5G, the fifth generation of wireless cellular technology, offers faster speeds and more reliable connections than its predecessors. However, the distance over which a 5G signal can effectively travel depends on the frequency band being used:
Low-Band 5G:
- Frequencies: Below 1 GHz.
- Distance: Can cover many kilometers (similar to current 4G LTE).
- Speeds: Improved compared to 4G but not as fast as the higher frequency 5G bands.
- Penetration: Good building and foliage penetration.
Mid-Band 5G:
- Frequencies: Generally in the 1-6 GHz range.
- Distance: Coverage is smaller than low-band but can still stretch over several kilometers.
- Speeds: Faster speeds compared to low-band, often providing a good balance between speed and coverage.
- Penetration: Moderate building and foliage penetration.
High-Band 5G (also known as mmWave, or millimeter wave):
- Frequencies: 24 GHz and above, often around 28 GHz, 39 GHz, or even higher.
- Distance: Shorter range, often limited to around 1-2 kilometers or even less. In dense urban settings, a mmWave 5G signal might only stretch a few hundred meters.
- Speeds: Very fast, capable of multi-gigabit per second speeds.
- Penetration: Poor building and foliage penetration due to the higher frequencies used. It can be easily blocked by buildings, trees, and even rain or atmospheric conditions.
Given the limited range of high-band 5G, deployment often involves installing a large number of small cell sites in areas where high speeds are required, such as in city centers, stadiums, or busy public places. This is in contrast to the fewer, more widely spaced towers used for 4G LTE and low-band 5G.
It’s also worth noting that, as 5G continues to evolve and as network infrastructure improves, there might be changes in coverage, speeds, and other characteristics.