When it was released, 4G networking was a significant advance on 3G technology. It enabled greater bandwidth capabilities, higher cell density and improved VoIP capabilities. In the case of 4G LTE, it supported various traffic types on the same networks. This era of networking saw an explosion in innovation through IoT growth, increased numbers of smartphones globally and increased remote work.
To support 4G networks, many data center operators simply added more hardware to their facilities such as routers and switches. This led to increased carbon footprints, electricity consumption and cooling costs. As a result, data centers started adding more VMs and containers to their architectures to reduce the number of physical machines and optimize systems across infrastructures.
5G networking improves upon the capabilities of 4G, but requires greater infrastructure changes.
5G networks use a different network approach. Data centers cannot simply add more hardware or VMs to accommodate 5G. 5G represents a decentralized networking platform that can exist entirely outside a traditional data center. It uses small and macro cells the size of shoeboxes located closer to the devices it connects to. Antennas and clustered cells transmit across all frequency bands -- low bands below 1 GHz, mid bands from 1-6 GHz and high bands known as millimeter waves. This enables 5G networks to enjoy bandwidth speeds up to 20 Gbps peak data rates and more than 100 Mbps on average.
A 5G network's core network infrastructure handles all the data and internet connections between devices, such as beamforming, authentication and access controls and session management.
Data center operators can prepare for 5G in multiple ways. They can purchase real estate closer to anticipated connection hotspots or learn how to optimize the various touchpoints these networks need -- including microcells, core networks and radio access networks. Those prepared to move from 4G to 5G networking could have an advantage in the market and better support new customers sooner.
5G networking uses more decentralized components and services than 4G, which affects data centers' current designs and architectures.
