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Why not all 5G networks are the same

5G technology is increasingly present in our daily lives. Coverage increases, there are more compatible devices and also operators that offer this feature in their rates. It is something that provides greater speed, less latency and better quality of the signal to navigate from the mobile. Now, are they all 5G networks the same? In this article we will show the different types.

Not all 5G networks are the same

Something fundamental in 5G networks is their velocity. The theoretical maximum we can reach is 10 Gbps. This is achieved thanks to millimeter waves but it is not the only thing that is part of this type of network. We must also name the low and mid band spectra. These three types are going to be essential for the connection to work well, since the circumstances are not always the same.

Millimeter waves or mmWave

The first type, the first spectrum, is what is known as millimeter waves or mmWave. It operates above the 24 GHz frequency. This allows for ultra-fast data transfer. It is what will allow us to reach the maximum possible speed when connecting to a 5G network.

However it has its limitations, logically. The problem is that millimeter waves are very sensitive to obstacles. This means that it can only cover a very small area. Simply a building, the roof of a car or any obstacle that stands between the signal and the device will cause the quality and speed to decrease.

If we only connected via millimeter waves, we would need mmWave towers everywhere. We would have to cover a large area to be able to connect without cuts. This, logically, would have a very large cost for the operators.

middle band

The second spectrum is the midband, which is also known as Under-6. In this case, it works at frequencies between 1 and 6 GHz. It does not offer a speed as high as mmWave, but it is more than decent. In addition, it will allow you to go through walls without too much difficulty, making it ideal for improving coverage and covering a larger area.

This spectrum will allow to cover an area that the previous type could not. Improves coverage, although at the expense of speed. Of course, it continues to offer very good results to be able to connect to 5G.

Low band

Finally, the third type is what is known as low band. Works below 1GHz, same as 2G. Thanks to the low-frequency waves, it is capable of a long range and can pass through walls and walls without any problems. It will allow us to connect in situations where the previous two types are going to have problems.

Nevertheless, the negative point is the speed. It does not offer as high a speed with the medium band and much less as millimeter waves. Under normal circumstances your phone will never connect to the low band. However, there is the option in case it is necessary.

Yes, it can be used by certain Internet of Things devices that do not require high speed. In this way they will be able to connect without worrying too much about the speed and be able to have coverage almost anywhere.

In short, as you have seen, 5G is not a single type of network. It is made up of three different spectra, with their own characteristics in terms of coverage capacity and also speed.

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