5G The Complete Manual 4th Edition, 2022

Smart homes How 5G will transform restrictions and other issues. Could 5G be the to work as well. That means cities will need to saviour that makes the smart home a more install more 5G masts compared to the number appealing proposition to all? that were installed for 4G. Potentially, we may all need some form of antenna or hub in our homes FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENT to get the most from the service. SMART DEVICES However, being able to cope with so many It’s important to know that 5G isn’t just faster. It’s different connections at once is a huge advantage also vastly more efficient in how it approaches for 5G. Wireless connections are consistently things. It offers lower latency so its response times under demand from many different sources all are speedier and it’s also generally smarter. at once and becoming overloaded with different users and devices is a often hefty bottleneck for It can handle more users simultaneously than receiving a high quality service. 4G due to its ability to co-exist alongside other wireless signals without any risk of interference. Take a look around your home. How many 5G operates on three different spectrum bands, devices already use a wireless connection in which means it can be as fast as it needs to be, some way? It’s likely that your TV, games consoles, depending on the device that’s connecting to it. smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and laptops That frees up capacity for users in busy areas and all depend on a strong wireless connection to reduces slowdown at peak times. work effectively. The downside? Higher band spectrums need But what about if you add a smart speaker a clear and direct line of sight to the relevant mast or hub to the mix? Or a smart light bulb system? 51

How 5G will transform Smart homes Or locks? The list is near never-ending nowadays, what’s going on outside your home is useful with even large appliances like refrigerators or but only if the response rate means the pictures microwaves coming with smart home technology update rapidly. built-in. A 5G connection means a theoretical During setup, many of these devices create response rate of 1ms or 2ms compared to a their own Wi-Fi network before switching over to home broadband connection of 10-20ms (at the main home network. Others rely on Bluetooth best). Instantly, it makes a security system more for the early stages of setup. attractive to the concerned homeowner. In either case, 5G can provide a more Overall, 5G could be far superior to a home consistent form of service, consolidating setup broadband connection. Faster, theoretically more and ensuring that things are easier to get started. reliable, and even potentially cheaper – however, It’s the kind of thing that can make smart home there are issues to work through first. technology far more accessible and more intelligently designed, thereby encouraging more WAVING BROADBAND GOODBYE users to embrace IoT. There are conflicting reports as to what 5G Low latency is another way in which 5G could means for power consumption. While it’s improve smart homes significantly. In the case more energy-efficient in principle, as we have of security camera systems like Ring and Nest, mentioned above it also requires more masts to every millisecond counts. Being able to view work effectively. 52

Smart homes How 5G will transform 5G will greatly reduce latency on devices to as low as just a few milliseconds Like with any new technology, it’s also likely internet connection), as well as eventually to have a knock on effect on the battery life waving goodbye to the need for a landline. of portable devices like 5G smartphones and This also gives users time to adapt to 5G, slowly wearables; it’s something that will take time, swapping out older devices for new ones that possibly a few years, to improve. support the new protocol. There’s also the fact that you’ll need to At the more commercial end of the scale, the replace your current smartphones and gadgets future can be seen a little through the eyes of to be able to use 5G. That’s less of an issue for Huawei’s plans for the InterContinental Shenzhen smartphones as many of us upgrade regularly, hotel in China: currently in the midst of a makeover, but swapping out smart home systems and it’s set to be the world’s first 5G smart hotel. That infrastructure isn’t for the faint hearted – or for means continuous 5G coverage for users, but also anyone counting their pennies. things like 5G-powered ‘welcome robots’, cloud gaming, virtual-reality rowing machines, and the It’s reasonably likely that for a time, 5G will ability to seamlessly stream 4K movies. co-exist alongside existing home broadband setups. Base stations are key here, with homes Everyone likes a speedy internet connection potentially having a 5G hub alongside a and one that enables them to do more. 5G looks hardwired broadband solution. That means set to make smart homes even easier to set up increased reliability in the home (all-important and live amongst than before – it’s just going to when even your lighting depends on your take a little time and adaptation to get there. 53

How 5G will transform Movies Movies Get used to a world of portrait-first video Have you ever tried to stream a video on the bus? happening because the action has turned into a You know how it is: the latest Marvel movie trailer low-resolution mess of coloured blocks. has just been posted by your friend on Facebook, and you don’t want to wait until you get home to The problem with 4G is that sometimes there see what all of the fuss is about. So you hit the link just isn’t enough bandwidth. Your download and… hope for the best. speeds are being shared with everyone else, so if too many people are trying to connect in the same If you’re lucky, the video will play without a area, your connection can become unreliable. problem over 4G, but if you’re unlucky, you could quickly see the action paused, as a circle of dots But, luckily, the solution is just around the tells you Spider-Man is currently buffering. And corner. Over the next couple of years 5G is going when it does play, you can’t really work out what’s to continue to grow and transform our mobile video experiences. 54

Movies How 5G will transform “Over the next couple of years 5G is going to continue to grow and transform our mobile video experiences” For a start, watching video is going to become indoors. If we’re lucky, we may even be able to a lot more reliable, particularly in terms of get a reliable signal when travelling through more download speeds. As 5G hype builds, this means remote areas on train journeys. you can expect to see lots of crazy claims about how you’ll be able to download full HD movies in The other major boon is with regards to just seconds. latency – this is the combined round trip speed at which your device can both upload data to and Though it will be significantly faster than 4G, download it from the internet. This will be most 5G will probably never live up to those claims, significant for gamers who need fast response simply because you will still be sharing the times when playing online games like Fortnite, connection with everyone else in your local area. but it will also make watching video better too, as there will be less lag between hitting play on a But don’t worry: 5G is still expected to video and it actually playing. be at least 20 times faster than 4G – and the benefits go beyond speed. 5G uses parts of DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS the electromagnetic spectrum that will mean signals are better at penetrating buildings – so What’s perhaps more interesting though is to you can expect a more reliable connection when consider the second-order consequences from 55

How 5G will transform Movies Sony’s Xperia range was one of the first to feature 21:9 displays to allow for widescreen viewing. this technological shift – not just how 5G will It’s going to accelerate the process of unbundling make downloads faster, but how it could change and ‘cord cutting’, as the idea of watching TV will our behaviour. be further divorced from the need to have Sky or Virgin Media in the UK, or Comcast or Verizon in For example, today if you’re planning to watch the US. After all, why would we want to pay for some Netflix or catch up with Amazon Prime bundles when apps will let us download what we Video, you have to plan ahead and download want specifically over 5G? what you intend to watch on to your device ahead of time to get the best experience. Given the bandwidth 5G enables, it is likely that, just like how many millennials have never With 5G and near ubiquitous connectivity, had a landline phone, future generations may not streaming will become the default option and even bother getting a broadband connection for you’ll be able to trust that the bandwidth and their home. connectivity will be available when you need it. PORTRAIT MODE It also goes without saying, that 4K streaming over the air should also become routine, which 5G could also have a really big impact on the will be just in time for 4K screens on phones to types of content we consume. For example, with become commonplace. ubiquitous connectivity, will we be producing more video content ourselves than ever? Will Of course, 5G isn’t just going to change us: Hollywood films find themselves challenged it’s going to change where we get film and TV from too, and upset the industry in the process. 56

