After the read, you will learn the Sub-6GHz VS Millimeter-wave what is the difference, and the Sub-6GHz VS Millimeter-wave relationship.
Global 5G network frequency bands are mainly divided into two major ranges, the Sub-6GHz, and millimeter-wave. At present, China mainly uses Sub-6GHz. This frequency band is characterized by strong signal penetration, but data transmission speed is slower than millimeter wave.
Apple has previously reached an agreement with Qualcomm that the iPhone 12 supports 5G networks. Only two of the four new phones may support the Sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave bands. The other two only support the Sub-6GHz frequency band and not millimeter waves.
What exactly do Sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave mean, and why does Apple do this?
What is Sub-6GHz VS Millimeter-wave? What is the Sub-6GHz VS Millimeter-wave application?
Sub-6GHz and millimeter wave are the two frequency band codes of 5G networks. 3GPP is one of the world’s largest patent organizations. The 5G networks deployed worldwide are all 5G within the framework of 3GPP, and the 5G wireless air interface is called NR. 3GPP defines the working frequency of 5GNR in the 5G wireless specification, which is divided into two parts, FR1 and FR2.
FR1 defines 450MHz-6000Mhz, which is what we often call Sub-6GHz.
FR2 defines 24250Mhz-52600Mhz. Since most of the FR2 coverage bands are less than 10 mm in wavelength, this part of the band is also called millimeter-wave (mmWave).
Specifically, the highest downlink rate of the chip supporting Sub-6GHz is 4.7Gbps, while the downlink rate of the chip supporting millimeter wave can reach 7.35Gbps, theoretically even 10Gbps high-speed transmission can be realized.
The US mainly uses the millimeter-wave frequency band, which is characterized by fast transmission speed but poor penetration.
How bad is that?
Millimeter waves are electromagnetic waves with a wavelength between about 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. We can learn from physics classes that the higher the frequency of electromagnetic waves and the shorter the wavelength, the worse the penetration.
In this regard, some foreign digital bloggers have tested the 5G signals of T-Mobile (Cellular antenna) and other operators in the United States. Among them, T-Mobile covers Sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave frequency bands, while other operators mainly use millimeter-wave frequency bands.
Network congestion is like a traffic jam, and the high broadband of millimeter-wave can satisfy more people to surf the Internet.
On the other hand, a millimeter wave has a higher bandwidth, which makes it easier to solve the problem of user network congestion, while satisfying more people to surf the Internet. This technology has a relatively small coverage area and is more suitable for applications in densely populated scenes such as stations, airports, and stadiums. To achieve the same level of coverage as Sub-6GHz, the density of base stations is at least 5 times that of Sub-6GHz base stations, and the cost is naturally higher.
For example, millimeter waves not only require more signal towers to cover but also continue to output high-intensity signals. The power output of 5G base stations is three times that of 4G, and the power consumption alone is a huge expense. It is not difficult to understand that some time ago, China Unicom shut down 5G base stations at night in order to save electricity operating costs.
5G base station
The cost is high and the signal coverage is easily restricted by the environment. Do American operators choose millimeter waves just because of the fast speed?
In fact, it is not. Since most of the allocatable spectrum in Sub-6GHz is occupied by the US military, there is not enough wireless spectrum to be allocated to operators. Therefore, the 5G deployment of US operators has to start with millimeter waves.
China’s current selection of the Sub-6GHz frequency band is mainly to solve the signal coverage problem of the 5G network first and put 5G technology into practical application as soon as possible so that most consumers can use the 5G network. Of course, China has also not stopped in the construction of millimeter waves.
China encourages operators to prepare for the commercial use of millimeter waves to facilitate future 5G construction and development.
With the characteristics of high bandwidth, low latency, and high capacity of millimeter-wave, in daily life, it can download Blu-ray video in seconds and solve network congestion. In particular, it can also realize remote control of industrial robots, telemedicine, etc., and its application prospects are very broad.
The penetration of millimeter waves is poor and easily affected by the environment
The results show that 5G mobile phones using millimeter-wave technology can be blocked by almost anything, such as phone booths, glass, trees, rain, etc. As long as there is an obstruction between the base station and the mobile phone, the 5G network may fall back to 4G. In contrast, operators that use both Sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave coverage perform better.
Sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave represent two large ranges of 5G wireless frequencies. At present, China’s 5G construction is dominated by Sub-6GHz, while the United States is dominated by millimeter waves. These are also the current two directions of global 5G development.
Current status of Sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave applications
China chose the Sub-6GHz frequency band to develop 5G, the United States mainly chose the millimeter-wave frequency band, and South Korea, Japan, Europe, and other countries or regions are developing both frequency bands. Sub-6GHz and millimeter waves are complementary, not iterative. Just like the data cellular network and Wi-Fi, network construction depends on the specific needs of the operator and use environment.
The propagation distance of Sub-6GHz is farther than that of millimeter waves, and it is easier to solve the problem of signal coverage in a large area. Because it has a wide range, can penetrate objects better, and can be installed directly on the basis of 4G base stations, it has a lower construction cost for operators.
C&T RF Antennas Inc is a 5G Sub-6G and 5G millimeter-wave antennas manufacturer in China, contact us for the 5G antennas you need.
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