To many, 5G is just supercharged LTE with faster access to the Internet while on the move. But the developers of 5G technology had a much wider vision for the future of wireless communications. Recent announcements have pointed to what that future could hold.
Nokia recently demonstrated a fixed wireless access (FWA) network operating in the mmWave band that provides download speeds of over 2 Gigabits per second at a distance of 10 kilometres. FWA provides broadband services to homes and businesses wirelessly as an alternative to, for example, connections over fibre.
Although operating at extremely high frequencies (EHF) provides the much wider bandwidths necessary for high data transfer rates, signals at these frequencies suffer high loss which in turn limits their maximum range.
So, achieving a 10 km range is significant as it opens the possibility of offering a high speed FWA service to rural communities where alternatives are either not available or offer a poor performance.

In another development Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson demonstrated a “real world” business application for 5G.  This example of network slicing allows an organisation’s employees to securely access private cloud-based applications over a public mobile network. Built-in automation simplifies the configuration and provisioning for users.
This proof of concept demonstrates how enterprises will be able to create and tailor network slices easily to fit their applications and user needs.

PTT offers a range of courses covering the technologies that provide 5G mobile, FWA and network slicing ranging from the introductory course “Wireless communications” to a course covering the detail of 5G mobile systems.

Telecommunications is a rapidly evolving field, with new technologies and techniques emerging regularly. When looking to join such a dynamic industry, it is important to understand the fundamental theories that drive the services and networks that telecoms professionals work with.

When issues arise in telecommunication systems, having a strong grasp of fundamental theories allows engineers to identify the root causes and devise effective solutions. Having a deep understanding of telecommunication theories equips individuals with the necessary tools to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues.

PTT has for over 3 decades trained generations of telecoms engineers in the fundamental aspects of telecommunications theory. From supporting a large number of apprentices in the latest apprenticeship standards to providing custom qualifications designed for new entrants, PTT has been at the forefront in equipping telecoms engineers with the essential knowledge they require.

Once the fundamentals are grasped, engineers can then study more advanced courses covering the latest technologies. This ensures that telecoms professionals have all the information they need to progress in their careers and work on complex issues within the most modern of networks.

The ITU recently announced a fundraising effort to raise $100 billion by 2026 to fund solutions to the lack of affordable Internet access in the least developed countries (LDCs). The Internet Society has noted that nearly three billion people are being left behind as they are living without access to the Internet. Of the world’s 46 LDCs, the Internet is considered to be affordable in just two of them. Yet access to the Internet is considered critical to the sustainable development of LDCs.

One solution to the digital divide could be broadband provision to homes and businesses using low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Many mobile network operators are also entering into partnerships with LEO operators to provide 5G satellite to mobile phone services in hard-to-reach areas.

An alternative to non-terrestrial networks is fixed wireless access (FWA) using 4G (LTE) or 5G technology. However, currently, 5G FWA services are mainly limited to more prosperous areas such as the USA and Europe. In a recent survey, a 5G FWA service in Norway was found to provide the highest download speeds in Europe with speeds of over one gigabit per second. So, ironically, such new technologies are currently further increasing the gap between developed and least developed economies.

Apart from the infrastructure necessary for broadband and mobile provision, training those who will build and maintain those networks is also important. PTT offers a range of online courses covering LEO and 4G/5G FWA and mobile services.