The future of 5G wireless technology: speed and security

It’s called the 5th generation of wireless technology and many consumers have good reason to be excited about the 5G revolution.

5G technology will allow devices to download information much faster than current 4G and LTE networks. Aside from smartphones, there is a buzz about its integration with other technologies.

University of Houston electrical and computer engineering professor Dr Stuart Long said, “Almost anything you need that needs some sort of quick response to be able to transfer data, like a self-driving car. or something like that, is going to benefit from that kind of technology. “

There are also discussions on improving communications with electronics, such as advanced security cameras, drones; even gamers will be able to enjoy console-quality multiplayer games on the go.

If you’re a movie buff, imagine streaming 4K seamlessly.

This technology will require a whole new infrastructure.

Faisal Akkawi, professor of information systems programs at Northwestern University, said, “4G is measured in kilometers, you can be up to 10 miles from the cell tower and you will still be able to communicate. 5G only gives you about a thousand feet at most. , which means you should see a cell phone tower on a street on all the other light poles. “

Lightning-fast speeds and downloads that previously took minutes will take seconds.

Some vendors even promise almost real-time augmented reality responses. While all of this sounds good, there are some who are concerned about safety. The issues arise around who builds the technology and what potential information they can acquire.

Some security experts are concerned if we allow a foreign country to enter and build a communications infrastructure, it could become a national security issue down the road.

Maurice Dawson of the Institute for Cyber ​​Security & Education in Illinois says data is the new currency. He added: “If someone controls the technology, they build it, they could commit hardware exploits, they have built vulnerabilities into the hardware.”

While there have been claims that a backdoor does not exist, that does not mean that it could be created in the future. Right now, there are four major companies producing 5G infrastructure, none of which are American.

Here are the statements we have received about 5G from wireless service providers:

VERIZON

We will launch in 2019, the exact time will come later.

Customers will need a 5G compatible smartphone. At the beginning of April, we activated our 5G Ultra Wideband network in certain areas of Chicago and Minneapolis accessible with the 5G motorcycle mod. Starting April 25, customers were able to pre-order Samsung’s first 5G smartphone in the US – the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G – available exclusively on Verizon for a limited time.

We will also be offering other 5G smartphones and devices this year, including the LG V50 ThinQ 5G and the Inseego 5G mobile hotspot.

Verizon takes the health and safety of our employees and customers, and all residents of the communities we serve, very seriously.

All Verizon facilities, including the small cells that Verizon deploys to provide 5G service, are required to comply with FCC safety standards.

Our professional association, CTIA, provided information on this topic:

• Experts agree wireless devices have not been shown to pose a risk to public health
• Cell phone towers operate within safe limits
• FCC regulations protect health and safety
• New 5G networks emit less RF energy

Network security and customer privacy are very important to us and always have been. We have very sophisticated measures in place to maintain this security and privacy, and we will maintain the same level of security and privacy on our 5G network that our customers expect from us on our 4G network. We do not comment on our security practices for obvious reasons.

5G is a transformational change from 4G. 5G will provide faster data speeds and carry a massive amount of data for a large number of concurrent users. So users in high density areas – like airports, stadiums or urban areas – can still take advantage of the fast speeds and low latency of 5G service. The latency could possibly be less than 10 milliseconds. Several times faster than the blink of an eye.

With 5G, customers can enjoy real-time experiences with lower latency, higher capacity, and higher throughput.

Experiences like:

• Instant View: Stream 4K movies with virtually no buffering
• True Chat: HD video chat with near zero offset
• Responsive play: Console-quality multiplayer games you can play on the go
• Flash Upload: Downloads that previously took a few minutes now only take a few seconds
• Real Response: Augmented reality that responds in near real time

AT&T

T Mobile

T-Mobile will launch 5G when compatible smartphones are available and ready for our customers. We plan to have 5G nationwide in 2020. And if regulators approve the merger with Sprint, the new T-Mobile will provide a supercharged 5G network with national average speeds 15 times faster than today!

We haven’t announced a schedule for Houston, but the city – and the entire Gulf region – is extremely important to us as we develop 5G.

Customers will need a 5G-capable smartphone, and we won’t launch 5G until there are devices ready to use.

Customers can use 5G with the same confidence that they use 4G services.

Our CEO and CTO blogged a lot about it on www.t-mobile.com/news.