Fiber Optics for a 5G Network

Fiber Optic Networks Are the Backbone for the Wireless Internet of Tomorrow

The telecommunications industry is always evolving. It wasn’t long ago that 4G was the next big thing in wireless technology, however,  today it is merely the standard, and now 5G is here! A 5G network is designed to handle the always increasing demands we place on our networks. And we can’t seem to get enough of our wireless devices so our demands are great.

 

The Benefits of a 5G Network

As the latest giant leap forward for wireless technology, a 5G network’s primary benefit is the increased speed of transmission between the network and a device. While 4G transmission tops out at 100 Mbps, the move to 5G is a 100-fold increase in speeds up to a capacity of 10 Gbps. At those rates even large files like high definition video can be streamed without any lag or interruption. The ability to send and receive greater amounts of information at a much faster speed is revolutionizing both work and play on networks.

 

The 3 Reasons a 5G Network Needs Fiber Optics

Just because a 5G network is wireless doesn’t mean that it is truly wireless throughout the entire network. Every wireless network is held together and powered by a land-based network which connects to transmitters for the wireless signals. The best 5G networks are those that rely on the best support structure, and that means the use of a fiber optic network to handle data transmission.

 

1) More is Asked of 5G

On a very basic level, as our reliance on the internet and connected devices continues to grow from year-to-year, so do the demands of the networks we are connecting to. As internet speed increases so does the amount of information the average user downloads, and the size of the files being accessed. Online video, for example, has seen massive strides in picture quality as networks have improved. The high speed and reliability of a fiber optic network allow a 5G network to handle the demands of users on the modern internet.

 

2) Real Time Response is Needed

One of the primary benefits of a 5G network is the ability to operate using real time data. The faster speed makes it possible to send a much greater amount of information in a short period of time. When a user is counting on their 5G network connection for real time data and instantaneous response is required, any lag in the transmission can be costly. This means that a network with cells running on old fashioned copper wiring is a threat to network reliability.

Fiber optic cable can handle the transmission of significantly more data and that means the overall network strength is vastly improved. 

While a traditionally wired network may be able to handle the speed required to transmit realtime 5G network performance to a device, as a greater number of devices connect and expect the same results, the network becomes overwhelmed. Choosing fiber optic cable for the infrastructure of the network protects against dreaded lag and latency.

 

3) More Cells Require More Powerful Wiring

The increased performance demands of a 5G network means relying on higher frequencies in transmissions. While this allows for better speeds, these higher frequencies do not travel as well as lower frequencies. As a result of this a 5G network requires a significantly larger investment in cells, and that in turn means more wiring. Fiber optic cable is capable of maintaining signal strength better than copper wire. So, when you’re relying on a network that contains a lot more wiring it quickly adds up to a significant improvement in the overall performance of the network.

5G is the future of wireless communication but it can not be at its best without fiber optics. If you’re installing the infrastructure for a wireless network don’t settle for good enough. Opt for a fiber optic network and have the best.

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Check out our last post: Fiber Optic Solutions