Fifth-generation” or “5G” refers to the most recent wireless communications systems, which are faster and carry more data than 4G or LTE systems, enabling more connections for devices like cellphones and a wider range of wireless technology applications. As these systems and technologies rapidly advance, scientists and engineers often refer to future high-speed wireless communications as simply “next-generation” or “NextG.”
As the nation’s measurement institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is helping to create the technologies and methods that industry can use to build and evaluate 5G-and-beyond systems.
What is 5G?
Cellular networks go through evolutions over time. Industry, marketing and communications engineers group these generations together based on their abilities and characteristics. For example, 3G advanced voice calling from the previous generation and started to include data capacity. Fourth-generation or 4G gained the ability to send photos and video, even streaming video, and upped the capacity for data.
Fifth-generation systems accommodate a higher amount of data at higher speeds, allowing more video streaming and new data-heavy tools like virtual reality or augmented reality. The development of these technologies will support not only future smartphones and public safety radios but also wearable devices, the Internet of Things, the smart grid, smart homes, next-generation automotive technologies and smart manufacturing.
