was $2000. No data and it cost $3 a minute. So all technology upgrades are good. I got a new phone last year so plan to upgrade next year. It is amazing how far we have come.
This isn't an easy subject to present to a broad audience, and your overview was pretty good, but one minor nit:
Maybe "voice" would be a better choice of words than "sound". Sound is transmitted over the air via pressure waves. I know you mean that calls are sent via radio but I think the typical wireless speak for the talking part of the phone now is "voice".
Maybe "voice" would be a better choice of words than "sound". Sound is transmitted over the air via pressure waves. I know you mean that calls are sent via radio but I think the typical wireless speak for the talking part of the phone now is "voice".
This could be so much easier, instead of putting mmWave antennas everywhere use all phones as a relays, each and every phone could be used as an "antenna", by this I mean that if I am not near enough to a mmWave antenna another or multiple phones in-between the mmWave antenna and my phone could be relays.
Exactly my thoughts when reading the article, sound≠radio waves.
Exactly my thoughts when reading the article, sound≠radio waves.
Yes seen AT&T warn people that all their 3G devices will be impacted Feb 2022. Shame as a lot of people not wanting to have anything more than a economy 3G flip phone or a wireless home phone, now have to be stuck with a 4G LTE phone.
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I don't agree with the conclusion that this article made.
because it doesn't make sense to roll out the feature in places where mmWave spectrum just isn't in use.
It said previously that mmWave was very useful when there were a lot people like in concert or sport games. So everyone may need mmWave. Even in a country that hasn't supported mmWave, having mmWave is future proved. Remember, average people will use a phone more than 3 years.
In a nutshell, no, most people don't need mmWave connectivity, nor will most people even access to it on a regular basis for the next several years to come.
For me, Sub-6Ghz and mmWave in 5G are just like 2.4 and 5G in Wifi, there is no need to explain any further.
because it doesn't make sense to roll out the feature in places where mmWave spectrum just isn't in use.
It said previously that mmWave was very useful when there were a lot people like in concert or sport games. So everyone may need mmWave. Even in a country that hasn't supported mmWave, having mmWave is future proved. Remember, average people will use a phone more than 3 years.
In a nutshell, no, most people don't need mmWave connectivity, nor will most people even access to it on a regular basis for the next several years to come.
For me, Sub-6Ghz and mmWave in 5G are just like 2.4 and 5G in Wifi, there is no need to explain any further.
I used to think that about 3G when it was the norm. As the 3G network got dismantled and replaced by LTE, I just didn't hit the same speeds on the old 3G network once my speed got throttled or my place on the network got deprioritized. The network timeouts alone were unbearable. It's not an apples-to-apples comparison. 5G will replace LTE whether anyone likes it or not and LTE will gradually get dismantled when 6G specs come out.
For mobile phones I don‘t think anything else is really necessary. There are tons of MMWave applications for (eventually) medical devices, autopilot vehicles, and other IoT applications.
I was at a briefing by Keysight, the leading provider of 5G test kits for providers around the world. They asked a question to the audience, “what is the difference between a 5G mmWave Signal pointed at your head and a microwave with the door open”
Answer:3 Watts
Lots of cancer coming our way.
Answer:3 Watts
Lots of cancer coming our way.
Really not trying to hate or be a bummer, but this years iPhone really isn't doing anything for me. I've upgraded yearly since the 4 and this is the first time I won't be getting the newest phone. I have an 11 Pro and I really can't see any reason to upgrade from it, seriously. Slap a case on the 12 and it'll look identical to an 11 and the speeds will most likely be almost identical.
It's a rapidly growing problem. Many of us may not experience congestion now but the number of devices connected to towers in urban areas are increasing very quickly. Getting sub-6 5G networks online now allows us to start moving clients over even before they start having problems - proactively rather than after the fact.
Thanks for the feedback! I took your advice and changed sound to voice to make it clearer.
