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Comment by oneowl | Hacker News Reader

> 4G, just like 3G before it will get slower over time.

You are correct but that will happen again with 5G and then with 6G and so on. After a period all networks will saturate.

I'm not sure if I'm right about this, but I think one solution could be to increase the network density with the deployment of small cell networks that provide a better local coverage and bandwitdh. A few companies like nokia [1] and ericsson [2] are taking that route.That also requires upgradation on hardware form the operator but at least spares the customer from buying a new equipment.

[1] https://networks.nokia.com/products/small-cells

[2]https://www.ericsson.com/en/networks/offerings/small-cells/o...

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One of the features of 5G is support for high-frequency (30 GHz+), high-bandwidth, small cell networks. Most(?) of the 5G deployments are planned to be of this type.

> Most(?) of the 5G deployments are planned to be of this type.

I am a software researcher in the field and I do not think this is the case. Most 5G deployments for the foreseeable future will be on 3.5Ghz. I do not think mmWave (30Ghz+) has been accepted for commercial use in any country. In fact, in many roadmaps mmWave is referred to as 5G NR (new radio), which to my understanding was left for later deployments. To give you an idea why: the mmWave receivers and transmitters (at my current facility) are the size of a door. I think the problem is shrinking those doors to fit your smartphone, but then again, I do not work on the physical layer nor have much insight regarding regulations.

That's interesting to hear! Most of the hype in the media (and health concern fear mongering) seems to love to talk about mmWave, but I guess it's just indirection.

A tablet phone the size of a door, you say?

5G NR is already available in the US on Verizon with a Moto Mod

RF bands 5G: n261 (27.5-28.35 GHz); n260 (37-40 GHz)

4G: B2, B4, B5, B13, B46, B48, B66

Verizon launched 5G New Radio (Nonstandalone) at 28 GHz with 400 megahertz of TDD spectrum — which doesn’t include the LTE anchor carrier, SRG said. Based on its initial survey, the firm estimated that there are close to 100 5G nodes in downtown Minneapolis, although it had yet to confirm how many of those were on-air. Each node has two Ericsson AIR 5121 5G radios, according to SRG.

https://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-mods/moto-5g#specs

https://www.rcrwireless.com/20190405/test-and-measurement/pu...

How interesting! Thank you for correcting me. In my country, the government never auctioned the mmWave spectrum thus I assumed this to be the case elsewhere. Very excited that Verizon has decided to make the densely deployed infrastructure to work.

That feature is just marketing, 30 GHz small cells need to be like within each room people live to be reliable.

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