Will 5G internet replace Broadband and fibre Optic Internet by 2030?

What is 5G internet?

5G is nothing but the fifth generation of mobile networking. After 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G networks, 5G is a wireless network created to connect objects, individuals, and devices. Going through the pages of history, let’s look at the innovation that 5G brings to the table.

1G internet speed — 2.4kbps

2G internet speed — 64kbps

3G internet speed — 144kbps

4G internet speed — 100mbps — 1Gbps

5G will provide astounding benefits like never before. What are they?

• Considerable speed upgrades
• Low latency
• Enhanced capacity
• Increased bandwidth
• More connected devices
• Network slicing

How does 5G match up to 4G or fibre-optic internet speed?

5G is expected to deliver 20 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) peak data rates and 100+ Megabits-per-second (Mbps) average data rates. 5g vs fibre optic speed — It would seem like a joke if we compare future 5G speed and present fibre-optic speeds. Presently, the fastest speed that a fibre optic connection can achieve is 1000 Mbps (1Gbps) which is nowhere near what a 5G connection can deliver.

As per a report published by Ericsson, 5G internet will cover 40% of the world by 2024 and manage at least 25% of all mobile traffic. These mind-blowing benefits don’t come cheap. Over $4.2 billion will be spent on 5G wireless infrastructure.

5G has not hit global markets yet, but telecommunication and internet providers heavily invest in 5G infrastructure to meet future demands. Nonetheless, it brings us to the million-dollar question, which is — Will 5G internet replace broadband and fibre optic internet by 2030? We will discuss all that and more in the sections below.

Is 5G internet wireless?

When we think of 5G internet, we imagine an exclusively wireless internet solution which is far from the truth. In reality, what a 5G broadband internet connection does is that it replaces the physical last-mile connection with a wireless last-mile connection. In the future, the overwhelming majority of the 5G network will stay connected to the same fibre-optic connection as conventional broadband.

Last-mile congestion

5G internet will be supplied to various locations through fibre-optic cables using a large pipe/duct but ensuring that the service reaches individual connections will be tough. Many might ask, why would this process be such a big challenge? There is a strong reason for it.

Think of delivering the internet to individual homes or businesses as a journey. A car takes the highway and then navigates through the inner city roads to reach a specific destination.

Driving through interstate roads is relatively straightforward because of fewer obstacles, but driving through streets and lanes reduces speed. The same concept applies to fibre optic technology too.

Thanks to fibre optic technology. A network may have higher transmission speeds, but the data needs to clear countless barriers before reaching the final destination. In many cases, the culprits are often lower bandwidth and poor throughputs.

The time duration required for a data packet to travel from one network point to another is latency. The higher the latency, the poorer the performance.

Combating the last mile clogging using fibre-optic wires can be expensive for many providers. Hence, they utilise the already existing infrastructure, i.e., copper connections. They use the DSL and old cables and employ modern techniques like pair-bonding to achieve higher speeds.

Mobile internet, IoT, and wireless devices have gained immense popularity in the last few years, raising the need for a wide-ranging internet signal. Cellphones, portable telephones, laptops, tablets, and many other digital devices look for a Wifi network device or mobile transmission tower over radio technology, aka device-driven internet.

What determines the speed, quality, and price of this connection? — the last mile, cable quality, the distance between the property and exchange location.

The further the property is from the exchange location, the lower the internet speed. If the 5G wireless air interface is powerful enough, it will eliminate the need to run cables to your property.

Is 5G internet fast?

Implementation of 5G internet will take time; it is taking baby steps at the moment. Some countries have already implemented 5G internet with solid support from their governments.

South Korea has already implemented 5G in 85 cities.

Even China has made significant progress in this regard by planning to cover almost 300 cities. America is making preparations to roll out 5G, and Europe will take more time.

Where does that leave other countries? What about South East Asia, Africa, South America, or fibre optics in the Cayman Islands? Is 5G feasible for rural locations and far away places?

As discussed earlier, the greater the distance from the 5G cell towers, the more remote or less populated areas will not access speedy internet.

The potency of 5G internet is not the question here. It is the other variables that impact the quality and speed of the internet. As per the projections and test studies, 5G connections can yield up to 50 Gbit/s.