© Eva.Stories Movies How 5G will transform by our friends’ live streams, or the hordes of ‘influencers’ creating YouTube videos? The lines between games and film could also continue to blur. Following the success of Bandersnatch, 2018’s interactive episode of Netflix’s Black Mirror, and the subsequent interactive Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend, there has been a lot of excitement around the possibilities of branching narratives. But as CNET argued in 2018, this may only be the start. In the 5G world, we won’t be watching video on dumb screens – our phones have other sensors built into them, like a camera and gyroscope. What if films could watch us watching them, and adapt the experience based on how we react? 5G’s increased bandwidth and connectivity could make this viable for big-budget films. And perhaps strangest of all, the actual shape of the pictures we watch could change too. If we’re consuming more video content on our phones, then it stands to reason more content will be produced with phones – and not just TVs – in mind. This could lead to more professional quality film designed for portrait mode. In fact, there are already some exciting examples of this, and one of the most striking is Eva Stories. This is a film that is premised on the question of what would it be like if a girl had Instagram during the Holocaust? This might sound like a silly idea, but the project takes its subject seriously, and presents an entire narrative experience, educating viewers about the horrors of World War II, telling the story entirely through Instagram Stories that rely heavily on video. We think of social media today as being trivial or disposable. But it stands to reason that as we consume more content using 5G, filmmakers will start to take phone viewing more seriously. 57

How 5G will transform Augmented reality © Getty Images Augmented reality 5G could be the key to unlocking AR’s potential We all know by now that 5G is going to be a immerse themselves in, AR seeks to enhance – or big deal. In fact, it’s rather difficult to imagine a indeed augment – our perception of the physical modern industry that won’t be positively affected environment around us. by 5G’s arrival. Augmented reality is already firmly embedded When it comes to augmented reality, however, in our culture, from the heads-up displays (HUDs) 5G looks set to be more transformational than in a fighter pilot’s cockpit to the live selfie effects most. Indeed, 5G could prove instrumental in of Snapchat and Facebook. But 5G’s arrival heralds augmented reality finally hitting the mainstream. a whole new wave of deeply integrated, highly social AR experiences. Let’s first clarify what we mean when we talk about ‘augmented reality’. AR, as it’s more Statista estimates that the combined value commonly known, overlays virtual information of the AR market will rise from $5.91bn in 2018 onto a live view of the real world. While virtual to $198.17bn by 2025. And it’s not a coincidence reality (VR) creates a completely enclosed, self- that this rise will coincide with the continuing contained 3D virtual world that a person can fully expansion of 5G networks. 58

Augmented reality How 5G will transform Above: Facebook utilises AR in its Messenger app AUGMENTING REALITY “Immersion is everything with AR, to the point where As we’ve hinted at already, augmented reality any performance shortfall isn’t a new or cutting edge technology. We can ruin the experience” already have the means to create convincing AR experiences, but it’s an extremely hardware- Our existing 4G networks simply don’t have intensive process. sufficient capacity to bear the weight of more connected or shared AR experiences, nor do Embedding virtual components in a real world they have the required low latency – that is, the view requires powerful processors, sharp cameras, time between an input and data being sent in a range of advanced sensors, and some serious response – to be truly responsive in real time. software smarts. In short, the best AR apps crunch a lot of numbers. WHAT 5G BRINGS TO THE AR TABLE What’s more, that data needs to be rendered It’s here that 5G will be able to take AR to the in real time in order to produce a convincingly next level because, as already pointed out, the smooth and responsive AR experience. Immersion next generation mobile network will massively is everything with AR, to the point where any increase capacity and lower latency. ABI performance shortfall can ruin the experience. The huge amount of data being processed in real time means modern mobile AR applications are very localised, essentially ‘offline’ affairs. Not only does this necessitate powerful mobile devices, it also limits the scope of the AR experiences. 59

How 5G will transform Augmented reality © Google Research predicts that 5G will provide a “10x transmitting of AR-enhanced live events could be increase in throughput, 10x decrease in latency, one example. and 100x increase in traffic capacity” over 4G, which will mean that “5G will not only improve, This synergy between AR and 5G will also but will also be a requirement for some of the expand the potential for remote-control drone most exciting AR and VR applications”. and robot operation through enhanced HUDs and improved haptic feedback. Indeed, this In such an environment, existing AR lofty concept of the so-called ‘tactile internet’ is applications would be able to offload much of expected to kickstart the much vaunted fourth the intensive processing to the cloud, opening industrial revolution. AR applications out to new, smaller, more energy efficient and cheaper form factors. That might sound lofty, but cutting edge researchers such as South Korea’s Electronics and While the Google Glass project appeared to Telecommunications Research Institute predict be halted several years ago (it wasn’t, but we’ll just such an eventuality. In January 2019, it was come to that), the prospect of a truly wearable, announced that ETRI had developed a 5G-based permanently accessible AR device hasn’t gone technology that would enable AR applications to away. It was just hibernating until the technology send and receive packets of data at speeds that could be refined, part of which involves a match human perception. sufficiently capable mobile network. “We will see robots, cars and all other The nature of AR applications will also grow machines connected to the internet all around more sophisticated, with truly shared and social us,” said ETRI team leader HwanSeok Chung. real-time augmented reality experiences. The “[The] tactile internet will enable humans and 60

Augmented reality How 5G will transform machines to interact with each other even from Android devices now, and there are countless far away.” AR-enhanced applications on their respective platforms. But the two companies have huge AR AND YOU plans beyond the current status quo. Talk of the tactile internet is all well and good, It has been widely expected that Apple will at but you might ask how 5G-enhanced AR is set to some stage include macOS and iOS support for benefit the average user over the coming years. AR headsets, although this has been conspicuous in its absence the last few OS upgrades. The first thing to note is that the framework is there for massive advances in everyday AR It’s also long been rumoured that Apple applications. Both Google and Apple, gatekeepers is working on its own set of AR glasses, which to the two biggest smartphone platforms, are could prove a huge boost to AR’s mainstream investing heavily in AR. Apple announced its ARKit acceptance. You only need to see the company’s framework in June 2017, while Google announced dramatic effect on the adoption of smartphones, its own ARCore in August 2017. tablets, and smartwatches for evidence of that. AR computation has been a core For its part, Google has been steadily ticking component of multiple generations of iOS and over in the background with its pioneering “Google and Apple, gatekeepers to the two biggest smartphone platforms, are heavily investing in AR” © Google 61

