What is 5G?

5G is the common name for fifth generation electronic communication networks. Similar to 4G/LTE networks, 5G or NR (New Radio) is the next step in technology development of radio stations which have been evolving constantly for the past 100 years. A1 network upgrade will be done in continuity, alongside with 2G, 3G and 4G network service provision and the 5G network services will be made available to all users using devices supporting 5G.

5G technology networks can transfer data much faster as compared to previous generation networks. Moreover, there is a number of other advantages, such as higher security, lower latency (time delay), multiple devices connectivity and much more efficient and channeled network resource allocation depending on clients’ specific needs.

at А1 Macedonia

In 2022, A1 has started building its 5G network which is able to reach speeds of up to 1Gbps for data transfer through mobile phone. A1 is intensively working on expanding its 5G network coverage throughout the country, and currently it covers the regions of Skopje, Kumanovo, K.Palanka, Kratovo, Bitola, Prilep, D.Hisar, Kichevo, M.Brod, Ohrid, Struga, Resen, Prespa, Tetovo, Gostivar, Debar, Mavrovo, and Rostusha. Additionally, by the end of 2023, A1 will provide 5G coverage across the entire country. To be able to use the 5G service, you need to be at location with 5G network coverage.

tariff plans

Select the А1 Ultra (M, L, XL) tariff plans and get ready to benefit from the advantages offered by the new 5G technology. The tariff plans above offer unlimited 5G mobile data forever, as well as unlimited minutes to all national networks, every month.

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bundles

If you are currently a postpaid customer of A1 mobile services and you do not use any of the A1 Ultra (M, L, XL) tariff plans, you can now activate any of the monthly 5G bundles and explore the benefits of the 5G technology.

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smartphones

In addition to 5G network coverage, to use the 5G service, you need to own a mobile phone supporting 5G technology. The availability of the 5G service in various models of mobile phones depends on the manufacturers, and A1 is guaranteeing the availability of 5G in devices purchased solely at A1 stores. Below is a detailed list of mobile phone models for which the 5G service is readily available. If you already use a mobile phone that supports 5G, please select the 5G option in the network settings of your device.

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What does technology bring us?

What does 5G technology bring us?

Speed

Speeds up to 1Gbit/s

Downloading large quantities of data with speed of 1 Gbit/s.

Capacity

Connecting large number of devices

Simultaneous connecting large number of devices per square kilometer.

Latency

Minimal network delay

Dramatic decrease of signal delay down to almost undetectable levels.

Efficiency

Excellent stability

Higher network confidence and stable connection.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Smart environment

Connecting smart devices at home and at the office, making everyday life easier.

Examples from the future

Traffic safety

Imagine a scenario in which a vehicle driving down the road gets notification before entering a turn that there are pedestrians, cyclists or any other obstacles ahead and their exact location. A local app tracking object’s movement in 3D technology, processing data on a cloud and sending them to the vehicle to notify the driver to be careful. 5G will connect machine learning and artificial intelligence and will raise safety level.

More free time

In the future, your fridge will notify you which products you need to buy, will send you recommendations what to prepare based on the products in it or will tell you which products are near their expiry date, and will buy them online and will send you authentication request, all this while you do get on with your routine at your favorite café or while walking in the park. By connecting multiple devices and artificial intelligence, 5G will make your everyday life much easier.

Advancement in medicine

Surgeons on the other end of the world will be able to assist their peers in operating theaters or even perform "distance" surgeries using robotic arms and robotic gloves. Robot control using VR technology, or even getting feedback upon touching upon surgeries will enable accelerated development of all branches of medicine supported by the 5G technology.

Entertainment has never been better

Soon, the moves you make in videogames will be efficient and precise, just as you imagine them to be, and lags or slow connections will no longer cause distress, the boundary between reality and virtual world will be blurrier than ever, and all your favorite videogames will be at your fingertips in your game cloud and you will be able to enjoy the best gaming experience anytime and anywhere. And much more than that, 5G is to improve gaming quality and is to ensure phenomenal gaming experience.

Exchange of data

With 5G, traffic lights would automatically respond to immediate conditions on the streets, vehicles and their environment would communicate and would exchange traffic data, such as traffic light change, any traffic accidents occurring and sending prompt notifications to the traffic police. 5G will enable better response and will contribute to improving traffic overall.

