TOKYO -- Japan's materials makers are pouring money into development and output of cutting-edge products essential to the expanded use of 5G -- the next generation mobile communication standard -- including substances that cut signal loss and devices to facilitate data transmission in high-frequency bands.
The U.S. and South Korea both introduced 5G by 2019 and Japan followed suit earlier this year. The prior 4G standard uses the 3.5 gigahertz band while 5G uses millimeter wave, which falls in the 28-gigahertz spectrum. Many carriers, however, have started 5G services in the so-called sub-6 spectrum, or below 6 gigahertz, frequencies, and plan to expand into millimeter wave in the next few years.