How 5G will transform Augmented reality © Microsoft “Facebook has also been steadily bringing AR features to its vast network of social platforms” Google Glass project after an initial failed public to Facebook ads. Through AR Studio, it’s also run. The latest update comes in the form of allowing third parties to get in on the act. the business-focused Glass Enterprise Edition 2, which now runs on Android and is powered by Microsoft has its own long-standing AR Qualcomm’s AR-focused XR1 chipset. hardware project in the form of HoloLens, which has yielded some of the most impressive (though On the software front, the company alas not commercially available) AR applications of announced at Google I/O in 2019 that it was the current era – including an augmented reality adding 3D augmented reality models to its version of Minecraft. search results. Talking of Minecraft and AR, Microsoft is On top of this, Facebook is known to be working on the Minecraft Earth mobile game, investing heavily in AR. Having played a major which could well prove to be the true breakout part in the related resurgence of VR through moment for AR gaming. its Oculus Rift platform, the company is known to be working on its own advanced AR glasses. AR is set to enter a whole new phase of mainstream acceptance in industry, on our Facebook has also been steadily bringing AR phones, and through a whole new class of features to its vast network of social platforms personal devices – and 5G is going to be at the ever since 2017, from Messenger and Instagram very heart of the revolution. 62

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How 5G will transform Virtual reality © Oculus Virtual reality The next-gen of mobile connectivity is the boost VR needs There are lots of advantages to 5G: it promises 2019 the market size was estimated to be around to be faster than 4G, it’ll cover wider areas, $6.2bn, which could rise to a predicted $16.3bn by connections will be more stable and latency will 2022 worldwide. decrease. And this advanced connectivity will have a significant impact on technology and how VR is big business and is expected to play we use it across a range of sectors. a major role in a range of industries, such as entertainment, training, education and However, if we had to put our money on an healthcare to name just a few. But, although the industry that could benefit the most from 5G, technology has huge potential, and is already and may even need it to truly take off, it would be being used in some of these settings, there virtual reality (VR). are still technical issues that hold it back from reaching its full potential. Although there have been reports over the past few years that VR headset sales aren’t hitting The good news is that many believe VR’s targets, VR is proving to be more and more most significant obstacles could eventually be popular – and this is just the beginning. overcome by 5G, as it will bring low latency, super fast speeds and stable connections to According to recent stats, the VR industry as a headsets that will make VR experiences more whole is growing exponentially year upon year. In 64

Virtual reality How 5G will transform The Oculus Quest was the first all-in-one VR gaming system – no wires required © Oculus “The good news is that many believe VR’s most significant obstacles could eventually be overcome by 5G” accessible, more reliable, and, most importantly, using VR for. VR headsets are typically considered even more immersive. entertainment devices, and you can use them to play all kinds of games, as well as watch TV and THE CURRENT REALITY movie content. But VR offers more than that. OF VIRTUAL REALITY There are big plans to make social VR as Virtual reality, often referred to as VR, is a kind commonplace as social networks, allowing you of technology that allows you to fully inhabit to connect with friends and family wherever virtual spaces. But we don’t mean getting lost in they are. And, increasingly, documentary VR a book – the VR we’re talking about here requires experiences are being made, as well as arts-based you to put on a device, in this case a VR headset, content. There are also a range of applications and experience a virtual environment that’s been for VR that go well beyond what you’d likely be created by computers. using a VR headset for at home, including training, education, logistics and healthcare, just to name Most VR headsets are fitted with a display, a few. stereo sound, sensors and more, to believably place you inside a virtual environment. What Given there are so many uses for VR, analysts that environment is will depend on what you’re have high hopes for the future of the industry. 65

How 5G will transform Virtual reality Astro Bot: Rescue Mission is just one of many successful titles available for the PSVR © Sony Interactive Entertainment But, although headset sales are now on the rise, to splash their cash on this kind of tech, as well as VR still hasn’t reached its full potential of being a to strap a device to their faces to have fun rather must-have device in every living room. than pick up a games controller or switch on their favourite Netflix show. There are many reasons why VR hasn’t gone ‘mainstream’ yet. One is that the technology has, Another reason, however, is that connectivity has been lacking. The main premise of virtual “For VR to really work, reality is that you experience a virtual world or devices need to run fast, space. For that to really work, devices need to be have lots of storage and low running fast, they need high levels of storage and latency. 5G networks could low latency. That’s why 5G networks could be be just what they need” just what VR needs for it be for everyone – and enjoyed everywhere. historically, been expensive. And, although recent releases are entering the market at significantly WHAT 5G CAN DO FOR VR cheaper price points, they’re not cheap cheap. “The impact of 5G on the immersive industry It’s not just the price, either. It’s also a risky may seem small, but in fact, it could be one of purchase for most people. Many need convincing the biggest,” says Sol Rogers, CEO of REWIND, the immersive content studio. One of the most obvious benefits of 5G to VR, as well as other industries, is that connectivity will be more stable. Right now, VR apps can 66

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How 5G will transform Virtual reality © Oculus “5G is expected to provide a ten times decrease in latency over 4G, which could significantly improve VR experiences” be interrupted by network performance. 5G, The most important thing to remember however, will be able to handle many more here is that for VR to do what it says it can do, devices at the same time, meaning your immersion is important. For a virtual world to connection doesn’t suffer. feel like the real world, everything needs to match up, whether that’s the way images are Although this is good news for better presented, the speed of the world moving as gaming and entertainment experiences, it your head does or visuals that fool your senses could also be what VR needs to become a more into thinking you’re really there. It has to be fast valuable proposition. It would mean it could and it has to be realistic. be used across more industries, like healthcare or engineering, which would require the most Low latency is what’s necessary for VR stable connections before they could begin to experiences to run smoothly – if there’s rely on VR technology. significant lag it can lead to motion sickness, as well just unrealistic-looking VR experiences. 5G will also lower latency, which essentially As we’ve mentioned already, 5G is expected refers to the time taken between a request to provide a ten times decrease in latency being made and a response being received. This over 4G, which could significantly improve the ultimately means VR would have significantly consistency of VR experiences. better responsiveness. 68

Virtual reality How 5G will transform The game Batman: © Rocksteady Studios Arkham VR puts you, quite literally, in Batman’s shoes Additionally, existing VR apps would be able some, they were a confusing proposition, © HTC to offload intensive processing to the cloud, needed extra equipment to work and meant which would enable companies to create that experiences designed to make you feel free smaller, more energy efficient and even more and place you in another environment were very affordable hardware. physically restraining. “The core technology (bandwidth and latency) However, that’s slowly changing. Newer will enable off-device computing,” explains headsets like the Oculus Quest and business- Rogers. “So, your device could be low powered driven HTC Focus bring high-quality VR to and thus low cost, but still be the front-end to more mobile form factors. These can work a full size and scalable machine in the cloud or well without wires and additional equipment at the edge. This means that the graphical and to power them, as well as sense movement computational power available to create amazing without external sensors. experiences for all of us will increase exponentially [as a result].” 5G’s potential to serve up fast, reliable connectivity wherever you are appears to be GOING MOBILE a match made in heaven for this new era of headsets. Imagine VR at the park or just not The advent of 5G comes at a great time for the VR having to rely on a Wi-Fi connection – that really industry for another reason: it’s already becoming feels like the future. more mobile. The great thing about 5G is it will increasingly Headsets have, typically, been connected be able to enhance the delivery of virtual by a wire to a computer, which is how they’re experiences and this will, hopefully, allow VR to powered and fed data. This meant that, for reach its full potential. 69

