Updated at 23 Jun 2026
5G is the fifth-generation mobile network, offering higher data transfer rates, lower latency, and increased capacity compared to 4G. Utilizing new frequency ranges including millimeter waves, it supports real-time applications and the Internet of Things, with adaptive antennas improving signal focus and reducing exposure.
The platform provides comprehensive information on 5G and mobile communications technology. A mobile network consists of numerous cells, each serviced by an antenna that connects wirelessly to devices nearby. Typically, a base station supplies several cells. The size of each cell depends on usage intensity, with rural cells covering several kilometers and urban cells only a few hundred meters. 5G, the fifth generation of mobile technology, introduces new standards specifying response times and data rates, implemented through technical standards defining communications between antennas and devices. It advances upon 4G, utilizing similar technology but offering greater efficiency, higher data throughput, and lower latency. 5G operates in the same frequency bands as 4G but also uses new bands (3.5–3.8 GHz) and technical improvements that support more users, greater data volume, and real-time connections, enabling applications like remote-controlled operations. Data transmission over mobile networks has significantly increased and continues to double approximately every 18 months; the proliferation of IoT sensors further accelerates this trend, rendering 3G/4G insufficient for future demands. Although millimeter waves (20 GHz and above) are not currently used for mobile networks in Switzerland, they are employed in other applications; future 5G deployments may include these frequencies. "5G antenna" is an imprecise term, as 5G can utilize both conventional and adaptive antennas. Adaptive antennas, employing beamforming, direct signals specifically to devices, reducing interference and energy usage while enhancing connection quality and lowering radiation exposure for non-users. Measurements from 2021–2022 confirm that adaptive antennas emit lower average field strengths and transmit signals only when users are nearby. As of February 1, 2026, Switzerland operates 13,723 5G sites, with detailed maps available showing technologies and locations. Mobile antennas are installed where user density and capacity needs are greatest, but power output is limited to comply with regulatory emission limits to ensure public safety.
