5G (Fifth-generation wireless) is the latest iteration of cellular technology, engineered to greatly increase the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks.
With 5G, data transmitted over wireless broadband connections could travel at rates as high as 20 Gbps by some estimates. 5G will also enable a sharp increase in the amount of data transmitted over wireless systems due to more available bandwidth and advanced antenna technology.
MTN Nigeria, in December 2019, showcased 5G Live Demo. This was brought about after they announced in 2018 that they would deploy 5G before 2020.
As far as Airtel and Etisalat are concerned, there is no development towards 5G Network in Nigeria. Although Globacom announced on February 6, 2019 that it would execute a conceptual launch of 5G in 700mhz band for Internet of Things application that year, till the end of 2019, it remained an announcement.
When 5G Network in Nigeria arrives, 5G technology will utilize a higher-frequency band of the wireless spectrum called millimeter wave that allows data to be transferred much more rapidly than the lower-frequency band dedicated to 4G. The downside is that millimeter wave signals don’t travel as far: The new 5G networks will require many more (albeit smaller) antennas spaced closer together than previous wireless generations.
In addition to improvements in speed, capacity and latency, 5G offers network management features, among them network slicing, which allows mobile operators to create multiple virtual networks within a single physical 5G network. This capability will enable wireless network connections to support specific uses or business cases and could be sold on an as-a-service basis. A self-driving car, for example, would require a network slice that offers extremely fast, low-latency connections so a vehicle could navigate in real time. A home appliance, however, could be connected via a lower-power, slower connection because high performance isn’t crucial. The internet of things (IoT) could use secure, data-only connections.
With the deployment of 5G network in Nigeria, there will be five distinguishable generations of mobile device technologies.
- The first generation (1G) refers to the original cellular networks of the early 1990s.
- The second generation (2G) began when wireless networks started allowing text messages to be sent.
- The third generation (3G) added the ability for people to access the internet on mobile devices.
- The fourth generation (4G) expanded upon the third generation’s abilities, particularly in terms of increased speed.
In addition, the 4G notation today is often followed by the letters “LTE,” which stand for “long term evolution.” Without getting too technical, this became the industry standard for 4G service because of its speed and consistency, and while it made the existing 4G technology faster, it isn’t a separate generation of technology (a new form of wireless signal) all by itself.
Benefits of 5G Network in Nigeria
Higher frequencies and new MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antenna technology will enable better coverage and more capacity. This will ensure a consistent user experience, even as demand grows in densely populated areas.
Improved coverage is also critical for the functioning of the Internet of Things whereby a massive number of sensors, embedded systems and devices will need to be wirelessly interconnected for data sharing.
5G Network in Nigeria will also allow operators to offer different types of service to different groups over the same network in a better and more managed way.
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