What is a 5G Modem and How Do You Choose the Best One for You?

Before covering 5G modems, we first need to establish what 5G technology is. 5G technology refers to the 5th-generation standard for broadband network technology.

In comparison to 4G, 5G technology accommodates faster downloads of up to 10 Gbps and a higher bandwidth. A higher bandwidth leads to a host of benefits, including higher download speeds, enough bandwidth for simultaneously running applications, the ability to connect multiple computers to the internet at the same time without any loss of connection quality, etc.

All of this allows 5G technology to provide internet services highly competitive to those of modern fiber optics networks.

5G technology works by utilizing orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) to transmit a digital signal through different channels minimizing interference. It also uses sub-6 GHz bandwidth waves to widen bandwidth.

A 5G modem brings a 5G network into the building. Typically, broadband networks only provide access for mobile devices, but with a 5G modem, users can connect at-home or at-work devices to a 5G broadband network. This gives you 5G speeds without requiring any traditional cabling.

Although 5G networks promise they can provide up to 10 Gbps download speeds, this rarely occurs in real-world use cases. Whether bandwidth is impeded by the connection speeds or distance from a 5G tower, average connection speeds come closer to 100 Mbps. Based on this average value, fiber connections can typically offer faster download and upload speeds.

So, what is the purpose of a 5G modem?

Generally, 5G modems find use in rural or suburban areas with limited fiber connectivity. These areas can lack the infrastructure and population density to make fiber optic cabling economically feasible for internet service providers. But, even areas with low population density need internet connection these days. As a result of adding, modems that can connect to 5G networks to rural and suburban communities, the high-speed internet becomes accessible to areas without fiber optic cable lines.

On top of providing internet connection to areas without fiber optics access, 5G modems are also great for solving internet dead spots inside the buildings. Instead of running new internet access lines to a dead spot in a building, you can use a 5G modem to achieve great bandwidth and fast connection in those areas.

In a typical internet connection scenario, an internet service provider supplies a wired internet connection to the modem via either a coaxial or fiber optics cable. Devices can then use Ethernet cables to connect to the modem itself for direct internet access or a router can be hooked up to the modem. A router then creates a small wireless network within a building allowing devices to connect to the hardwired connection wirelessly through Wi-Fi.

5G routers and modems work similarly. Except, instead of the modem connecting to a hardwired connection, the modem connects to a 5G broadband network and converts that connection to allow non-5G devices to connect to the internet. A router then takes that signal acting in the same way as a traditional router by creating a small network within a building. These devices can also be combined into a 5G router modem that accomplishes the responsibilities of both a modem and router in a single device.