In real-life situations, the maximum speed may not be this high all the time. Realistically, the speed is between 5 Gbits/s and 30 Gbits/s, with the service provider’s critical factor.

Right now, fibre optic internet providers offer speeds up to 1000 Mbits/s. At the same time, tests are being conducted with speeds reaching 10Gbit on fibre and Coax with DOCSIS 3.1. Most home users rarely use above 1Gbit. Only hardcore gamers, call centres, trading centres, service companies, financial institutions, etc., require lighting fast internet speeds.

Firstly, the 3.5 GHz frequency will be auctioned in 2022, followed by the 26 GHz frequency. When we touch 3.5 GHz and higher speeds, we can surpass fibre optic internet’s speeds. The path to achieving this goal is having one fibre optic connection at the base station plus the necessary 5G infrastructure.

To put it in simpler terms, providers must deploy small cell deployments over telescopic masts and towers, antenna masts, and tall buildings to improve connectivity.

5G installation is cost-effective compared to fibre-optic internet

5G fixed wireless access, and 5G broadband have the upper hand over fibre optic internet, not just in terms of speed but also in installation costs. Unlike traditional installation, engineers don’t have to carry out excruciating procedures to connect the property, and the cable, neither do they have to install special cabling on the ground. Thus the labour cost plus cost of installation comes out to be markedly cheaper than fibre optic technology.

The only thing the installers need to keep in mind is that the 5G antennas need to be correctly connected to the fibre-optic network. Building a 5G network will be half as cheap as a fibre-optic network. Fast internet speeds combined with plug-n-play solutions will be the highlights of 5G technology. Eventually, you can expect it to be a more popular alternative to other internet connections.

Due to the simple plug-n-play feature, home/office installation won’t be a problem either. A quick installation guide video on the internet will suffice. To better understand the cost difference between 4G and 5G internet, we present to you some figures. The average cost of 1GB of data on 4G internet is expected to be approximately $17 compared to $13 on 5G. Going by predictions and reports, you can save over $280/year with 5G internet.

Apart from the savings, it is also expected to bring in plenty of social and economic benefits. As per a study, 5G will generate $13.2 trillion in global economic value while generating over 22.3 million jobs. Most importantly, providers don’t have to worry about recovering installation costs because there won’t be any. They can make a profit with shorter contracts as well.

5G Internet — Points that Raise Concerns

Despite the advancement in technology, the arrival of 4G and now 5G internet, fibre optic broadband remains a preferred option. What is the reason for it? The three main reasons for fibre optic broadband’s widespread acclaim are — low maintenance costs, minimal energy consumption, and reasonable cost. Once the cables have been laid out, the maintenance costs are next to zero.

Compare this to the cost of installing transmission towers for 5G broadband; it is five times higher than installing fibre optic cables. These transmission towers require maintenance in the form of regular cleaning, plus they need to be protected against extreme weather.

As per a Deloitte study, deploying fibre optic cabling to enable a 5G network will incur a cost of approximately $130 to $150 billion.

Still, 5G broadband is a fascinating and affordable investment for operators because even though it is pricey from a network management standpoint, the return on investment is significantly higher. For instance, the infrastructure used for 5G broadband is the same as cellular telephony. This is just one example, 5G broadband has a lot more to offer.

Indoor coverage

5G relies on radio access technology to send out high-frequency waves. Radio technology operates on two frequency ranges.

• FR1 — Operates below 6 GHz
• FR2 — Operates above 24 GHz

With FR2, there is another sub-frequency range that is above 50 GHz.

The above frequencies have a shorter range, but the internet speeds are pretty impressive. On the downside, these short waves can be blocked easily. Trees and tall structures can prove to be annoying obstacles.

Modern buildings and construction schemes focus on sustainability, and specific materials are chosen to keep the property insulated during winters and cooler in summers. These buildings also pose additional challenges and may prevent waves from reaching subscribers.

As seen with 4G technology, their coverage and penetration are less effective in newly constructed properties. How will 5G technology address the problem? Will it suffer the same setbacks as 4G? Only time will tell. As time passes, technology will evolve and improve the quality of life. An outdoor antenna sounds like a good fix to solve the coverage problem.

Can 5G pose health and other hazards?

Many myths are floating around the world, especially after the pandemic. Some of these myths are as below.

