5G Auction on July 26: When will YOU get 5G on your phone? Is it dangerous? All questions answered

5G spectrum auction to take place on July 26 and here is everything you need to know about it.

5G auction on July 26: When will you get 5G in India? All questions answered here.

5G spectrum auction is happening and that too, very soon. On July 26, the Department of Telecom will host the 5G spectrum auctions across a wider range of bands, and will allow telecom operators to bid for these bands for a period of 20 years. With the auction done, your regular carriers such as Airtel , Jio and Vi will be able to rollout their 5G networks. But that is not as east as it seems – even after the auction taking place on July 26, it could be years before you get to make the most out of your 5G smartphone.

Hence, before you get too hyped up on 5G and all the related terminologies, we are here to simply the technology and explain how it is going to benefit you in the real world. And no, do not throw away your high-speed Wi-Fi network at home just yet.

5G in real world: What is it?

5G is the fifth generation of mobile network that expands over 4G with a wider bandwidth and much faster data transmission speeds. Theoretically, 5G networks will be stronger and offer much faster internet speeds on your smartphone. The speeds are, in fact, as fast as your average home broadband solution.

What are the 5G speeds?

With your current 4G networks, you get an average speed of 10-15 Mbps provided you are in a good coverage area. 5G network at its very minimum will increase this speed up to 50Mbps, and if the network is good, you can experience speeds in Gbps. Yes, 5G can theoretically go up to 10Gbps.

What are the types of 5G?

5G comes in two flavours. The Sub-6GHz 5G is the slower kind but with better connectivity. In a well connected area, a sub-6 5G network can offer speeds of up to 500Mbps. The mmWave is the much faster kind, offering speeds in Gbps but suffering with limited coverage area. Note that higher the frequency, lower its ability to penetrate objects such as buildings, trees, etc.

Moreover, 5G in the initial stages is relying on the now more reliable 4G LTE networks to offer fast internet speeds. Hence, even if you have a 5G SIM card, your phone could still latch on to 4G networks to offer you reliable network.

Can you get superfast 5G with any 5G smartphone?

Technically, no. Accessing 5G network also depends on the smartphone or tablet you are using. Your phone needs to have a modem that supports such fast 5G speeds. For example, the iPhone SE 3rd Gen offers 5G connectivity but only of the Sub-6GHz type. Only the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 can support mmWave 5G. Similarly, budget 5G Android phones can only support lower sub-6GHz 5G speeds. It is also crucial to check which 5G bands does your smartphone support.

Will 5G be as weak as 4G bandwidth?

5G networks will have larger bandwidth, meaning more people can access faster mobile data networks without compromising with speed. The mmWave 5G can support a wider bandwidth, but only in smaller areas, for example, a stadium.

Will 5G rollout after July 26, 2022?

That is highly unlikely. Once the 5G spectrum auction takes place, telecom operators will get busy installing their infrastructure across the initial batch of 13 cities. In the early days, 5G network will be sparsely available in big cities, and connectivity could be an issue. Moreover, operators could charge higher prices for the 5G services.

Note that 4G LTE was first rolled out to the public in Kolkata in 2013 but it wasn't until 2016 when Reliance Jio stepped into the limelight. With Jio already present, we expect at least a period of a year or two before 5G is readily available across major cities and semi-urban areas. Rumours say that metro cities could see glimpses of 5G networks before 2022 ends.

Should you throw away 4G phones, SIM cards?

Honestly, 4G is here to stay for years and despite 5G around, it will be the more reliable network choice. 4G is now available in most semi-urban and rural areas, and going forward, its speeds will only go faster. 5G itself will piggyback on 4G in the initial days to handle the loads.

Is 5G dangerous?

No scientific study has proven 5G to be dangerous, which means you can use it safely once it rolls out.