With 75% of the Australian population now serviced by 5G coverage, and with the nationwide rollout of 5G technology showing no signs of slowing down, this next generation of enhanced mobile broadband is fast becoming the wireless network standard for Aussies far and wide. 

But with 5G technology on its way to becoming commonplace, many may be curious as to how this new wireless technology really works. That’s why we’ve done the homework for you, breaking down the technical lingo and explaining 5G in a language that you can actually understand.

What is 5G?

Let’s start with the basics: What is 5G anyway? Simply put, 5G is the fifth generation of mobile network technology. Just like 3G did to 2G, and 4G did to 3G, 5G represents a substantial improvement over the current 4G network standard and is projected to overtake it as the status quo. 

How is 5G different from 4G?

5G promises a number of enhanced performance metrics that are well beyond the capabilities of the current 4G technology, such as:

• Faster speeds (as much as 20x that of 4G)
• Low latency
• Massive network capacity (i.e. more simultaneously connected devices)

So what can you expect from the new 5G? How about super quick download times, seamless online gameplay and ultra HD streaming, plus an all-around better online experience?

5G mobile networks aren’t just confined to providing internet to mobile phones, either. It also has the potential to offer fixed wireless access for homes and lead the way for the Internet of Things.

5G Mobile Networks Explained

Just like the standard 4G mobile network, wireless devices on the 5G mobile network rely on radio frequencies to send and receive data. So every time you stream a movie to your smartphone, the data that makes up that movie is transmitted through the air via radio waves.

However, the big difference between 4G and 5G comes down to which radio frequencies each technology uses. While 4G has traditionally relied on relatively low-frequency radio bands, 5G instead uses higher frequency bands to transmit data. 

One benefit of using higher frequency radio waves is that you are able to transmit greater amounts of data, thereby leading to faster speeds.

The other benefit is that with higher frequencies comes greater bandwidth, and more bandwidth means that the network can accommodate more mobile devices simultaneously without issues such as slow loading times. You can think of it as a highway – the broader it is the more cars it can handle. 

5G Infrastructure

While 5G can transmit larger volumes of data than its predecessor, it can’t transmit the data as far. This is because as the frequency of a radio wave increases, its range decreases.

Cellular towers for example that transmit low frequency 4G signals have a range of several kilometres, while 5G signals may only reach up to a few hundred meters. But rather than building massive cellular towers every few blocks, 5G networks will use a more inconspicuous, scaled-down version called Small Cells to provide adequate coverage.

Network Slicing

Another important feature of the 5G network that distinguishes it from 4G, is the opportunity for network slicing. 

This is a process in which mobile network operators can essentially divide the network up into multiple virtual networks that each cater to a specific use case. For example, network slicing may partition:

• General internet use and entertainment, from
• Connecting smart devices together (e.g. shipping and retail), from
• Autonomous vehicles and remote surgery

In this sense, all the people who want to play virtual reality video games will use a separate slice of the 5G network than the doctors who want to conduct remote surgery. By slicing up the network this way, users and devices will be able to achieve optimal performance.

Get 5G with MATE!

Already have 5G coverage in your area and a 5G compatible device ready to go? Then make the switch to a MATE 5G plan!

Our 5G plans are below:

Great Mates 32GB 5G

• 32GB of mobile data per month
• 500GB of banked data
• Unlimited talk & text to standard Aussie numbers
• Unlimited international phone calls & SMS to selected 15 countries

Best Mates 50GB 5G

• 50GB of mobile data per month
• 500GB of banked data
• Unlimited talk & text to standard Aussie numbers
• Unlimited international phone calls & SMS to selected 15 countries

Brilliant Mates 65GB 5G

• 65GB of mobile data per month
• 1000GB of banked data
• Unlimited talk & text to standard Aussie numbers
• Unlimited international phone calls & SMS to selected 15 countries

Soul Mates 150GB 5G

• 150GB of mobile data per month
• 1000GB of banked data
• Unlimited talk & text to standard Aussie numbers
• Unlimited international phone calls & SMS to selected 15 countries

All on the 5G network!

For more information about 5G, you can visit our dedicated 5G mobile page.

👉  Sign-up for one of our 4G or 5G postpaid mobile plans today!

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¹ Selected plans only. 15 selected countries are not interchangeable.