One of the hottest topics of 2019 will be the first-time rollout of 5G networks and smartphones.

The next-generation wireless communication is billed to be a revolution in how consumers, businesses and technology connect to everything, everywhere and at all times. This is accomplished by providing faster speeds, low latency and new use cases that have never before been seen.

However, at least initially, the speeds 5G carriers and telecoms are promising — somewhere in the 10 times faster range compared to 4G and current broadband capabilities — will more than likely not be attainable due to slow infrastructure deployments and technology not yet ready to support such higher speeds.

Additionally, 5G network coverage is likely to be spotty in the few cities that actually get the technology initially this year. In the U.S., T-Mobile and Verizon plan to launch 5G in 30 cities in 2019. Sprint and AT&T will be in the 10 city range, according to Jason Leigh, senior research analyst for mobility at market research firm IDC.

In the cities where 5G is available, there will likely be coverage zones that are not 5G, so there may be an issue in which someone with a 5G smartphone moves from a 5G network to a 4G network and carriers will have to deal with how this happens.

Space satellites could enable a greater reach for 5G networks and speed up data delivery. Source: ESA“Will it happen seamlessly or will it be a dropped call?” Leigh said. “We just don’t know at this point.”

At higher frequencies where 5G will operate, disruptions in signals are amplified. Walk under a tree and the signal is gone. Pass by a building and the signal is gone. And 5G service won’t be available indoors unless the network has a signal repeater.

Leigh said some telecoms are talking about deploying small cells — low power, short range wireless transmission systems that extend coverage to more users — and covering an entire city but in order to do this companies will need a small radio as close as 300 meters on a lighting pole or on the side of the building. However, this ups the deployment costs of the equipment and requires the small cells to be in compliance with zoning laws.

Space race

There may be an alternative, however, in using satellites for greater 5G coverage from space.

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Satellite for 5G Initiative is conducting service trials focused on integrating space assets with 5G networks. The space organization has already demonstrated how satellite-enabled 5G can simulate connected emergency healthcare. Now ESA is working on ways to improve transport public safety, media and entertainment as well as regulatory standardization and spectrum management activities.

The goal is to promote the value-added benefits of space to 5G by developing integrated satellite and terrestrial-based 5G services across various markets and use cases. ESA would use the existing and future capabilities of satellites to help integrate terrestrial 5G developments by filling gaps in ground-based networks, extend the reach of 5G networks and supply the massive amount of data that will be used from 5G.

ESA said satellites will be able to enable seamless content delivery both in urban areas with established 5G networks and areas with only a 4G connection or without any terrestrial networks at all.

ESA has signed agreements with many European consortiums to support these projects and is working with the VTT of Finland to showcase 5G-enabled autonomous shipping, self-driving cars and public safety through the use of satellites as the main connection in delivering data.