How 5G will transform Mobile gaming © Getty Images Mobile gaming Console-grade graphics on the go thanks to 5G? Surely not! With download speeds that beat most home Profile clocking in at over 1GB, most gamers broadband transfer rates, and 4G speeds by today will likely wait until they’re connected to a around ten times, speed is definitely the name Wi-Fi network before downloading them. This is of the game when it comes to 5G connectivity. primarily to save data, but another factor is that But as it was also built with more ‘lanes’ than 4G, the download takes longer over 4G and would it can handle peak hour data usage that little bit wreak havoc on your phone’s battery. better, so users should be able to enjoy a more consistent service. 5G looks set to increase the size of data plans too. Take EE for example. It currently offers 5G on Given what we know about 5G so far, there a range of data packages – from 10GB per month, are some very obvious ways that it could benefit to unlimited. The 4G packages meanwhile, range mobile gamers. from 250MB through to 200GB per month. For starters, game downloads will be With 5G resulting in more data and faster quicker. With games like Injustice 2 and Valkyrie downloads, dropping 1GB and a few seconds of 70

Mobile gaming How 5G will transform time spent downloading shouldn’t leave a 5G © Razer gamer’s data plan or battery breaking a sweat. “Dropping 1GB and a few Additionally, many mobile games today seconds of time spent also require an in-game internet connection. downloading shouldn’t Tracking your score, fleecing you for gems and leave a 5G gamer’s data other in-app purchases, or logging you into a plan or battery breaking battle royale arena to compete against other much of a sweat” mobile warriors Fortnite-style – all these require a connection and have historically resulted in long adoption – and that’s no coincidence. Wireless wait times. watching gained popularity when great quality content became ‘streamable’ over fast mobile In a nutshell, the main, obvious benefit of 5G internet speeds with 4G. and more speed can be summed up in three words: no more waiting. How does that compare to gaming and 5G? Well although streaming takes up more LATENCY PART ONE: MULTIPLAYER bandwidth, 5G speeds are fast enough to MAYHEM support it. Lower latency is a less obvious benefit of higher There are two methods of streaming games. speed mobile internet, but its implications are The first involves streaming from one device, game-changing. whether it’s a console or a PC, to another. The brunt of the processing is undertaken by the Latency is the time between an action, and primary device, which plays the game. The that action being registered. So, when you write secondary device just receives a video feed and with ink, the latency would be the time between registers controller input commands. the ink leaving the pen and marking the paper. When it comes to online gaming, latency is the 71 speed with which a command is registered and actioned on your screen. The lower the latency, the better. 5G will mean incredibly low latency gaming, which will be handy when multiplayer blasting, especially as mobile gaming tournaments and eSports continue to scale new heights of popularity, and a focus on high-performance connectivity becomes a differentiator between champions and runners up. LATENCY PART TWO: THE NETFLIX OF GAMING If you think back to the rise of 4G, it coincided with Netflix hitting stratospheric levels of

How 5G will transform Mobile gaming “You could have console-quality games, streamed directly to your phone’s 2K or 4K screen at full resolution” 72

Mobile gaming How 5G will transform Currently, PlayStation’s Remote Play and Steam Link are available Above: The Google Stadia controller for mobile and let you stream from your console or PC to your Android or iOS device with ease, provided your network connection can hack it. The second way to stream games is more exciting when it comes to 5G. Games are run on remote servers, and streamed to your screen just like Netflix. Subscription services like this are available today – Nvidia’s Geforce Now, Sony’s PS Now or Google Stadia for example – but all require fast, home broadband to play back smoothly. What 5G will do is take these services out of the home, and into… well, anywhere there’s a 5G signal. Just think – you could have console-quality games, streamed directly to your phone’s 2K or 4K screen at full resolution. Hook up a Bluetooth controller and a 5G connection will enable your commands to reach the server and relay back to your display in milliseconds. While this might not be good enough for some professional competitive eSport gamers, it should suffice for the vast majority. There are other benefits to streaming games too – your smartphone doesn’t need particularly powerful internals as it won’t be processing a bunch of 3D objects. This also means it won’t get as hot and might not run out of battery as quickly as if were you playing a game it was powering. In addition, streaming games would remove the need for powerful hardware altogether, democratising console-grade gaming. Providing it has 5G, your budget phone in 2022 could play the same quality games a flagship could. THAT’S NOT ALL Mobiles aren’t the only on-the-go gaming gadgets set to benefit from 5G. Laptop gamers should be reeling at the prospect of faster mobile internet. Online multiplayer games tethered to your phone’s 5G connection will deliver imperceptible levels of latency, so wherever you are, you can crack out your gaming laptop and blow things up with your friends. A subscription model, made possible by streaming gaming services, could also save gamers money when compared to buying a library of games – something services like Apple Arcade already do. 73

How 5G will transform Mobile gaming © Sony Meanwhile, 5G would also enable streaming gamers’ needs, with features like front-firing stereo virtual reality movies and games, which have speakers, left and right triggers, pressure sensitive higher bandwidth requirements. This is because displays and lightning fast 120Hz refresh rates. two images need to be streamed for VR, one to These all pack flagship internals though, and cost the left eye and one to the right eye, and both of a fair whack. these need to be high-resolution to deliver high- quality experiences. In the future, these awesome features could come to phones that don’t need powerful “In the future, awesome internals so they’ll cost a fraction of the price gaming features could and might not need to run Android or iOS. And come to phones that cost a these devices potentially might not even be a fraction of the price” smartphone at all! Mobile gaming hardware is also set to reflect 5G could create a new breed of handheld 5G’s advancements. We’ve already seen the likes gaming consoles – essentially 5G shells that of the Asus ROG Phone 5, Xiaomi Black Shark receive console grade games on a monthly 4 and Nubia RedMagic 5G refine hardware to suit subscription basis. 74 Does this sound far-fetched? Well these are just a handful of predictions based on what we already know. But one thing is already abundantly clear: whatever happens, 5G will certainly play a key part in the next revolution of mobile gaming.

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How 5G will transform Sports © EE Sports Better for fans, better for broadcasters The goal of every athlete is not just to win, but a rather clever demonstration: they gave two to continually grow faster and stronger, so that American football players VR headsets and they may keep on winning in the future. But this mounted forward-facing cameras on top. isn’t just the case in sports. As we speak, every player in the mobile industry is gearing up for “5G could be used to offer their biggest competition yet: becoming the attendees access to action champion of the 5G market. replays from multiple angles” 5G will, of course, be a lot faster and stronger They then sent the video from the cameras than the 4G we’re used to – offering pretty mind- over 5G back to the 5G base station, and then boggling speeds that could conceivably be up to from the base station back to the VR headsets – 100 times faster. But other improvement it offer so they would still see what their eyes would have is in terms of latency – the time it takes for your seen naturally, but it would be sent over 5G first. device to communicate with the network. To demonstrate the transformative effect this could have, the US network Verizon and infrastructure provider Ericsson put together 76

