Fifth-generation wireless technology, commonly referred to as 5G, is the latest iteration of mobile network technology that succeeds the previous generation, 4G LTE. 5G technology aims to provide significant improvements in terms of data speed, capacity, latency, and connectivity for mobile and wireless communication systems.

Key features of 5G technology include:

Higher Data Rates: 5G networks offer much higher data transfer rates compared to previous generations. This enables faster download and upload speeds, making activities like streaming high-definition videos, online gaming, and downloading large files quicker and more efficient.

Low Latency: 5G significantly reduces communication latency, or the time it takes for data to travel between devices and the network. This is crucial for applications like real-time online gaming, remote surgery, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation.

Greater Capacity: 5G uses advanced technologies like Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) and beamforming to support a higher number of devices simultaneously connected to the network. This is essential as the number of connected devices, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, continues to increase.

Enhanced Connectivity: 5G networks offer more reliable and consistent connectivity even in densely populated areas or environments with a high number of devices competing for network resources.

Network Slicing: This feature allows network operators to divide a single physical network into multiple virtual networks, each customized for specific applications or services. This enables efficient resource allocation and prioritization for different use cases.

Improved Energy Efficiency: 5G technology includes mechanisms to optimize energy consumption, making it more energy-efficient than previous generations. This is important for extending the battery life of devices and reducing the environmental impact of network infrastructure.

Support for Diverse Use Cases: 5G is designed to accommodate a wide range of applications beyond traditional mobile communication, including smart cities, remote industrial control, virtual reality, augmented reality, and more.

How 5G actually works

In the preceding 4G system, personal devices were linked to a central, sizable cell tower responsible for transmitting data directly to the devices. The data exclusively traversed through this central tower prior to dissemination, and it operated at a frequency lower than that harnessed by the 5G technology.

The fundamental concept behind 5G revolves around the installation of diminutive ‘micro’ towers within localized zones, serving as intermediaries connecting your device with the primary tower. The primary tower forwards data to these micro towers using lower wavelengths, after which these micro towers promptly relay the data directly to your personal device utilizing higher wavelengths. Effectively, the micro towers serve as amplifiers that facilitate the use of briefer, higher frequencies during the data transmission process. This transformation culminates in amplified data transmission speeds and greater bandwidth capacity.

How does radiation work?

The term “radiation” carries a weighty connotation aimed at evoking fear, yet in truth, it pervades our environment extensively. It encompasses phenomena as diverse as the cosmic rays emitted by the sun to the faint presence of radioactive elements in our sustenance and potable water.

Radiation refers to the emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles as they propagate through space. There are various types of radiation, including electromagnetic radiation (such as visible light, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, and gamma rays) and particle radiation (such as alpha and beta particles). The behavior of radiation depends on its type, energy, and the medium through which it travels.

Radiation exhibits variability in its properties. Its levels and intensity are classified along the electromagnetic spectrum, a division that encompasses two distinct classifications: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

Ionizing radiation, encountered during air travel, X-ray scans, and exposure to tanning beds, carries the potential to harm your cellular DNA, either leading to cell demise or causing mutations that might contribute to the development of cancer.

Conversely, non-ionizing radiation lacks the strength to sever chemical bonds. Technologies like Wi-Fi and cell phones, operating within the microwave segment of the spectrum, fall under this category. To be deemed hazardous, radiation must possess ionizing qualities, a characteristic absent in 5G (as well as 4G and 3G).