How to treat 5G?

Ⅰ. Different Opinions on 5G Evaluation

From a marketing standpoint, "5G" is a fantastic name.

The two brief characters are easy to memorize and disseminate since they are concise and unambiguous. The general people can perceive that 5G is a step up from 4G and a more advanced communication technology at a look.

However, from a technological standpoint, the too simplistic phrase "5G" has resulted in a slew of undesirable consequences.

While it hides the technological complexity, it also hides people's proper grasp of the boundaries and internal structure of the system. To put it another way, everyone knows about 5G, but only a few individuals truly understand what it is and what it entails.

The public's hazy view of 5G has resulted in differing assessments of the technology. Some argue that 5G is all-powerful and will transform society. Others argue that 5G is a whole ruse and a fake desire.

Ⅱ. What is 5G?

What is 5G, exactly?

5G is a generic reference, a vast technology collection, and an integrated system, rather than a precisely defined actual thing. At this time, there are at least hundreds of 5G devices in use around the world. There are also tens of thousands of technologies known as 5G technologies. Each operator's 5G network takes on a unique design.

More crucially, some gadgets support both 5G and 4G networks. Some technologies have both 5G and 4G capabilities (even Wi-Fi technology). Some networks are 5G and 4G at the same time.

For example, NB-IoT is a truncated version of 4G LTE technology. As a result, it has evolved into a fifth-generation technology.

For another example, OFDMA and MIMO technologies are in use, as are 5G and Wi-Fi 6, as well as 4G.

In other words, there is no clear distinction between 5G and other forms of communication. In many circumstances, they are in a condition of "I am part of you, and you are part of me" development.

I am part of you, and you are part of me

Comparing 5G to existing communication technologies isn't very insightful. Each technology has its own set of traits, as well as its own set of applications. They are not all replacements for 5G. This is an extremely crucial point to grasp.

We all know that there hasn't been a breakthrough in communication theory. Electromagnetic waves are still the primary mode of communication today, and Shannon's formula holds true. This means that 5G's capabilities haven't changed significantly and can only be described as "limited enhancements."

Some may argue that, in comparison to 4G, 5G's performance metrics have vastly improved.

Comparison of 4G and 5G indicators

The indicators have indeed improved. However, not all of the increases in indicators are due to technology advancements; rather, they are due to resource tilt care (for example, bigger spectrum bandwidth division), standard process changes, and performance reallocation.

Speed, coverage capacity, number of connections, latency, capacity, mobility, energy consumption, cost, and other features are common communication technology evaluation indicators. Different indicators are used in different contexts.

In the case of virtual reality, 5G's energy efficiency is higher (lower power consumption per bit), but higher rates come at the expense of energy consumption, coverage, and cost. This is a compromised equilibrium.

It's also worth noting that many of the technical features of 5G aren't mutually exclusive. In some cases, Wi-Fi 6/6E, for example, may represent a danger to 5G.

Many of the benefits of 5G have been exaggerated. Many of 5G's flaws have also been purposefully hidden. The irrational promotion has led to users having unrealistic expectations for 5G, which is not conducive to the technology's healthy development.

What is 5G if 2G is a bicycle, 3G is a tractor, and 4G is a car?

Many online publications claim that 5G is a rocket. I believe that is way off the mark. 5G hasn't evolved into a rocket, an airplane, or even a high-speed train; it's still a car. It's simply that 5G has been renamed Cherokee, and the top speed has been raised, allowing you to climb difficult slopes, cross snow, and trickle down the creek.

Value Judgment of 5G

The current value of 5G is overstated and will decline, but it should gradually increase over time.

Ⅲ. The Future Evolution of 5G

The evolution of the various components of 5G is then examined in further detail.

Readers with a basic understanding of mobile communication networks are aware that there are three key components: the access network, the bearer network, and the core network.

The three major parts, in the eyes of laypeople, are communications. However, the three primary parts, in our opinion, are three completely different worlds.

5G is a set of communication technology standards that covers a wide range of characteristics of mobile communication networks, but not all of them.

The 5G standard has an entirely different penetration level than the other two key elements.

