5G

So, there’s an auction in progress of spectrum in the 5G range, and the telcos have spent up.   We’ve all heard about this spectrum of course, and we’re told it can provide higher capacity and faster mobile internet access compared to spectrum bands currently used for wireless broadband across Australia.    “Latency” is also reduced, enabling near-immediate connection establishment time.  

However, higher-frequency radio waves have a shorter useful physical range, requiring a greater density of base stations.   These “millimetre” waves also have more trouble passing through building walls, however the antennas are smaller than the large antennas used in previous generations.    I read that some of the antennas are the size of pizza boxes, so the greater density that’s required can be achieved by fixing them to light poles, walls or towers. 

But just as we’re getting used to the idea of “5G”, I read that there’s even a 6G in the works!