5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks.
It is the next step in the evolution of mobile communication technology, designed to provide faster and more reliable wireless connectivity to users.
Compared to 4G, 5G offers significantly faster download and upload speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect a large number of devices simultaneously.
This enables new and enhanced use cases such as virtual and augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Additionally, 5G networks are designed to be more flexible and scalable, which will allow for the development of new applications and services in the future.
Affordable 5G phones
Xiaomi Poco X3 GT 5G
Xiaomi Poco X3 GT 5G comes with Dimensity 1100(6nm) 5G chipset paired with Mali-G77 MC9 GPU and 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.
Xiaomi Poco X3 GT 5G comes with a 6.6″ IPS LCD screen with 120Hz refresh rate and 450 nits and it has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection.
It has a 64MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro that does 4K 30fps video. We also get a 16MP selfie camera.
Xiaomi Poco X3 GT has a 5000mAh battery and 67W fast charging. It was launched early last year and is still worth considering.
Samsung Galaxy A33
Samsung Galaxy A33 5G comes with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen. It has a 90Hz refresh rate with a pixel density of 411 and a peak brightness of 728 nits.
The device ships with its in-house processor – Exynos 1280 paired with Mali-G68 GPU, and it comes with an integrated 5G modem.
The phone boasts 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, also, RAM Plus feature gets you an additional 6GB.
The A33 sports a quad camera setup that includes a 48MP main with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide, a 5MP macro and a 2MP depth sensor.
For selfies, it has a 13MP front-facing camera for the A33 5G and a 4K 30fps max resolution for both the main and selfie cameras.
TECNO Camon 19 Pro 5G
TECNO Camon 19 Pro 5G comes with a 120Hz 1080p LCD screen, HiOS 8.6 and is powered by the 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage.
You can expand both with up to 5GB of virtual RAM and there’s an additional slot for an external microSD card.
TECNO Camon 19 Pro 5G has 64MP main rear cameras in the dual ring setup next to a 50MP portrait camera with 2X optical zoom and a 2MP bokeh lens.
The 64MP main camera has OIS support and uses an industry-first RGBW+G+P lens for ‘Bright Night Portrait’.
Infinix Note 12 Pro 5G
Infinix Note 12 Pro 5g rocks a MediaTek Dimenisty 810(6nm) 5G Processor plus 8GB of RAM and 128GB Onboard Storage.
You can expand with 5GB Virtual RAM.
It has a 6.7″ AMOLED screen protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with Dual Speakers featuring DTS Audio and a triple camera setup including a 108MP main camera, a 2MP macro and a 2MP depth sensor.
It also has a 16MP selfie camera and a 5000mAh battery and supports 33W fast charging.
Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G
Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G is powered by a Dimensity 810 (6nm) 5G chipset and Mali-G57 MC2 GPU plus 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.
It comes with a 50MP main camera with an 8MP ultrawide and a 16MP selfie camera and it runs on Android 11 and MIUI 12.5.
It has a side-mounted fingerprint reader, a 5000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.
The display is a 6.6″ 1080p LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and 450 nits brightness protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
5G in Kenya
Safaricom PLC became the first telecommunication provider in Kenya to roll out the 5G network on 27th October 2022.
The telco announced 5G trials in March last year, and the company today began the roll-out by switching on the network in 5G-ready areas enabling customers to enjoy fast and reliable internet connectivity for their homes and businesses.
As of 2022, Safaricom had 35 active 5G network sites spread across Nairobi, Kisumu, Kisii, Kakamega and Mombasa, and it plans to expand to 200 sites across the country by March 2023.
Customers in 5G-ready zones can access 5G Wi-Fi by purchasing a 5G router at Ksh 25,000 plus a setup fee of Ksh 5,000 and selecting from three packages on offer.
Customers will also have the option of signing up for a 36-month contract that will enable them to receive the router for free.
Advantages of 5G network
The 5G network offers several key advantages over its predecessor, 4G, they include;
Increased Speed and Bandwidth: 5G is capable of delivering significantly faster speeds and more bandwidth than 4G, enabling a more seamless and efficient user experience.
Lower Latency: 5G has a lower latency rate compared to 4G, which means that the delay between sending and receiving data is reduced. This is important for real-time applications such as online gaming and augmented reality.
Improved Network Capacity: 5G technology is designed to support a much larger number of devices than 4G, making it ideal for use in high-density areas such as large cities, sports stadiums, and concert venues.
More Reliable Connections: 5G networks use advanced technology to ensure that the connection remains stable even in areas with weak signals, resulting in fewer dropped connections and improved network coverage.
Enhanced Internet of Things (IoT) Support: 5G is designed to support the growing number of IoT devices and provide the low latency and high bandwidth needed for a wide range of IoT applications, such as autonomous vehicles and smart homes.
Better Energy Efficiency: 5G networks are designed to be more energy efficient, reducing power consumption and potentially leading to longer battery life for mobile devices.
Enabling New Use Cases: 5G technology opens up a wide range of new use cases and opportunities, such as virtual and augmented reality, telemedicine, and remote surgery.
5G network vs previous generations of mobile networks
The previous generations of mobile networks are 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G.
The First generation, 1G was introduced in the 1980s and it delivered analog voice while the second generation, 2G, was introduced in the early 1990s: 2G bringing digital voice (e.g. CDMA- Code Division Multiple Access).
The third generation, 3G, was introduced in early 2000s and it brought mobile data (e.g. CDMA2000).
The fourth generation, 4G LTE, came about in the 2010s ushering in the era of mobile broadband.
Notably, 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G all led to 5G, which is designed to provide more connectivity than was ever available before.
5G is a unified, more capable air interface. Compared to 4G, 5G has the potential to provide up to 20X faster data speeds and carry a massive amount of data for many simultaneous users.
This allows users in high density areas to enjoy the fast speeds and low latency of 5G service.
5G services
The first service that will be available with 5G will be the Fixed wireless access which is a product that is like wireless fiber.
This will allow our customers to get Internet services sooner without having to wait for Fiber rollout which is labor intensive and has a longer lead time.
5G Fixed wireless access internet service is ideal for consumers who would normally take up the traditional, wired broadband internet connections.
Are 5G antennas a health concern?
All equipment used for 5G must comply with stringent safety standards.
Those standards have wide safety margins and are designed to protect everyone, including children.
Everyday exposure to the radio frequency energy from 5G small cells will be well within those safety limits and is comparable to exposure from products such as baby monitors, Wi-Fi routers, and Bluetooth devices.
Does 5G cause COVID-19?
It is scientifically impossible for radiofrequency waves at any frequency to create a virus, including radio waves used to provide 5G.
The World Health Organization and the CDC have been clear about the origins of this virus.
The WHO noted that Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.
The CDC says coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats and bats.