What Is 5G? Differences from 4G and Use Cases for the IT Passport Exam

What Is 5G?

5G (5th Generation Mobile Communication System) is a new mobile communication standard that began commercial deployment in 2020. As the successor to 4G, it is offered in Japan by four carriers: NTT Docomo, au, SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile. The three main features of 5G are high speed and large capacity, low latency, and massive simultaneous connections.

The Three Main Features of 5G

High Speed and Large Capacity (eMBB)

The maximum communication speed of 5G is 10 to 20 Gbps, which is about 100 times faster than 4G. This greatly accelerates the transfer of high-quality video and large files, enabling 4K and 8K video distribution and immersive experiences like AR and VR.

Ultra-Low Latency (URLLC)

5G achieves extremely low communication latency of 1 millisecond or less, a significant reduction from 4G's 10 milliseconds. This characteristic makes it promising for fields requiring real-time control, such as autonomous driving and remote surgery.

Massive Simultaneous Connections (mMTC)

5G can connect up to 1 million devices per square kilometer simultaneously. This allows a large number of sensors and devices to be accommodated on a single network, as touched on in What Is IoT.

Comparison of 4G and 5G

Use Cases for 5G

Autonomous Driving

The low-latency characteristic of 5G is crucial for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication (V2X). It enables real-time traffic information exchange, improving the safety and efficiency of autonomous driving.

Remote Medicine

5G is used for remote diagnosis and the operation of remote surgery robots. By transmitting high-definition video in real time, doctors can perform accurate diagnoses and surgeries from distant locations.

Factories (Smart Factories)

In smart factories, 5G enables robot control and AR-assisted work support. Accommodating many sensors on a single network helps improve productivity.

Smart Cities

In smart cities, IoT sensors manage urban infrastructure. Connecting surveillance cameras and traffic management systems via 5G enables efficient city operations.

Entertainment

5G enhances 4K and 8K broadcasts in stadiums and AR/VR experiences. Particularly in the field of Metaverse, AR/VR/MR, it makes highly immersive content possible.

Challenges of 5G

Because 5G uses high-frequency bands (millimeter waves), it is vulnerable to obstacles and requires many base stations. This leads to higher equipment costs. Additionally, security risks associated with the new communication method require attention.

Key Points for the IT Passport Exam

In the IT Passport exam, the three main features of 5G (high speed and large capacity, low latency, massive simultaneous connections) are frequently tested. Questions also cover differences from 4G, applications requiring low latency such as autonomous driving and remote medicine, and the relationship with IoT.

Typical Past Exam Question Patterns

• "Which of the following is not a feature of 5G?" type
• "Which is the most appropriate application requiring low latency?" type → Autonomous driving, remote surgery

Related Terms

• IoT (What Is IoT)
• Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi Standards and Wireless Security)
• Metaverse (Metaverse, AR/VR/MR)
• DX (What Is DX)

Study Tips

Remember the three main features of 5G with the initials "H, L, M" (High speed, Low latency, Massive connections). For numerical comparisons with 4G, keep in mind: speed is 100 times, latency is 1/10, and connection count is 10 times. In particular, associate autonomous driving and remote medicine as applications requiring low latency.

Summary

For 5G-related questions, understanding the three main features, comparisons with 4G, and specific applications will help you score reliably. To comprehensively study the Technology domain, visit the Technology Summary; to practice in an exam-like format, try the Practice Exam.