As progress rolls on, we end up using technology that even a few years ago seemed too new and even a bit scary. 5G is one such example. By the end of 2022, 20% of all mobile traffic will be on 5G. How can you get on board cellular’s new high-speed data highway? Will my cell phone signal booster continue to work?

What is 5G?

5G stands for 5th generation mobile network. 1G was introduced in the 1980s and was purely for analog voice traffic. 2G came out in the early 1990s and offered the exciting new world of digital voice. Remember those Nokia phones with Snake, and whose batteries will outlive us all? Those were 2G. Revolutionary at the time, it was the start of commonplace mobile technology as we know it today. Then 3G brought us mobile data in the early 2000’s. With it came a slew of message apps like Blackberry messaging and mobile email. 4G followed in 2010, and now, over a decade later, we have 5G.

5G offers the speeds the we need to stream content with no interruptions. Think of 2G like a back country road. Not much traffic can flow along it, and definitely not at a decent speed. 3G offered a two lane highway, 4G six lanes, and 5G is twelve lanes. Data can move on it incredibly fast with reduced latency, opening up exciting possibilities.

5G C-Band

Although 5G is astonishingly fast, its signal is not very strong. 5G signal can be interrupted by buildings, mountains and trees. The farther away from a cell tower you get, the worse the issue. To counteract this, carriers have bought up chunks of what is called the C-Band.

The C-Band is the “goldilocks” of frequencies. Not too high, not too low. Higher frequencies (millimeter waves or Super Data Layer) are very fast, but not very strong, and lower frequencies (called Coverage Area) are strong, but don't carry much data. C-Band falls in between, and can carry 5G farther distances. It will be found in both rural and urban areas, whereas 5G millimeter wave can only be found in urban areas.

How will 5G affect you?

You likely won't even notice that you've switched over if you have a 5G enabled phone. Your phone will automatically use the best signal, be it 5G or 4G LTE. For now, 5G is mostly in urban centers. If you are outlying, you’re probably still 4G.

Voice calls are a different story. As yet, Voice over 5G is not supported by carriers, though they tout voice as an essential part of their packages. Voice over LTE (VoLTE) remains the main channel for talking to anyone, no matter where in the country you are. In other words: 5G is data only for now, and you still use 4G to make calls.

Of course, if you don't have a 5G enabled phone, you will need to get one in order to use the network. Many of the major networks such as Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon all have 5G in place already. In 2019, 10 million 5G connections were made. It is expected that by 2023 that number will increase to a whopping 1.01 billion. In the USA alone 5G is expected to be used by 186 million people, totalling 32% of mobile connections by 2023. However, most phones are actually not 5G capable yet, despite what many Americans believe.

What about Carrier 5G Migration?

Carriers have been building their 5G networks for years. A lot of C-Band infrastructure is already in place and just needs to be switched on, with more continuing to be built out. As more phones become 5G enabled, the older generation of networks will be. As it is, 3G no longer exists in America. A lot of this has to do with freeing up frequencies for 5G and other new technologies. There are only so many wavelengths to broadcast on. We don't want to dedicate them to obsolete tech. The rest of the world is following the same blueprint.

IoT devices don't need the super-fast speeds of the 5G network, and still operate mostly on 4G and 4G LTE. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, and like its name will be around for a while.

The Future of 5G is Bright

With reduced latency on the 5G network, its future is exciting. Latency is how long it takes for a data package to travel between devices. For example, how long it takes for an instruction to reach a drone from your phone. Some uses include remote surgery, autonomous vehicles, and agriculture. Imagine a fleet of unmanned harvesters responding to remote controllers via mobile app. 5G can also support many more devices at the same time.

Getting the Best out of The 5G Network

To make the most of the incredible speeds being offered on 5G, you need to have good signal. As mentioned, 5G signal is not always strong in many areas. Installing a signal booster and a good antenna is the best way to ensure that you stay connected. Signal obstructions can be killers, especially when they affect your business. If you are in an urban area you can get away with a decent signal booster kit that includes an antenna, but if you are rural, a stronger antenna is suggested.

We recommend these antennas:

The Long Ranger - Ultra High Gain Parabolic Antenna by Bolton Technical

The Crossbow 5G Antenna | Bolton Technical

We recommend these signal boosters for home:

Bolton Technical Victory Yagi/Panel Kit

Cel-Fi GO X Smart Signal Booster Kit

We recommend this signal booster for vehicles:

Bolton Technical Velocity Vehicle Kit

SignalBoosters.com is your go-to for the best range of cellular signal boosters, WiFi routers, range extenders and more. We specialize in custom made, consumer friendly kits, RF systems for cellular, public safety two-way radio, DAS, and WiFi. If you have any questions, or want to find out more about routers or signal boosters, don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-800-470-6777.

If you have any questions, or want to find out more about 5G, don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-800-470-6777.

Interested in Learning More? Check Out Our Cellular Info Hub / WiFi Info Hub