Surpassing all the initial challenges, 5G towers in Australia are now being installed and the technology is gradually gaining ground across the country.
5G is short for ‘fifth generation’, and a more responsive and efficient iteration of cellular technology is still rising. Manufacturers of the technology are working day in and day out to provide the amazing benefits of 5G to as many users as possible during its initial stage.
Since its successful launch, the telecommunications industry has come up with solutions to expand 5G coverage and reach towns and cities all across Australia.
How 5G works
5G has amazing potential. Technology enthusiasts have already made tremendous noise about its low latency and high-speed (20 Gbps), not to mention its huge capacity.
Wireless networks rely on cell sites which are divided into sectors that use radio waves to send data. The present 4G networks has set up a solid foundation of network infrastructure that eases the rollout of the 5G networks.
4G relies on large high-power cells for transmitting signals. However, as operators reach further 5G small cell coverage, this will benefit and improve the networks. You’ll notice two significant improvements with the spread of 5G small cell networks:
- Faster internet speed with low latency – As mentioned above, 5G can reach transmission speeds of up to 20 Gbps, which means fast, accurate response times from the network.
- Improved signal coverage – Small cells are lower powered solutions compared to larger, higher powered cells. They can’t increase or beat the coverage of higher power cells; however, they can help improve coverage in niche or tactical geographic areas.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is still ongoing development around the millimetre spectrum 5G uses. For example, 5G millimetre-wave antennas are being installed to high traffic user areas to help improve capacity and data user experience.
If you want to check Vodafone’s 5G coverage, you can view an up-to-date 5G map online.
The Speed of 5G
5G can open the doors for fast speeds. For instance, you can stream a YouTube video in 1080p quality on a 5G network with little buffering.
The potential of a 5G network is to reach up to 1,000 megabits per second and even up to 2.1 gigabits per second. However, the speed will depend on how far away the 5G node is located from your point of use. You can notice a boost in the data speed especially if you are outdoors and have no obstructions.
The Benefits of 5G
There are many benefits of 5G, including the following:
- You get a low latency of 1 ms, so there’s almost no discernible lag.
- The 5G network uses higher frequencies. Higher frequencies mean increased speed and capacity.
- The data rates are higher, resulting in newer technology options in 5G, such as real-time virtual reality streaming and 4K streaming.
- Based on the localities, there is a high potential to bifurcate 5G uses in terms of low band, mid-band, and high band frequencies.
With 5G towers being rapidly installed across Australia, we will begin to see improved user experience and network quality in Australia.
Vodafone 5G is now rolling out in selected areas of major Australian cities. For more information about 5G, head to our support page.