Does a common 5G network make sense?

With subsequent distribution of range frequencies (i.e. those below the conventional 1000 MHz limit, unlike the capacitive ones above) , there is the idea of ​​building one nationwide network on shared resources . This was the case at 800 MHz under 4G in 2015, it is no different with the 700 MHz band, which in 2022 is to be allocated for the construction of 5G.

While such a concept in the case of LTE network was at least technically breakneck, it is worth considering the latest generation because the technology and business environment have changed.

In 2015 blocks with a total size of 25 MHz were distributed in the 800 MHz band, an additional 5 MHz was reserved for Sferia. LTE, within the 800 MHz frequency, allowed using only one 20 MHz block. Therefore, at least two separate networks would have to be created to consume the available 30 MHz.

The benefit of one LTE network at 800 MHz? Lower construction costs, higher (but shared) throughput - and that's virtually everything. The idea fell, although Polkomtel even showed a test network configuration and a working prototype modem. In those times and realities it was not a reasonable solution. However, 5G technology gives new possibilities and gets rid of barriers typical for 4G networks.

Nobody will give you as much as 5G promises you

In the public space, a balloon called "what 5G can't do" has been inflated for many years. Gigabits, milliseconds, millions of devices. These are three key things that define new technology, but hardly anyone will add that you can only have one of them at a time.

If the network is configured to provide the highest throughputs to customers by offering them "wireless optical fiber", there is no minimum delay or a million devices per square kilometer. If there are to be a million devices, then there are neither low latency nor gigabyte bit rates. As there will be low delays, there will be neither speed nor mass of the supported terminals.

It is the operator who decides which of the three determinants to choose and which will be less important. It all depends on the network configuration, radio grid design or selected frequencies. It can also bet on something in the middle, all depending on the needs.

As a side note, this mythical 1 millisecond delay in 5G applies to the radio interface, not the entire route to any server in the world. According to the same definition, LTE has 4 milliseconds. Has anyone seen so much in any speed test? No, because it measures all the way, not the delay "generated" by the base station.

The Internet of Things is coming

One of the flagship examples of the market that is to spread its wings thanks to 5G is IoT (Internet of Things). Billions of devices are to be connected to the network to gain new functions. When implementing new technologies, new business models and consumer solutions appear due to emerging opportunities, not the other way around.

The new chapter for IoT has a chance when the device can always be connected to the network. The coverage should be everywhere to either ensure continuous operation at moving sensors, or provide a performance guarantee wherever it is placed for stationary solutions. One can imagine a network of sensors in the forests examining specific physical parameters and reporting changes. Or maybe sensors analyzing water quality? These are simple examples that are already shown at various industry events. Today, no one is building a network for mushroom pickers, and sailors also complain about coverage.

A range that cannot be achieved separately

Operators boast that they cover 99.9 percent of their networks. population of the country. However, they rarely add that in territorial terms it is much less in percentage terms. Base stations are placed where it is economically justified and each such station will earn on its own thanks to the serviced traffic generated by customers. The construction of one network, with the obligation to cover really the whole country, would allow the costs of scarce stations to be spread over several telecoms.

The 700 MHz band is typically coverage frequencies. The station has a large range, also provides a good signal level inside buildings. These are frequencies under IoT, great e.g. for reading data from meters hidden deep behind the walls of houses. Within this band, a total of 30 MHz of block is available, when in the canceled auction it was a total of as much as 320 MHz (but in the 3400-3800 MHz band). The operator would therefore be from 5 to 10 MHz.

Separately, this is not much, it would give an additional 100-200 Mb / s maximum speed when aggregating with other bands, when telecoms in a moment will be able to offer customers even after 2 Gb / s. A small loss. By building a common 5G network on the entire 30 MHz, we are already talking about bit rates at 600 Mb / s, which in the absence of a home network and using (in simplified) a shared network on a roaming basis is quite a good result, especially for IoT solutions.

An important safety aspect

One network can be built with completely different security requirements than other operator networks. Both when it comes to cyber security (hot topic), network maintenance standards (emergency power supply, fiber optic transmission, etc.), as well as the guaranteed signal level and load limit of individual stations, after which either expansion or reduction of traffic by individual users would be required (telecoms) . This increases the security of the entire telecommunications industry, because in the event of a failure of any of the commercial networks in some area, customers could "fall" into 5G roaming. Or 2G, about which later.

High security standards and the possibility of separating part of the network in a virtualized form (the so-called slice, one of the flagship functions of 5G), gives the opportunity to build a real network for emergency services. Always and everywhere available. The argument cannot be overestimated in the context of hurricanes that haunted Poland on holidays 3 years ago, during which the services saved themselves with patchwork of technology from various periods.

An unexpected benefit on the horizon

2G networks will still live a little, because they are used by a considerable number of devices. Especially m2m, which may not necessarily be replaced for technical or economic reasons. The traffic is low, but it is not falling as dynamically as before. For a long time, peace in this matter would be ensured by a single, common GSM network, to which all four operators could give away after a small piece of bandwidth. In this way, they would free part of the band used by individual GSM networks for 4G and 5G solutions, using frequencies more efficiently. A common 5G network at 700 MHz is a big step towards the possibility of building a common GSM network at 900 MHz, because the grid of the station will be very similar and 2G transmitters could hang on the same masts.

But it won't be that easy

Of course, this is an idea presented in a simplified form. The topic is very complicated legally and technically. The secret of Poliszynel is that cooperation within NetWorkS! both T-Mobile and Orange suffer, and this is only bilateral cooperation. And four-sided? Where four operators, there are five positions, so the creation of a joint entity would be forged in hard work and drudgery. However, the analysis is ongoing and who knows if we will not see one network. It would be an interesting solution on a global scale. Of course, as long as we get along with the Russians regarding the coordination of the 700 MHz band. Without this, these frequencies are defective in a larger area of ​​Poland, but this is a topic for a separate column.

Witold Tomaszewski. Founder and long-term editor-in-chief of TELEPOLIS.PL , later responsible for supporting the investment process of building the Play network in the field of public relations. Now an independent advisor operating on the telecommunications market, specializing in communication strategy and the legislative process. Specialization: 5G.

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Does a common 5G network make sense?