• Covid-19 vaccines contain 5G microchips.
• 5G is being introduced to whitewash the Covid-19 pandemic.
• 5G technology can cause migraines, dizziness, and headaches.
• 5G consumes more energy than earlier technologies.
• 5G technology can cause data breaches.
• 5G technology causes cancer.
• 5G can be weaponised.
• 5G will replace 4G and force people to buy new phones.
• 5G technology will kill birds and animals.
• 5G mobile networks will spread the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
• 5G emits radiation that will considerably weaken the immune system.

All of the claims mentioned above are baseless, and there are no scientific studies that prove the authenticity of the same. Deloitte has released a new report titled Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Predictions 2021.

As per the findings of this report, it is highly doubtful that radiation from 5G towers or cell phones will affect people’s health. This includes 5G users, cell phone users (of any generation), and people close to a cell phone network but not operating a cellular phone.

To elaborate further, the report also debunked myths about 5G technology causing cancer, spreading the Covid-19 virus, and 5G radiation weakening the immune system. Also, there is conclusive evidence to provide that mobile radiation does not cause any health hazards. Despite such evidence, about 10–20 percent of people in developed countries still believe that 5G will cause significant harm to public health.

Does 5G generate radiation? Yes, it does but under safe levels, plus it is not radioactive radiation. Currently, the frequencies within which 5G stations and 5G phones operate are performing under acceptable parameters. Also, this pattern will continue as 5G technology evolves, extending up to 20 years or more.

Like 5G, even the mobile technologies before it were severely criticised for their potential health risks. But why only mobile technologies? Even wireless technologies like Wifi, Bluetooth, and others, got a lot of flak for emitting radio waves.

Numerous armchair experts emerge with ridiculous theories and concerns whenever a new technology is launched or about to be introduced. This phenomenon is not recent. Even television sets were said to cause health problems in people in the late 1920s and 1930s, which turned out to be untrue.

The Deloitte report further states that radiation emitted by 5G devices, towers, and other related technology is far lower than the radiation emitted by light bulbs, television, radio towers, or even sunlight on a cloudy day.

Presently, the power transmitted by the current generation of cell phones and the expected future can touch 2 watts, give or take a few decimals, depending on the phone’s age. Most cell phones emit radiation between 0.35 and 1.59 watts per kilogram.

If we look at citizen band radios, they emit radiation up to 4 watts, and they have been in use since 1945. Talking about cell phones, a base station power level lowers as it gets further away from the transmitter.

The Deloitte report (as mentioned above) draws attention to the fact that a person who is 100 meters away from a 5G antenna situated at the height of 30 meters won’t absorb more than one microwatt of power.

Will 5G redefine the internet experience?

5G technology has been developed to be more efficient than its predecessors, and there is no doubt about it. 5G base stations can be switched to sleep mode when there are no active users. No such feature is available with 4G technology.

With time, 5G internet will be a thousand times faster than 4G internet. At present, 4G LTE networks provide speeds of around 12.5 MB/s.

However, due to bandwidth constraints and other factors, the actual download speed is approximately 1.87 MB/s. The speed is still enough to download a 3GB file in less than 30 minutes.

The arrival of 5G technology is expected to deliver speeds as high as 2.5MB/s, and some companies claim to outdo these speeds. Assuming that external factors like network issues may deter providers from providing lightning-fast speeds, as stated above, the same 3GB file will take only 35 seconds to download. Imagine what companies can achieve after further research and innovation.

An average 5G network can support millions of devices per square mile, and the latency will range between 1–4 milliseconds. 4G networks have latency rates between 500–1000 milliseconds. Going by the above figures, we can safely conclude that 5G internet will revolutionise our online experience.

Million Dollar Question — Will 5G replace fibre optic internet?

The answer is a resounding NO. 5G internet is an excellent alternative for the last mile, with faster internet speeds. Fibre will play an integral role in connecting the antennas. 5G won’t likely achieve the same speeds as fibre optic internet in the next five years.

Only when the speeds exceed 3500 MHz and higher can we expect performance superior to fibre-optic internet. Fibre is here to stay even after 5G is implemented throughout the globe.

We have always taken pride in providing the best services to our customers. Currently, we provide the fastest home internet in Cayman; we will take it up a notch after 5G is introduced. Wait and watch.