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Hello everyone! We’re excited to be back with a new blog update. This time, we’re diving into 5G—what it is, the frequencies and bandwidth it operates on, how it communicates, and the system components that make it work. We hope you find this post helpful and informative. Let’s get started!
What is 5G?
- The Transition of Mobile Communication Systems
Mobile communication systems have been evolving to improve communication efficiency with the times, transitioning to new generations approximately every 10 years.
1st Generation (1G): Communication using analog modulation based on standards such as AMPS (USA) and TACS (Europe). Voice communication only.
2nd Generation (2G): Transition from analog to digital, improving radio spectrum efficiency. Globally, GSM was introduced, while in Japan, a standard called PDC was implemented. Packet communication services like i-mode and Ezweb were launched.
3rd Generation (3G): Introduction of W-CDMA, a global standard known as 3GPP. Further improved radio spectrum efficiency compared to 2G.
4th Generation (4G): LTE (Long Term Evolution) was introduced as an evolved communication standard from 3G. Improved radio spectrum efficiency through OFDMA technology.
5th Generation (5G): Further evolution of LTE, introducing a standard called NR (New Radio). Utilized not only for traditional voice and data communication but also in fields such as IoT and autonomous driving.
- Features of 5G
High Speed and Large Capacity
- Communication speeds of 10-20 Gbps in downlink.
- Ability to smoothly stream high-quality video such as 4K and 8K.
Ultra-Low Latency
- Minimal delay enables real-time communication
- Can be utilized in fields like remote robot control and autonomous driving.
Massive Simultaneous Connections
- Capable of connecting a large number of devices simultaneously
- IoT devices can also connect to the network, not just smartphones.
- Enables production efficiency improvements using IoT devices in various fields such as logistics, agriculture, and construction.
- Comparison of Wi-Fi/LTE/5G
- No wireless station license is required.
- Narrow coverage (communication range).
- Uses 2.4GHz/5GHz frequencies shared by various devices, which can lead to interference and reduced communication stability.
LTE (4G) Characteristics
- Requires a wireless station license.
- Wide coverage area.
- Uses exclusively licensed frequencies, ensuring communication stability.
5G Characteristics
- Narrower coverage compared to LTE, but significantly faster communication speeds than Wi-Fi and LTE.
- Applications include IoT, telemedicine, autonomous driving, and more.
- 5G Operation Methods (SA and NSA)
5G has two operation methods: Standalone (SA) and Non-standalone (NSA).
Standalone (SA) Method:
In the SA method, both the base stations and the core network are operated entirely on 5G systems. This approach represents a full implementation of 5G technology across the entire network infrastructure.
Non-standalone (NSA) Method:
The NSA method operates with a 4G core network while combining 4G and 5G systems for the base stations. This hybrid approach allows for a gradual transition to 5G while leveraging existing 4G infrastructure.
JRC's 5G System:
JRC operates its 5G system using the SA (Standalone) method. This means both the base stations and core network use 5G technology.
By adopting SA, JRC fully utilizes 5G capabilities, which can provide improved performance and support for new 5G features.
Frequencies and Bandwidth Used in 5G
The frequencies used in 5G are categorized into millimeter wave (28GHz band) and Sub6 (3.7GHz band/4.5GHz band).
The maximum bandwidth per channel is 400MHz for millimeter wave and 100MHz for Sub6.
In 5G, frequency band numbers are denoted with an "n" prefix.
5G Communication Method
TDD and FDD
There are two communication methods in wireless communication: TDD (Time Division Duplex) and FDD (Frequency Division Duplex). 5G communication uses the TDD method.
TDD FDD
Synchronous and Semi-Synchronous Methods
TDD communication has two methods: synchronous and semi-synchronous.
Synchronous Method:
This method aligns the timing of uplink and downlink communications between base stations.
It's used in scenarios where downlink communication is prioritized, such as downloading large amounts of data like high-quality videos.
Semi-Synchronous Method:
This method allocates a portion of the time typically used for downlink communication to uplink communication, thereby increasing the proportion of uplink communication.
It's used in scenarios where uplink communication is prioritized, such as collecting sensor data from IoT devices.
5G System Equipment Configuration and Roles
The 5G network primarily consists of three main components: UE (User Equipment: terminal devices), gNB (gNodeB: base stations, gNB is composed of RU (Radio Unit) and BBU (Base Band Unit)), 5GC (5G Core: core network).
The part where UE and gNB directly exchange radio waves is called RAN (Radio Access Network). The part that handles terminal connection processing and data routing is called CN (Core Network).
UE
User Equipment (UE) is used by end-users to communicate with the 5G network.
When communicating, it sends and receives wireless signals (control signals, voice, images, and other data) using antennas to connect with nearby base stations.
Examples of UE include: Smartphones, Tablet devices, CPE (Customer Premises Equipment)
gNodeB
The base station (gNodeB) consists of two main parts:
- Radio Unit (RU)
- Base Band Unit (BBU), which is further divided into:
- Distributed Unit (DU)
- Central Unit (CU)
5GC (5G Core)
The 5GC primarily consists of the following components:
AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function)
- Manages UE location information
- Controls packet communication routes
- Handles user authentication
SMF (Session Management Function)
- Manages IP address allocation to UEs
- Selects and controls UPF
- UDM (Unified Data Management)
- Stores user subscription information
- Stores authentication information
UPF (User Plane Function)
- Handles routing of user packets
- Performs packet forwarding functions