Sports How 5G will transform © Verizon The result? It turns out that 5G is so quick, it’s possible to throw and catch a football, even relying on images being transmitted to a base station and back – while still maintaining millisecond precision. FASTER CONNECTIVITY FOR FANS Above: 5G will provide a stable connection © EE among a wider number of devices at once This clever demo, however, is not the only thing that 5G and sports have in common. In fact, 5G looks set to transform the entire sports Above: VR can transport fans into the viewing experience. stadium to experience games virtually First, let’s look at stadiums and arenas. The most annoying thing that can happen at large events is the mobile networks not working, because thousands of people are all in the same place and are trying to connect to the same mobile antenna. The good news is that with 5G, this should become a thing of the past as the next-gen mobile network won’t just support a denser number of connected devices, but has also been designed to support millimetre wave frequencies, which mean venues will be able to place more, highly directional 5G equipment to ensure everyone can maintain a decent connection. Having everyone connected in their seats is not just convenient for social media platforms like Facebook. This sort of connectivity could also be used to offer attendees access to 77

How 5G will transform Sports © Tukewood Media Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium is the first to have a dedicated 5G network. action replays from multiple angles – making emails, doing some important work, or rotting up for the one thing that TV can do better than your brain watching TikToks. being at the game in person. Network slicing, however, could enable phone On a more practical level, 5G could also end networks to pick and choose what gets priority, the nightmare of having to queue for ages at the and syphon off slices of the available bandwidth bar at half time, as ordering drinks and snacks for particular favoured services. from our seats using our phones could become the norm. Most obviously this will help the emergency services, but it is surely inevitable that as phone Even more ambitiously, Verizon believes networks compete to win over customers, we may not be too far away from 5G-powered reliable, slice-off access to live sports will prove augmented reality experiences – we may soon and attractive proposition. So we can hopefully be able to hold up our phones and have the expect no buffering whatsoever. players name and stats float above them as they run around the pitch. The line between FIFA on The benefits of 5G and network slicing go your PlayStation 5 and real life is going to get a beyond the immediate consumer proposition too. little blurry. In fact, 5G could make it easier for TV networks to film and broadcast games – meaning there could SLICE OF THE ACTION be plenty more sporting content to watch, even if your team is in the lower leagues. Viewing away from the stadium could also improve with 5G. Most obviously, the increased How? As reported by SportsPro, BT Sport and bandwidth and reduced latency should put an EE carried out an intriguing trial, sending a team end to buffering, even when you’re trying to to film a football match between non-League UK catch the game while on the bus. But its reliability football titans Braintree Town and Bromley FC. could go far beyond this, thanks to a controversial new technology that’s baked into the 5G standard What made it unique wasn’t the diminutive called network slicing. stature of the teams playing, but the fact that the pictures weren’t edited and produced At the moment, when you use the internet, all from the stadium as in traditional football traffic is treated equally – whether you’re sending broadcasts. Instead, they were sent back over 5G to BT Sports’ headquarters in London, where a 78

Sports How 5G will transform © EE “The challenge [to traditional sports] from 5G is that it might make another type of sport more attractive: esports’” production team was able to turn the raw images Esports have experienced huge growth over into a TV show. If the production team can all stay recent years thanks to social media and services in one place, it means they can produce multiple like Twitch popularising the players and the broadcasts on the same day – or even at the clans. According to one estimate, last year 400m same time. people watched esport content – a number that is expected only to continue rising, with stars like In other words, 5G could massively reduce the Ninja and the “FaZe” clan commanding millions number of people needed to make live sports of dollars in sponsorship and advertising revenue, broadcasts happen – which could, in turn, result just as easily as the biggest footballers do. in more sport to watch; perfect if you support a smaller sports team. With 5G, broadcasting and watching esports is going to be even easier. No longer will there But there is one last twist: in a world of 5G be any constraints on where we can watch from ubiquity, will people actually want to watch more – so don’t be surprised if we start to see players football or other traditional sports? The challenge broadcast from their mobile devices, rather than from 5G is that it might make another type of from their bedrooms. sport more attractive: esports. 79

How 5G will transform Education Education Faster, smarter and more interactive – a new generation of learning 5G has tremendous potential to transform the them for the faster and more connected future way we communicate, with live high-definition that awaits them. video streaming and much faster download speeds, but it also has uses far beyond what Cutting-edge tech can be a fantastic le©aVrenrsian/ Fgitbit we currently do with our phones and tablets. tool, making subjects more engaging, helping It could also reach into and transform the children who struggle to learn new concepts classroom and lecture theatres. from textbooks, and bringing education into the homes of children without easy access to a Universities and training facilities are likely to physical classroom. be some of the first adopters, helping broaden their students’ horizons and improve public Thanks to 5G, universities will be able to open safety. After that, schools are likely to follow their doors to students worldwide, broadening close behind, giving students a more immersive their horizons, and training will be revolutionised experience inside the classroom and preparing in careers like medicine. Sharing knowledge and learning new skills has never been easier. 80

Education How 5G will transform 5G IN SCHOOLS All images © Shutterstock unless otherwise stated © Getty images The classroom is always a real proving ground for Teachers will even be able to share the same developing technology, and understandably so experience with students who are outside the – what’s cutting-edge now will be mainstream classroom itself – in isolated or rural communities, by the time today’s kids enter the workplace. for example. Coding, for example, has quickly become as essential as reading, with children writing simple Since the 1950s, children in the Australian programs before their seventh birthdays and outback have been able to receive lessons from VR headsets becoming as commonly seen in a virtual classroom called the School of the classrooms as textbooks. Air. Lessons were initially taught via two-way radio, with assigned projects and written work VR can make lessons more immersive completed under the supervision of the child’s and keep students engaged, but it involves parent or guardian. transmitting huge amounts of data – particularly if headsets are wireless – which results in lag that Today, students and teachers can interact can be distracting or frustrating. via video link, but patchy connectivity means it’s not unusual for the feed to cut out part way With 5G, teachers will be able to share rich through. With only an hour a day for interaction, virtual experiences with their classes, exploring any technical issues can result in a lot of lost the solar system, the human body, the structure learning time. of a flower and the ocean floor without them leaving their seats. 5G will bring more reliable and stable internet connections – even in areas that currently suffer “With 5G, teachers will be from poor coverage – helping the School of the able to share rich virtual Air bring its lessons into the 21st century. experiences without classes leaving their seats” Children will be able to learn at their own pace within an environment that suits them. Meanwhile, teachers will have more time to spend engaging their students, thanks to improved connectivity allowing more Internet of Things (IoT) devices to be embedded in classrooms – for example sensors that register each child automatically as they arrive in class, eliminating the time-consuming process of taking a register by hand. 81

How 5G will transform Education Teachers will be able to interact with Once 5G is rolled out, students will no longer students for longer, safe in the knowledge be restricted by outdated and limited wired that the line is stable, and share interactive campus networks, and will be free to take their experiences with their virtual classes rather than learning with them – from the lecture hall to the just video – all with practically no latency. It will library and beyond via reliable mobile connections. also be easier for students to interact with one another, helping them socialise with children Universities will also be able to create virtual their own age. campuses for students studying part-time or via distance learning – a boon for mature students 5G IN UNIVERSITIES fitting their studies in around work and family. Students will be able to ‘visit’ colleges elsewhere in 5G will also be a game-changer for higher the world for special lectures and seminars using education. Early trials are already taking place at zero-latency, high-resolution two-way video. the University of Surrey, University of Bristol and King’s College London using a 5G test network. 5G and the Internet of Things could also make expensive degree courses more accessible “Once 5G is rolled out, students will no longer be restricted by outdated and limited wired campus networks” 82

