How to learn 5G?
There is hardly a one-size-fits-all answer for this question, because we all have different backgrounds and learning styles, but there are some basic principles and things to be aware of on your learning journey.
As you will soon realize, 5G specifications made by 3GPP are publicly available. So, in principle all possible knowledge and descriptions you may need to learn are already there, right? Well, not really. The complexity, interlinking and intricacies of the specifications are mind-boggling. They are written to provide detailed information for implementers to achieve predictable implementation behavior, not a beginners' guide. There is so much information on the specs that even if you are already expert in one area of 5G you will feel like a beginner again as soon as you move out of your area of expertise. If that sounds intimidating, it is because it is but hang on. Keep reading and there may be light in the end of tunnel.
5G books are definitely more helpful to learn than 5G specifications but be aware that many of them were written with one target audience in mind: 4G experts who wanted to switch to 5G. Therefore, they may not be easily approachable by complete beginners.
Getting Started
5G courses are a sound option to get started, especially if you are looking for structured visual material and comprehensive explanations. If the course is given by a top specialist on the area with a talent to explain the complex concepts in understandable way, even better.
If you are really starting your journey on 5G learning we kindly suggest you start by our 5G Overview and Architecture course linked here.
It will be much easier to decide what you want to learn next after you went through an overview. After that course you will probably also benefit even more from the articles of this website.
Learning complex systems (like 5G)
There is well-known proverb which gives a good hint on the proper mindset to learn complex systems (such as 5G). It goes like this: "How do you eat an elephant?" and the answer is: "One bite at a time". At first “How do you eat an elephant?” may sound impossible to solve, but the answer makes it clear that the two main needed traits are: simply get started and never giving up. That is also the right approach to learning 5G: Getting started and always continue learning. Therefore, make sure to bookmark this website and visit from time to time. The "one bite at a time" approach is the reason this website was designed and organized to have many interlinked pages and concepts, written in relatively small articles which point you to related concepts, so that you can decide what else you need to learn next.