Samsung Developing Ultra-Fast 5G Wireless Standard

Samsung says it has made a key breakthrough in the journey to making ultra-fast 5G wireless technology available to consumers. But critics say such a wireless standard is a long way off and have questioned the firm's use of the term "5G".

The new development from Samsung is called an adaptive array transceiver. It's designed to use very high frequencies, currently reserved for sending signals to and from satellites, for cellphone data.

So far, it's proven difficult to use those frequencies for cellphone towers because poor weather conditions can compromise the signal. According to Samsung, this breakthrough will "sit at the core of 5G mobile communications systems."

The firm also insists that its new technology, which it calls "5G", "will be capable of providing a ubiquitous Gbps experience to subscribers anywhere and offers data transmission speeds of up to several tens of Gbps per base station." (Source: samsungtomorrow.com)

New Frequencies Could Mean Lightning-Fast Smartphone Data

If the claims prove correct, the improvements will be two-fold. The transmission will be much faster, allowing for 1 Gbps speeds. That's at least 50 times faster than most 4G networks.

Samsung's 5G technology will also cover a range of up to two kilometers, possibly making networks more viable in less densely populated areas. It should also make it viable to get uninterrupted high speeds while travelling in a vehicle.

The question now is if the mobile industry will work to develop the 5G standard. One expert recently said that firms might find it more practical to concentrate their efforts on existing technologies, like 4G.

That expert, Professor Rahim Tafazolli, says the theoretical speeds offered by 4G services -- which can match or exceed those of home broadband -- are perfectly adequate for most users. (Source: bbc.co.uk)

5G Terminology Under Question

Meanwhile, Bill Ray of the Register blog questions whether there will ever be such a thing as 5G. (Source: theregister.co.uk)

2G was a genuine conceptual change, introducing digital rather than analog connections. 3G was a widely accepted standard for a particular connection speed. However, 4G has effectively become a marketing term and no services outline a clear or "official" definition of the term.

Ray thinks 5G will be used in a similar way, but isn't sure it will catch on with confused consumers.

It might be a while before Ray's prediction becomes relevant, however. The 5G wireless standard isn't expected to become available for between five and ten years' time.