Education How 5G will transform in areas without ready access to costly labs and to transform training in all kinds of technical training equipment. With fast mobile internet, professions as well. a medical student could not only attend virtual lectures and seminars in real time with Armed forces worldwide already use other students; they could also perform virtual advanced virtual cockpits to train fighter pilots. dissections and procedures with guidance from a The British Royal Air Force (RAF) has a state-of-the- real tutor. art training facility where pilots experience forces up to 9G while flying three different virtual jets. 5G’s superior bandwidth will enable the Commercial pilots use similar (albeit less extreme) transmission of haptic feedback, which could help simulators, spending hours in VR before taking to them ‘feel’ while performing a virtual operation, the skies and guide their hands as the work. Hyper-realistic simulations like these could help them prepare With 5G, pilots wouldn’t be limited to pre- for work in a real hospital, and develop their skills programmed scenarios and locations. Instead, throughout their careers so we can all benefit training data could be captured and sent to the from better healthcare. cloud for processing, then new scenarios and challenges could be sent back to the simulator as 5G IN TRAINING a direct response to their flying. 5G won’t just improve education for children The result would be a more realistic and students, either. It also has the potential experience, better training, and safer flying for everyone in future. 83

How 5G will transform The workplace The workplace How the next generation of wireless technology will empower frontline workers Above: With fast and reliable connections The rollout of 5G, the fifth generation of wireless technology available anywhere then it could be networks, promises major advancements not only to our personal possible to work from home or a cafe lives with tech like wearables, but also to many business sectors, including autonomous shipping and transportation, smart cities and the entire workforce. The 5G conversation often leads us to think about new applications for the Internet of Things (IoT), whether it’s consumer gadgets, smart refrigerators, enterprise businesses, AI-powered analytics or personal digital assistants. However, there is another side to this ultra-fast and powerful network that can open up new economic opportunities for cities, organisations and the individual worker. 5G has the potential to transform our rapidly-changing workforce by enabling near-universal employee inclusivity, increased engagement and heightened business efficiencies. 84

The workplace How 5G will transform Without cables, employees may no © Startup Stock Photos / Pexels longer feel tied down to their cubicles “5G has the potential to transform our rapidly-changing workforce by enabling near-universal employee inclusivity” 5G is poised to leave a lasting impact on the 5G has the potential to rapidly update the workforce as a whole, but perhaps most notably, internet “infrastructure” of any city by delivering it will democratise hiring opportunities for immediate access to faster data speeds, more companies based outside of major tech hubs, and bandwidth and consistently reliable connections. empower frontline workers, who are often left out This empowers companies to expand their of the corporate culture. footprint across more markets, recruit talent effectively anywhere, while providing more CITIES WITHOUT TOP-OF-THE-LINE flexible work options for employees. TECH INFRASTRUCTURE THE (EVOLVING) LABOUR MARKET Not all cities are created equal, at least from a communications infrastructure and connectivity In addition to driving economic development standpoint. Major tech and innovation hubs and opening up new cities as potential corporate such as Silicon Valley, New York and Boston hubs for leading organisations, 5G will further are able to accommodate a wealth of workers accelerate the workforce’s move away from the and companies because they were built from traditional 9-to-5 work day. the ground up with a modern IT and network infrastructure already in place. The “employ me” generation, categorised as those who prefer to work where and when they 85

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The workplace How 5G will transform “It won’t only provide technical improvements like greater reliability and lower latency; it has the potential to have a much larger impact” feel the most productive, is reaching critical mass For example, the trucking industry deals with in the workforce at a rapid rate. Our data shows a high level of turnover due to challenges with that 89% of workers say flexible working should communication as the drivers make cross-country be how we work, not simply a benefit. With the trips. For these distributed workers, 5G combined technical ability to work from a location of their with communications technology opens the choice, companies empower their employees door for a stronger connection to the company with the flexibility they seek, and in turn, can make while also allowing for richer communication and tangible improvements to employee engagement collaboration amongst their peers and their base and business efficiency, resulting in higher rates of office. These new opportunities have historically productivity and employee retention. not been possible with the legacy tools and processes used by most companies today. This is great news for executives looking to boost their bottom line, but it also expands the For other frontline workers dealing directly pool of potential new employees. Organisations with customers, patients or vendors, 5G’s reliable can now look to hire the best worker - regardless connectivity ensures that workers can connect to of where they are based - instead of the worker their partner network while on-the-go. Instead of that is based in their headquarter’s city or trying to being chained to a desk, or only able to work in drive top talent towards urban areas. optimal locations, workers are enabled to better utilise smartphones and tablets to accomplish the WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINE same work that is traditionally done on a laptop or desktop computer, at the “speed of reaction.” Beyond democratising cities, 5G has the power to democratise opportunities for workers of all Like most of the industries it will support, 5G backgrounds and industries. When adopting is focused on working better, faster and smarter. new 5G-powered applications, company leaders It won’t only provide technical improvements should not only focus on the potential business like greater reliability and lower latency; it has the impact, but also on how the tech will affect their potential to have a much larger impact. As we culture. For companies with frontline workers, think about the next wave of our economy and those who deal directly with customers or are the future of work, 5G represents a technological directly involved in making a product, a major milestone on par with AI and IoT in terms of challenge is keeping those employees engaged its impact on the way we empower the next and connected to the larger organisation. generation of digital workers. 87

Buyer’s guide Intro Buyer’s guide Are you a 5G convert? Then you’ll want to pick your ideal network and phone – and we’re here to help It should be clear by now that 5G will be totally transformative. So we’re not surprised if you’re champing at the bit to get 5G in your area and get your hands on your first compatible phone. Fortunately, 5G rollouts have come a long way in the last 18 months: many cities and indeed towns across the US and UK now have some degree of access. Meanwhile, 5G-ready phones have gone from a fringe curiosity to something even the most reticent brands – *cough* Apple *cough* – have embraced. In light of this, we’ve assembled a handy guide to help you pick the best network and phone for you. 88

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Buyer’s guide AT&T All images © AT&T unless otherwise stated AT&T All the info you need on the AT&T rollout of 5G and 5G+ in the US Above: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas AT&T’s senior vice president Chris Penrose describes the company’s has some 5G experiences that guests can 5G network as a chocolate chip cookie. The main cookie dough try out represents low-band 5G while the chocolate chips represent the 5G+ millimeter-wave cities “sprinkled in across the country.” Much of AT&T’s coverage is known as 5G Nationwide. Initially, the network said 5G Nationwide wouldn’t offer 5G speeds much beyond 4G - that’s because this broadest 5G network is base©dVeorsan/ Fitbit low-band signals. The faster high-band mmWave (millimeter wave) technology is also rolling out as well, so speeds will be a lot higher. This faster network is called 5G+ by AT&T. So while the network is getting better all the time, it seems AT&T would rather market Nationwide 5G rather than 5G+ for now. But as we mentioned mid-band networks do form a large chunk of the cookie. Like Verizon, AT&T is counting on C-Band spectrum to catch up with T-Mobile and it plans to build out capacity for the first 40Mhz of that spectrum this year with more to follow over the next three years. It’s working with Nokia as part of a five year deal 90