The essential portion of 5G is the access network, namely the wireless air interface technology 5G NR (New Radio) beneath the access network. It is also the part of the standard document with the longest length and most complex restrictions.

The 5G NR wireless air interface includes a precise description of each characteristic. Every signal or channel includes a detailed description as well.

I noted previously that definitions and boundaries are important. We may argue that 5G has defined definitions and bounds when it comes to the air interface.

The 5G specification documents also provide fairly precise specifications for the core network, including the role of the network element's name, as well as the signaling format and parameters between the network element and the network element. Although there are significant crossings between the 5G and 4G core networks (particularly IMS), their boundaries are still distinct.

Last but not least, consider the carrier network.

The bearer network differs significantly from the previous two. The bearer network's technical standards are set by a number of organizations, including IEEE, ITU-T, OIF, MSA, and others, rather than by 3GPP. The three major domestic operators have selected their own distinct approaches, with similarities and contrasts in their technologies.

As a result, the 5G bearer network is the least well-defined and borderless of the three (in other words, there is actually no recognized and unified 5G bearer network technology). Operators can call their technology whatever they like, and they're all termed 5G bearer networks.

Furthermore, the bearer network is not specifically designed for mobile communication. Mobile and fixed-line broadband communications share a substantial amount of bearer network (transmission network) equipment. It is not accurate to term it a 5G bearer network in general.

Personally, I believe that after 5G, the evolution of mobile communication technology will most likely continue in the form of 6G and 7G, which will iteratively develop the entire network.

The wireless air interface component may go through iterative evolution in the form of 6G NR and 7G NR on its own. The bearer network and core network will say their goodbyes to iterative evolution (network replacement) in favor of a growth evolution (repair, small replacement, cumulative upgrade).

Once a complete all-optical network is realized, the bearer network signifies the completion of the skeleton. There will be no batch equipment upgrades unless a revolutionary technology (to replace optical fiber) is developed.

In terms of capacity, the bearer network is being improved through the use of mature higher-speed optical module technology, cheaper costs, and batch replacement (400G800G1.2T......). It is also an intelligent operation and maintenance management procedure. AI is used to improve scheduling, and the network's main equipment will not be upgraded at any time.

In the core network, nothing has changed.

The 5G core network does not have any additional features than the 4G core network, but it does replace a cloud-based platform. Users will notice no difference in their experience, owing to the convenience of operator management and cost savings. The network elements with the added slicing feature are mostly used in industrial Internet scenarios like the Industrial Internet and the Internet of Vehicles. On the UPF side of the media, a more significant shift is taking place. Everyone is paying more attention to improving UPF's processing capacity in order to satisfy the needs of enormous data transmission and low latency.

The 5G core network will become even more muddled after cloudification. There is currently no discernible development path. Native intelligence and native security are the only things that come to mind. To put it another way, how can AI technology be integrated into core network equipment and how can the core network be made more secure? The need for intergenerational upgrade (total replacement and upgrade of all equipment) has yet to be seen in these two directions.

Except for the prospect of generational replacement in a somewhat comprehensive technology package such as the wireless air interface, everyone realizes that generational replacement of the bearer network and core network is nearly impossible. Operators cannot afford intergenerational replacement because it is too costly. Every five to ten years, a whole set of equipment must be changed. Who has the financial means to do so?

As a result, there may be no more 6G bearer and core networks by 6G. By adding terahertz, super surface, and AI QAM, only 6G wireless technology (6G NR?) will continue to increase air interface capabilities.

I wouldn't hold your breath for anything from 6G. It's still an automobile, not a rocket, in my opinion.

Ⅳ. Concluding Remarks

The ass decides the head, as the saying goes. In fact, the mouth is determined by the ass.

What you hear and see in a fast-paced environment is not always the reality. Many individuals believe that you should focus on his identity and the origin of your passion. It's either naive or false to brag about 5G's technological advancements.

The whole communications sector has made every effort to make 5G a reality. The shameful state of 5G also shows the communications industry's poor future prospects. On the one hand, we are hungry for advances in fundamental theories. On the other side, we hope to uncover new needs, identify new hotspots, and propel the sector to new heights of profitability.

On this particular day, how long will we have to wait?