5G Technology: Opportunities and Challenges
Nafisa Abdurrahman Umar
Nile University of Nigeria
Abuja
h.nafisa.umar@gmail.com
Abstract: Since the advent of 2G in the 1990s, there have been incremental developments in the frameworks which define
the communication of mobile networks. 3G, and then 4G, became the new standards for network communication between
mobile devices. As technology continues to progress at unprecedented rates, a new standard has been developed: the fifth
generation, or 5G. Developed due to (accurate) predictions of the exponential increase in the connectivity and proliferation
of mobile devices in the future, 5G is a revolutionary standard with such high frequencies that it requires new
infrastructure. With the development of technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, 5G is needed
now more than ever before. This paper seeks to explain in simple terms, what 5G is, what makes it different from its
predecessors, the opportunities it presents to Nigeria and the world at large, and certain challenges in harnessing those
opportunities.
Keywords: 5G, MIMO, mm-Wave, IoT, AI.
I. INTRODUCTION
Collectively, they spell exciting opportunities for the
world of technology.
5G is the latest network standard that has been
developed. Network standards define how mobile
devices that belong in a mobile generation
communicate with one another. To gain an in-depth
understanding of 5G, one must first understand
certain concepts related to the 5G network. These
concepts are mm-Wave mobile communications,
massive MIMO communication and network
densification.
A. Interactive Technologies
Networks communicate by sending signals in the
form of electromagnetic waves. These waves are
oscillatory in nature and have two very important
properties: frequency and wavelength. Frequency is
measured in Hertz(Hz) and means the number of
waves that pass a point per second while the
wavelength is the distance between the top of a wave
to the top of the next wave. 5G can operate at very
high frequencies(up to 30GHz in comparison to 4G’s
8GHz) and because frequency is inversely
proportional to wavelength, very small wavelengths
known as millimeter waves or mm-Waves for short.
B. The Internet of Things (IoT)
The mm-Wave supports the presence of individually
controlled antennae in a geographic location(cell)
that surpass the number of active users there at a
time. This is known as Massive Multiple Input
Multiple Output (MIMO) and allows the exchange of
a robust amount of data in multiple parallel streams.
MIMO results in network densification where access
nodes surpass user equipment. Network densification
results in a system that can handle a huge number of
interconnected devices and their traffic.
These concepts may collectively be called “5G
Enablers'' and are at the very heart of 5G.
II. OPPORTUNITIES
With 5G’s speed and efficiency, the world of
interactive
technologies
will
see
massive
improvements. Augmented Reality(AR) and Virtual
Reality(VR), which both help bridge the gap between
the physical and digital worlds, require 5G’s ability
to transmit huge amounts of data to and from access
points in close proximity to the user in real-time.
Because 5G optimises device-to-device(D2D) and
machine-to-machine(M2M) communications, it will
result in improvements in the IoT. Smart home
appliances and machines used in factories, hospitals,
schools, etc. will be able to communicate quickly,
reliably and securely, leading to developments in the
agricultural, medical, commerce and transportation
sectors. This is especially relevant to Nigeria as we
seek to diversify our economy and improve
infrastructure. With machines collaborating with one
another, efficiency will increase exponentially and
industrial outputs will reach unprecedented highs.
C. Big Data
Large sets of data can now be collected at high
rates due to MIMO and network densification. It
is important for Nigeria to prioritise collection of
data as the world becomes more data-driven.
Collated data can be used to predict weather and
natural disasters, for government planning
activities and to understand trends. This will
enable us to understand our world better and
make well-informed decisions.
D. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence is a field of science that is
concerned with providing machines with the
cognitive and decision making abilities found in
humans. Machine learning(ML) is a type of AI
that creates programs which analyse data and use
it to make future decisions. Machine learning is
used in big data analytics to make the process of
analysing large amounts of data quicker and
more efficient.
B. Isotropic Path loss
The higher the frequency of a wave, the more
path loss it experiences. This just means that
after travelling a certain distance in free space,
the wave results in varying signals. Also, 5G
waves cannot penetrate solid barriers like walls
as well as 4G can. This can be solved by making
multiple paths available to waves.
C. High Levels Of Change
To properly implement and utilise 5g, a lot of
brand new infrastructure needs to be provided.
Machines must be built or adapted to support
MIMO, M2M communications, and many more
technologies.
IV. CONCLUSION
E. High Performance Infrastructure
5G will enable efficient communication between
vehicles and infrastructure. Driverless trains,
buses and cars can reach high levels of precision
due to the speed with which 5G can transmit
information in real time. Additionally, 5G will
enable experts to fix any bugs in automated parts
of infrastructure remotely. M2M communication
also improves the quality of infrastructure. For
example, different trains would easily be able to
communicate with each other.
As promising as these opportunities sound,
certain properties make the implementation of
5G a little challenging.
III. CHALLENGES
A. Shorter Range Of Mm-waves
Networks that communicate in waves with
shorter wavelengths cover much smaller
geographical areas. Even though this property is
useful for reusing frequencies of the same
bandwidth for different things, it necessitates
the creation of an increased number of smaller
cells(geographic areas covered by networks).
5G opens up a world of possibilities for us.
Effectively utilising this new technology and the
benefits it brings will transform Nigeria
economically and infrastructurally. Efficiency and
precision in healthcare, agriculture and commerce
will be like never before. Better yet, the possible
challenges it could present are not at all
insurmountable.
V. REFERENCES
[1] Angeliki Alexiou, 5G Wireless Technologies.
United Kingdom: The Institution of Engineering and
Technology, London, 2017.
[2] Devaki Chandramuli, Rainer Liebhart and Juho
Pirskanen, 5G for the Connected World. America:
John Wiley & Sons, 2019.
[3] Shahid Mumtaz, Jonathan Rodriquez and
Linglong Dai, Wave Massive MIMO: A Paradigm for
5G. United Kingdom: Academic Press, 2017.
[4] V. K Sachan, Fundamentals of 5G Wireless
Communications. India: Smt. Jay Devi Sachan
Memorial Publication House, 2020.
[5] Wei Xiang, Kan Zheng and Xuemin Shen, 5G
Mobile Communications. Switzerland: Springer,
2017