AT&T Buyer’s guide “5GE stands for 5G Evolution and it is available in over 500 US towns and cities. ” between the two companies to boost indoor and network to cover 200 million people in the U.S. by outdoor 5G coverage. year-end 2023.” “AT&T is committed to bringing the power of WHAT IS 5GE? 5G to businesses and communities across the nation, and our C-Band deployments with Nokia As we mentioned, AT&T originally prioritised will help add 5G capacity where it’s needed,” said 5GE for customers back in 2019. 5GE stands for Igal Elbaz, Senior Vice President of Wireless and 5G Evolution and it is available in over 500 US Access Technology AT&T. towns and cities. The approach here still makes sense. Many consumers still aren’t ready for full In a shareholder note, AT&T Chief Executive 5G networks yet, so why not give them a better Officer John Stankey said: service in the meantime before they’re eventually convinced to go for a full 5G or 5G+ service? The “AT&T’s expected capital expenditures of problem is that 5GE could be seen as misleading around $24 billion per year from 2022 to 2024 - it’s certainly pure marketing, any way you look builds on its existing position as one of the largest at it. investors in digital infrastructure and connectivity in the United States. This investment will allow Other networks aren’t keen and Sprint even AT&T to meet substantial, long-term demand for took out a full-page advertisement in the New connectivity and expectations for its 5G C-band 91

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AT&T Buyer’s guide York Times to say that “AT&T’s fake 5G claims are AT&T is working with Nokia to roll out C-Band deceiving consumers”. Analyst OpenSignal has spectrum (mid-range spectrum) over the even suggested that AT&T LTE is often slower than coming years and has signed a five-year deal. other networks with LTE Advanced. Nokia’s US C-Band portfolio includes support for both standalone 5G networks and non- The issue is that 5GE is not really 5G at all - it’s standalone networks., known as LTE Advanced from other vendors so, “Nokia is ready to support the launch of 5G yes, it’s still 4G. AT&T 5G CITIES “AT&T’s faster millimeter wave 5G+ network is available AT&T’s main 5G network - Nationwide 5G - is a today in limited parts of at low band network which is now available in more least 35 cities” than 14,000 towns and cities across the US. AT&T is simply referring to this network as “5G” rather than services into this valuable new spectrum on our 5GE or 5G+. customers’ timelines by leveraging our powerful portfolio of C-Band solutions and by being the AT&T’s faster millimeter wave 5G+ network first to demonstrate a live C-Band network in is available today in limited parts of at least 35 the U.S. in 2020. Our flexible and comprehensive cities. As with other networks using millimeter portfolio will enable AT&T to enhance its 5G wave, speeds on this network will reach in services in areas across the nation,” said Ed excess of 1Gbps. These locations include Atlanta, Cholerton, President of Nokia North America. Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Like other networks, AT&T reported a massive Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, upsurge in traffic around the coronavirus Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, Oklahoma outbreak, largely driven by home working. AT&T City, Orlando, Raleigh, San Antonio, San Diego, CEO Randall Stephenson told CNN’s Brian Stelter San Francisco, San Jose and Waco. AT&T Stadium on the Reliable Sources programme that: “We’re - home of the Dallas Cowboys - has also been seeing some signs of stress. We’re having to go 5G-enabled. out and do some of augmentation of network but right now the network is performing Atlanta is one of the cities getting quite well.” Although he didn’t go into details, AT&T’s faster 5G+ ‘augmentation’ probably means opening up additional capacity. Stephenson added that the Courtesy of Joey Kyber / Unsplash network would “come out of this crisis” before saying it would also “continue to invest in 5G and new technology.” 93

Buyer’s guide T-Mobile T-Mobile Thanks to the Sprint merger, T-Mobile is growing fast Above: Mike Sievert took over as CEO of T-Mobile 5G is rolling out now across the US and is taking T-Mobile in 2020 after the merger with advantage of different versions of 5G technology to help it improve Sprint was completed coverage and capacity. Similar to AT&T, T-Mobile has also rolled out a lot of low-band 5G, which isn’t great for speeds. That so-called 5G Extended Range network was started in 2019 and is essentially 4G with a few enhancements to make it quicker. T-Mobile rightly calls it a “foundational layer of its 5G network” and while that’s true, it’s not really full 5G. It does have the benefit of huge coverage though, covering more than 200 million people and more than 1 million square miles across the US - over 8,000 cities. One thing’s for sure - T-Mobile is gaining customers at some speed. Figures from the fourth quarter of 2019 point towards a million ‘postpaid’ customers; people who pay a monthly bill. 77,000 pay-as-you-go or prepaid customers were also added over the period. T-Mobile remains the third biggest network in the US, despite it having absorbed the Sprint network in a protracted deal that closed during early 2020. After the acquisition, 94

T-Mobile Buyer’s guide All images © T-Mobile “It does have the benefit of huge coverage though, covering more than 200 million people” it has just over 100 million subscribers across for fans with bonus stat views for T-Mobile 5G the US. According to the network, it has added customers. In a measure of how T-Mobile sees 53 million users since 2013. Not surprising when itself, CEO Mike Sievert delivered the keynote at you have had 27 successive quarters with over a the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January million new users added. 2022. Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA: “The pace of innovation has accelerated over the Among the 5G test projects that T-Mobile last 18 months, and the rapid roll-out of 5G will has carried out, the network has been using only increase the momentum. There’s so much 5G-embedded cameras to virtually put fans on excitement in this space and for the first time, we the baseball field in order to catch the action welcome Mike Sievert to our keynote stage to from the players’ point of view and go behind share more about T-Mobile’s vision for fuelling the scenes. They’re mounted on players hats and 5G innovation.” catchers masks - T-Mobile says this is the first time that 5G embeddable cameras have been T-MOBILE 5G CITIES AND COVERAGE integrated into a professional sports league event. Each camera features a real-time HD stream. The 5G Extended Range network covers 8,300 US towns and cities. It is still able to get to speeds of T-Mobile has also worked with Major League around 450Mbps if conditions are at their best, Baseball to create an augmented reality app 95

