There’s no doubt that 5G technology is one of the hottest topics right now, and as we’re all starting to use it in our daily lives, it’s understandable that we’re curious about how it works. 5G is better than 4G, but there are a lot of nuances to how you actually connect to the network. In the case of 5G, there are two distinct pieces of technology: Sub-6 and mmWave.
When your phone connects to “5G”, you may be connecting to any type of 5G network coverage. But which one you connect to can dramatically change your 5G experience. Here are the basics you need to understand the difference between Sub-6 5G and mmWave 5G.
What is Sub-6 5G?
Distinguishing between Sub-6 and mmWave is easy: just look at the radio spectrum used for the network. Sub-6 5G uses frequencies below 6GHz — that’s easy to understand. This is important for several reasons: this is where 4G, 3G and 2G networks have historically worked, and this is the 5G you’ll most likely be interacting with in the next five years.
The best 5G operators have been able to quickly deploy “national” networks using their existing towers and spectrum because Sub-6 5G requires nothing more than tower upgrades. They simply make 5G-specific changes to the towers and can start serving 5G alongside 4G in most of the country. And since operators already have significant spectrum in these lower frequencies, they can provide relatively high output with 5G without compromising their 4G offerings.
All of this means that for the next few years, most of the time you’re using 5G, it’s going to be Sub-6. And unfortunately, at least for the next few years, that Sub-6 5G won’t be noticeably better than the 4G you’re used to.
T-Mobile
The problem is that Sub-6 networks don’t deliver dramatically better experience from the latest 4G networks. That makes sense – sure it’s 5G, but it operates under many of the same limitations as 4G networks before it. Sub-6 5G networks are only slightly faster, with slightly lower latency than 4G networks.
The only significant improvement in experience to be found with Sub-6 is in the so-called “midband” frequencies, between 2GHz and 6GHz, where 4G networks have traditionally I am not it works, but 5G can. With vast amounts of unused spectrum, no competition from existing 4G networks and some new network technology, mid-band 5G can be a great “Goldilocks” network that balances faster speeds with decent range and object avoidance. Midband will be an important part of any operator’s overall 5G strategy, as T-Mobile’s “layer cake” approach regularly emphasizes.
What is mmWave 5G?
There is also mmWave (millimeter wave), which uses dramatically higher frequencies, ranging between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. Carriers currently operate between 30GHz and 40GHz, but government auctions recently announced new spectrum up to 48GHz. Additionally, the 60 GHz range is effectively unregulated spectrum, and 70 GHz-plus is often used for very specific point-to-point fixed wireless networks.
But back to mmWave 5G on your phone: this is a brand new network that has nothing to do with existing 4G networks or infrastructure. That means there is incredible potential, but will take significantly longer to implement compared to Sub-6 networks.
By using previously untouched spectrum, mmWave 5G networks can deliver massive data rates and ultra-low latency. Whenever you hear talk of 3 Gbps download speeds, 1 millisecond latency, and futuristic real-time communication between devices, cars, and medical equipment, it’s all based on mmWave.
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have launched mmWave networks, but deployment has been slow. Because mmWave frequencies are so high, this presents significant coverage issues. The higher the frequency, the shorter the radio waves can travel. That means you should a lots of towers. And calling them “towers” is a bit of a misnomer – unlike traditional cell towers, these are so-called “small cells” that are hyper-localized to provide service over an area as small as one city street, in one direction.
Verizon
This is necessary due to the short range of mmWave, as well as the fact that obstacles of any kind can dramatically affect its performance. Buildings, cars, trees and even windows can stop the mmWave signal. Now, to provide any coverage, you have to have hundreds and thousands of small mmWave cells scattered along the streets. Simply put, mmWave is unforgiving here. This is the reality that every carrier faces.
In addition to these technical obstacles, the rollout of mmWave is very slow. While you can find mmWave 5G in parts of some cities, it’s incredibly inconsistent — even the direction you’re facing can determine whether you get a signal. But when you do get a signal, the speeds are absolutely incredible: more than 3 Gbps download speeds, with single-digit millisecond latency. And mmWave also has huge capacity potential, meaning that multiple devices can be connected to a single network at once, without service degradation. It’s an absolute game changer, no matter how you look at it.
Verizon and AT&T have decided to give their mmWave networks additional branding separate from their Sub-6 5G networks. Verizon has 5G UWB (Ultra Wideband) and AT&T has 5G+. This is mostly confusing, but at least useful for determining whether your phone is connected to Sub-6 or mmWave 5G.
Soon you will be using both Sub-6 and mmWave
Sub-6 is the 5G of the present, while mmWave is clearly the 5G of the future. But it’s not quite that simple. It is clear that eventually we will have to use Sub-6 and mmWave together. Both are good at different things — Sub-6 with consistency and coverage, mmWave with speed and density — and can be used together. By using both, carriers can play to their strengths and provide a better overall experience.
The goal is for your phone or other device to always be connected to the 5G network and be able to seamlessly switch between Sub-6 and mmWave without you knowing. It will be here sooner than you think.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn