4 ms·

5G Underwhelms in Its First Big Test

25 points by harambae 7y ago

Aaron_Putnam 7y ago
5G (and all the other network technologies) isn't designed for consumers, its designed for mobile network operators: to squeeze as much efficiency out of their limited spectrum as possible, in an environment of greater data demand from more devices. Its also probably the end of the road, in terms of physics.
taurath 7y ago
It’s incremental - the idea that there’ll be significant new industries because we can now do 4k60fps video over cell is not yet proven. Mostly just that people will continue to stop using cable and land lines for entertainment.
sandworm101 7y ago
What did people expect? Unless you have an antenna literally pointing in every window of your apartment, reliable 5G ends at the first external wall. It is borderline line-of-sight. Middle of Time Square? Sure. Inside a stadium watching the Olympics? It will work there too. In the parking structure under that stadium? No.
- ksec 7y ago
  What you are referring to is mmWave part of the 5G. Which is what media hyped about. Reality is 5G is many things, and it will improve once there are more mobile phone supporting it. On one hand I think most of the public are far too hyped with 5G. On the other hand you have people who dont fully understand 5G saying 5G is absolutely useless. Sometimes I wonder how should one report these sort of news, if you go into too much details most people dont want to understand, but if you mention all the pros without the cons you will left reader not fully informed.
  - zamadatix 7y ago
    It's easy to report: talk about what stuff is actually being implemented in the next 6 months. The problem is you won't get as many people to read your article because what 5G could do in some places in 5 years if you believe the carrier press releases sounds a lot more fantastic than what it actually means for people now. The same thing happened with "4G" (which never became the actual 4G standardized in 2009).
    - ksec 7y ago
      It is a Chicken and Egg problem. Lots of the basic 5G infrastructure should be in places when they were testing Massive MIMO in 3GPP R13 /14. As far as I am aware ( not well versed in the US situation ), there were no new Sub 6Ghz Spectrum for 5G, so unless you are T-Mobile which refarm the whole 600Mhz for 5G, you are stuck with Refarming part of your 4G Spectrum at the expenses of current 4G users and capacity. >The problem is you won't get as many people to read your article I guess that is the biggest problem of all.
foxyv 7y ago
4G was absolute garbage when it first came out. It was VERY spotty and would die randomly. I would reserve judgement for now. I'm hoping that honestly good, wireless home internet will be the result of this though.
- sandworm101 7y ago
  Glad you have 4G. We are still waiting. Less than half the area of my province/state (BC) has any cell coverage. I live 5km from an international airport, but at this rate 5G won't be at my house for a decade or more.
- taurath 7y ago
  4g is still spotty even near metro areas for many carriers. 5g just means they get to serve more people with same equipment. It’s a cost cutting thing I think more than anything.
xt00 7y ago
The main benefit of 5G is for the cell carriers. With more spectrum available and various channels usable in a more efficient way they can provide more total bandwidth if they want to. Seems likely they will just slowly inch up the speeds in a game of chicken with the various carriers. Of course they will whitelist speedtest.net. :)

25 points by harambae 7y ago

5G (and all the other network technologies) isn't designed for consumers, its designed for mobile network operators: to squeeze as much efficiency out of their limited spectrum as possible, in an environment of greater data demand from more devices. Its also probably the end of the road, in terms of physics.

taurath 7y ago

It’s incremental - the idea that there’ll be significant new industries because we can now do 4k60fps video over cell is not yet proven. Mostly just that people will continue to stop using cable and land lines for entertainment.

sandworm101 7y ago

What did people expect? Unless you have an antenna literally pointing in every window of your apartment, reliable 5G ends at the first external wall. It is borderline line-of-sight. Middle of Time Square? Sure. Inside a stadium watching the Olympics? It will work there too. In the parking structure under that stadium? No.

ksec 7y ago
What you are referring to is mmWave part of the 5G. Which is what media hyped about. Reality is 5G is many things, and it will improve once there are more mobile phone supporting it. On one hand I think most of the public are far too hyped with 5G. On the other hand you have people who dont fully understand 5G saying 5G is absolutely useless. Sometimes I wonder how should one report these sort of news, if you go into too much details most people dont want to understand, but if you mention all the pros without the cons you will left reader not fully informed.
- zamadatix 7y ago
  It's easy to report: talk about what stuff is actually being implemented in the next 6 months. The problem is you won't get as many people to read your article because what 5G could do in some places in 5 years if you believe the carrier press releases sounds a lot more fantastic than what it actually means for people now. The same thing happened with "4G" (which never became the actual 4G standardized in 2009).
  - ksec 7y ago
    It is a Chicken and Egg problem. Lots of the basic 5G infrastructure should be in places when they were testing Massive MIMO in 3GPP R13 /14. As far as I am aware ( not well versed in the US situation ), there were no new Sub 6Ghz Spectrum for 5G, so unless you are T-Mobile which refarm the whole 600Mhz for 5G, you are stuck with Refarming part of your 4G Spectrum at the expenses of current 4G users and capacity. >The problem is you won't get as many people to read your article I guess that is the biggest problem of all.

foxyv 7y ago

4G was absolute garbage when it first came out. It was VERY spotty and would die randomly. I would reserve judgement for now. I'm hoping that honestly good, wireless home internet will be the result of this though.

sandworm101 7y ago
Glad you have 4G. We are still waiting. Less than half the area of my province/state (BC) has any cell coverage. I live 5km from an international airport, but at this rate 5G won't be at my house for a decade or more.
taurath 7y ago
4g is still spotty even near metro areas for many carriers. 5g just means they get to serve more people with same equipment. It’s a cost cutting thing I think more than anything.

xt00 7y ago

The main benefit of 5G is for the cell carriers. With more spectrum available and various channels usable in a more efficient way they can provide more total bandwidth if they want to. Seems likely they will just slowly inch up the speeds in a game of chicken with the various carriers. Of course they will whitelist speedtest.net. :)