 
 

Everything you want to know about 5G

The 5G network of the A1 Telekom Group is taking the region by a storm, and it rightfully holds the epithet as being one of the pioneering corporations of the new technology. In some of the countries where it is available, 5G is already used commercially. Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia are part of the countries where 5G approvals have already been issued by national regulatory bodies and several thousand A1 base stations have been upgraded to 5G, so customers can already experience some of the benefits offered by this technology. Macedonia does not fall behind, as A1 Macedonia has performed successful testing of 5G technology and it intensively preparing to upgrade its network, so as it is readily activated once the commercial use is approved by competent authorities. There is constantly rising interest in this new technology, so we advise you to learn more about this topic.

5G is fifth generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard launched after 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G networks. 5G enables new deploying type of network designed to connect practically everybody and everything, including machines, objects and devices.

The 5G wireless technology is designed to deliver higher, top-ranking speeds of data of several Gbps, ultralow latency, higher reliability, enormous network capacity, increased availability and equal user experience for more users. Higher performances and improved efficiency encourage new user experiences and connect new industries.

Previous generations of mobile networks are 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G.

  • First generation ‒ 1G
    1980s: 1G delivered analog voice.
  • Second generation ‒ 2G
    Early 1990s: 2G introduced digital voice (e.g. CDMA ‒ Code-division multiple access).
  • Third generation ‒ 3G
    Early 2000s: 3G brought mobile data (e.g. CDMA2000).
  • Fourth generation ‒ 4G LTE
    2010s: 4G LTE brought the era of mobile broadband.

1G, 2G, 3G and 4G have led to the development of 5G, which is designed to ensure improved connectivity which has never been available before.

5G is unified, more capable air interface. It has been designed to house a wider capacity in order to ensure next generation user experience, to encourage new models of deployment and to deliver new services.

With higher speeds, superior reliability and negligible latency, 5G is to expand mobile ecosystem in new uncharted areas. 5G is surely to impact every industry, making safer transportation, distance healthcare, precise agriculture, digitalized logistics and much more, a reality.

5G is boosting global growth.

  • USD 13.1 trillion global economic production;
  • 22.8 million new jobs created;
  • USD 265 million global 5G CAPEX and R&D annually in the next 15 years.

A significant study about 5G economy has revealed that the overall economic effect of 5G will probably take place all around the world by the year 2035 – thus supporting wide array of industries and potentially enabling goods and services worth USD 13.1 trillion.

 

This impact is significantly higher than any previous network generation. Development requirements of the new 5G network, moreover, expand beyond traditional mobile network players in industries, such as the automotive industry.

In addition, the study has revealed that the chain of value of the 5G (including OEM, carriers, content creators, app developers and consumers) can alone support up to 22.8 million jobs or more than one job per every inhabitant of Beijing, China. And, there are going to be many new applications remaining to be defined in the future. Only time will tell what the overall effect of 5G on global economy will be.

In general, 5G is used in three main types of associated services, including improved mobile broadband, key communications for the mission and mass IoT. The definitive capability of 5G is that it is designed to provide advanced compatibility – capacity to flexibly support future services which are still unknown today.

Improved mobile broadband

In addition to making our smartphones better than ever, the 5G mobile technology can bring new extraordinary experiences, such as VR and AR which operate faster, at equal data rates, with lower latency and at lower fees per bit.

Communications of key importance to the mission

5G can enable new services that might transform industries thanks to the ultra-reliable connectivity with low latency, such as distance management of critical infrastructure, vehicles and medical procedures.

Mass IoT

The objective of 5G is to connect seamlessly a massive number of sensors integrated practically in everything, through the possibility for decreasing data rates, power and mobility – ensuring exceptionally space-saving and cost-effective connectivity solutions.

5G is designed to deliver the highest-ranking data rates of up to 20 Gbps based on IMT-2020 requirements. The leading solution for 5G of Qualcomm Technologies, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X65 is designed to reach up to 10 Gbps in top data transfer rates.

However, 5G is much more than its speed. In addition to higher maximal data rates, 5G is designed to ensure much more network capacity trough expanding into new specter, such as the mmWave.

Moreover, 5G can deliver much lower latency for a more immediate response and can enable an overall equal user experience, so data rates remain constantly high – even when users are moving around. The new 5G NR mobile network is supported by a Gigabit LTE coverage base, which may enable ubiquitous Gigabit class connectivity.

Yes, you will need a new smart phone supporting 5G if you wish to connect to the network. For example, smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 5G mobile platforms are 5G compatible.

There are several new mobile phones designed to support 5G, and several carriers worldwide support 5G wireless network. As 5G rolling-out timeline advances, more and more smartphones and carrier subscription options will be made available, as both 5G technology and 5G-compatible devices become even more popular.