Faster 5G being developed in Arlington Heights for our next-gen devices
Nokia's campus in Arlington Heights has a research team focusing on the next generation of wireless.
While most of our mobile phones and devices are now operating on 4G, or the fourth generation of wireless technology, the Nokia team is mapping out 5G. While 5G likely won't be operational until 2018 to 2020, the industry is planning and talking about it now, said Mike Murphy, Nokia Networks chief technology officer for North America.
"The next generation will have more speed and more capacity. Each generation is about 10 times faster than the last one, that's our rule of thumb," Murphy said.
Consumers are putting such a strong demand on wireless operators, that they in turn, are seeking better and more secure mobile technology. So the industry needs to look ahead at how networks can be ready to meet future extreme capacity and performance demands. Nokia's local team is among the many companies and countries now working on 5G.
In fact, the Arlington Heights team also has been involved in organizing a 5G Summit in April in Brooklyn, N.Y., hosted in part by New York University. This is where some of the leaders in the industry will discuss the next generation of wireless.
Having an even faster and more efficient network with 5G may reduce costs for wireless operators, like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and others, he said.
And besides the faster speeds and larger capacity, 5G also will lead on new technologies that operate on very tight timing requirements, such as the so-called connected auto, Murphy said.
The connected car now uses infrared lasers and sensors to help avoid crashes. But the next generation using 5G could allow it to use wireless technology, he said.
In order for the 5G feature to work quickly in emergencies with such a connected car, the network will need a very high frequency. So experts in the industry are working with the FCC on frequency needs, he said.
Besides cars, the 5G network also will help manufacturers using equipment that needs quick actions to accomplish tasks or complete assembly in an efficient and safe way, Murphy said.
The 5G network also will lead to the development of more applications and services, including new HDTVs that look more impressive and can download more data, he said.
"The HDTVs will be able to do more things," he said. "But the poster child right now for 5G will be the connected car."
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