Buyer’s guide T-Mobile although expect significantly slower speeds than So as we mentioned previously, T-Mobile has that generally. Essentially, it is like a quicker form also opted to use low-band 600Mhz spectrum. of 4G LTE. The low-band spectrum can also carry 5G signals inside. Before the T-Mobile launch of low-band T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity network is different. 5G, its competitor Sprint was leading the way and It’s a millimeter wave (mmWave) network similar it’s one of the reasons that Sprint and T-Mobile felt to that which we’ve seen from the other US they would be a good fit by merging, which they providers - but not providers in Europe. It provides duly did. the fastest speeds, but has poor range. T-Mobile says it is upgrading 1,000 cell towers a month for SPEED AND RELIABILITY this, covering 100 million Americans. However, it is really only in some areas of the very largest In May 2021, RootMetrics released its first-ever 5G cities at present. For its 5G Ultra Capacity network, Scorecard, which shows the race between the T-Mobile is using 28 Ghz mmWave (millimetre US’s 5G networks. Although AT&T was best for wave), just as Verizon is. That means excellent Everyday 5G download speeds, T-Mobile offers download speeds, but a more difficult blanket the broadest Everyday 5G availability of any carrier rollout. That’s because the shorter wavelength according to the tests. RootMetrics tested the signals don’t travel so far and are easily blocked 125 most populated metropolitan markets in the in urban areas or by external walls - so you United States. need loads of 5G nodes. You only need to look at T-Mobile’s current coverage maps to show T-Mobile holds a significant lead in the race for the issues around mmWave deployment - it’s Everyday 5G availability, according to RootMetrics, extremely patchy. recording the highest Everyday 5G availability in 44 out of 65 total cities tested to date. 96

T-Mobile Buyer’s guide T-Mobile’s coverage in mid-2020. Today is has over 100 million subscribers across the US “The 5G Extended Range network covers 8,300 US towns and cities” T-Mobile was also recently been hailed as the on T-Mobile 5G to deliver a fast and reliable 5G most reliable 5G network in the US according to connection in more places than anyone else,” consultancy Umlaut. The network had the best said T-Mobile’s Neville Ray. overall score of the US networks with an overall 707 points out of a maximum of 1000. The tests “While the other networks play catch up, we’ll were carried out using the Samsung Galaxy keep adding more 5G coverage and capacity to S21 Ultra. In a clear ranking of how the network bring a transformative experience to customers rollout is panning out, Verizon scored second across the country.” overall with 632 points with AT&T bringing up the rear with 599 points. Ookla also recently rated the network as the fastest 5G network in the US. The testing In terms of reliability, T-Mobile also achieved - carried out during the first quarter of 2021 - the highest score with 664 out of a maximum saw the network clock 82.35Mbps download of 800 points. In contrast, Verizon ranked second speeds, followed by AT&T at 76.6Mbps and with 560 points and again AT&T was third with Verizon with 67.24Mbps. Ookla’s study also 520 points. “umlaut’s report is just the latest to found that T-Mobile customers spent more time prove customers and businesses alike can count connected to a 5G network, than customers on rival 5G networks. 97

Buyer’s guide T-Mobile: Sprint merger T-Mobile: Sprint merger What exactly did T-Mobile add to its 5G network when it merged with Sprint? Sprint 5G was live in 8,900 US cities, but then things changed drastically, including the disappearance of the Sprint name itself. That’s because Sprint’s merger with T-Mobile was approved by regulators in 2020 and has seen off a legal challenge from state attorneys general citing reduced competition and potentially higher prices for consumers. Sprint adopted the T-Mobile brand after the merger was completed on 2 April 2020. It’s been a long time in the process – the merger was first announced nearly two years prior to it being approved and had been talked about for a lot longer than that, even as long ago as 2014. 98

T-Mobile: Sprint merger Buyer’s guide “Some analysts suggested that Sprint needed the merger [with T-Mobile] to happen in order to survive” One thing is for sure – Sprint has been seen SPRINT’S 5G NETWORK as a weak prospect through the process. Some analysts suggested that Sprint needed the merger Sprint called its 5G service True Mobile 5G. That’s to happen in order to survive; it reported losses quite a mouthful and although it doesn’t have for the three quarters straight and has significant another 5G service to differentiate from, it’s likely debt, which T-Mobile doesn’t. Sprint was also that Sprint was trying to say something about losing subscribers and lagged behind as the other networks with its message – notably AT&T’s fourth biggest player. 5GE (which is, essentially, 4G LTE Advanced) and others using low-band 5G. Judge Victor Marrero said in his judgement that “the overwhelming view both within Sprint Sprint, as part of T-Mobile’s network, has and in the wider industry is that Sprint is falling expanded coverage in many of its key locations farther and farther short of the targets it must hit meaning that approximately 305 million people to remain relevant as a significant competitor”. are now covered across around 8,900 cities in the US. German firm Deutsche Telekom owns nearly 42% of the new T-Mobile and ARM-owner For business, Sprint always maintained that 5G SoftBank around 27%. However, it seems Softbank technology will change the way that businesses is happy for Deutsche Telekom to be in control do business. It had said that we’re about to see and has granted it proxy voting rights meaning it a revolution because this is the first generation effectively controls the firm. of cellular networks that can be “configured for specific needs and use cases”. We’ve outlined more about the merger and its background in the following pages. It was particularly talking about the possibilities for IoT (Internet of Things) devices, but 99

Buyer’s guide T-Mobile: Sprint merger also said it opens up possibilities for businesses Now the merger has gone ahead, the to use cellular they previously haven’t thought of. company will be called T-Mobile – the company Note that if you’re a Google Fi subscriber, Sprint has been dubbed “New T-Mobile” in publicity. announced at a year ago that it would provide The combined company is still the third biggest that service with 5G wireless services in the future, network behind Verizon and AT&T. but we don’t yet have any more details than that. Prior to the merger, T-Mobile had around Google Fi uses cellular services from various 46 million users, with Sprint around 33 million networks and hops between them seamlessly, (according to Statista). However, the Boost Mobile but it’s interesting to know that 5G will be coming loss has seen Sprint lose around 7-8 million users. to the service. The combined company has had to promise MERGER WITH T-MOBILE to stick to some stringent targets. The company will have to roll out a 5G service to 97% of the Sprint’s $26bn merger with T-Mobile was in the US within three years including rural areas and works for two years and was narrowly approved pledging that, within six years, 90% of the US by the Federal Communications Commission population will have data speeds in excess of (FCC) and the Department of Justice – which 100Mbps, with another 9% having 50Mbps. went so far as to mandate that the new combined company will need to divest some SPRINT 5G COVERAGE spectrum to Dish to enable it to launch a new, fourth competitor in the market. Sprint needs to Sprint’s 5G network has now been combined with divest its Boost Mobile subsidiary to Dish to make T-Mobile’s 5G offering, meaning that T-Mobile will this happen. control additional mid-band spectrum. But then the merger came up against a Sprint originally began its 5G rollout with problem; a multi-state lawsuit in an effort to Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Kansas City in early block it, essentially suggesting that the efforts to 2019, but the network expanded this to nine cities reinstate a fourth player in the market through as of late August 2019, with Los Angeles, New York Dish don’t go far enough and that the merger City, Phoenix and Washington D.C. having Sprint would mean higher prices for consumers. 5G services in certain areas. This covered more than 16 million people across those nine cities. On 12 February 2020, the federal judge in the New York Court gave the merger the go-ahead. Prior to the merger, it had been expanding According to Fortune, the key testimony its coverage within the nine target cities. For was from Dish CEO Charlie Ergen, who was example, in New York City, Sprint expanded its convincing in his ambition to create a new, fourth player in the mobile market to effectively replace Sprint. As well as selling spectrum to Dish, Sprint-T- Mobile will also have to host Dish as an MVNO for a time to enable it to get a mobile business off the ground while it builds its own network. 100