Technologies for 5G Networks: Challenges and Opportunities

Mobile data traffic has grown substantially owing to the widespread use of data-hungry devices such as smart handsets and laptops. This has encouraged researchers and system designers to develop more efficient network designs. The authors review the technologies that can support speeds of multiple Gbps for future fifth-generation (5G) networks. They examine the many challenges, problems, and questions that arise in the research and design stage, and conclude that the anticipated high-traffic demands and low-latency requirements stemming from the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications can be met only with radical changes to the network paradigm. These include harnessing the millimeter-wave band for the dense deployment of small cells. Future wireless systems will include myriad smart features and applications to make 5G the most intelligent and dominant wireless technology thus far.