Open Fiber: how 5G and fiber are connected

Although almost no one knows it, the 5G network wouldn't exist without a robust fiber backbone

With Open Fiber, the rules of the game between 5G and fiber are changing, thanks to a completely new ecosystem that leaves behind old technologies to take a leap into the future. However, what is the connection between these two systems? How can they coexist simultaneously? Are they independent or closely related to each other?

With the advent of 5G, the connection to the network and the devices connected to it will be so fast that it will leave you speechless, at least comparing it to what happens today. We are talking about much higher speeds, no longer measured in megabits per second but, even, in gigabits. The areas of application are potentially infinite: from smart home, already full of devices connected to each other and manageable through the network connection, to wearables, the telemedicine sector, the automotive and emergency, where remote control can open the doors to more powerful and targeted applications.

Open Fiber, what is the link between 5G and Optical Fiber

To reach speeds like those of 5G it is necessary to rely on a first-rate network, a fiber optic infrastructure available throughout the territory in a capillary manner, in order to reach even the smallest realities. Obviously, all this is not possible through the old copper networks or, even if more recent, those in mixed fiber-copper; in fact, the limitations of these two technologies would act as a handbrake for 5G, forcing it to slow down the speed.

Through a deployment in 271 cities belonging to clusters A and B, that is those areas at national level with higher population density, and 7.600 municipalities in clusters C and D Open Fiber aims to build all the necessary fiber optic infrastructures to ensure, with a remarkable coverage of the territory, the maximum speed of 5G, making it possible to use the network at the same speed in large cities as well as in smaller towns.

Open Fiber, what is being achieved in Italy

For Open Fiber, the primary objective is to have an extremely widespread fiber optic network, so that 5G mobile sites, or what are also called microcells, can be connected together. This will therefore allow for an ultra-fast network, both in terms of web browsing and applications in all areas involved.

No less important factor is that of response time, or latency, which is extremely low. Unlike today, the interconnection between devices and the experience of people using them will be totally different for a true digital transformation.