Can Wi-Fi be replaced by 5G?
Many of us have at least two monthly data bills, one for our Wi-Fi router and the other for mobile connections. However, in recent times, the difference in functionality between these 2 network technologies has begun to close due to the quick adoption of 5G. Is it feasible that 5G will displace Wi-Fi as our preferred option for a home internet connection in light of this crossover? Let’s dissect it.
Can your home Wi-Fi be replaced by 5G?
In ideal conditions, 5G mobile communication should be faster and more capable than 4G LTE, with a maximum bandwidth of 1Gbps. The average connection speed in the US is far lower, at barely 150Mbps, according to the industry leader in internet speed testing, Ookla. It’s vital to note that the remarkable 5G speed is only available in locations with mmWave 5G coverage. You still need a clear line of sight between your device and the mmWave mobile tower if you dwell in such a region.
You could only intend to gain sub-6GHz 5G coverage away from metropolitan regions. Since this variant of 5G doesn’t require line of sight, it is significantly more accessible. It can’t travel at the same lightning-fast rates though. This is because higher frequencies have a higher efficiency but are much more prone to losses while navigating barriers.
And that takes us to the very first argument why your broadband connection won’t likely be replaced by 5G very soon. The alleged 5G speeds you’ve heard about simply don’t exist in the majority of the world’s locations yet. Furthermore, monthly usage caps, which are much larger in broadband connections even if you are served by mmWave base stations, may still apply to you.
To date, carriers all over the world have given sub-6GHz installations priority to provide comprehensive 5G coverage without busting the budget. To be clear, they still provide advantages over 4G; they simply aren’t as truly revolutionary as some 5G marketers would have you believe. It’s doubtful that mmWave technology will become as broadly accessible given its expensive cost.
How do 5G and Wi-Fi vary from one another?
Even in the best-case scenario, making the whole transition to 5G is more difficult stated than done. The fact that most mobile data plans only support one connected device is one of the largest restrictions you’ll encounter. Although you can utilize your smartphone’s hotspot capability to share this network, doing so isn’t useful outside of emergencies or brief uses.
Mobile networks are also well known for being prone to disturbance and traffic. Even while 5G has made progress in these areas, it is still unrealistic to expect a single tower to be able to consistently interact with hundreds and hundreds of nearby devices. A Wi-Fi access point, on the other hand, only needs to interact with gadgets that are connected to your private network. Simply said, no one else is using the wireless airwaves with you.
Wi-Fi is more equipped to manage several gadgets inside of a single home.
Naturally, you could invest in a 5G-compatible Wi-Fi router to enjoy the best of both worlds, but they are quite uncommon. One such example is T-5G Mobile’s Home Internet, which even comes with a router but is only offered in a few locations. Purchasing your gear will probably be far more expensive than a typical broadband connection in the lack of such a service. If you want to take it this way and need to keep your smartphone linked while on the move, you will also need to pay for a second cellular connection.
In the end, it’s still unclear if you can permanently move from broadband to 5G. At this moment, a variety of variables will affect the experience. The experience may be made or broken depending on your location, endurance for service variations or interruptions, and the number of concurrent devices. Despite this, the abovementioned T-Mobile service raises the possibility that 5G will ultimately affect residential Wi-Fi.
Source: AndroidAuthority
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