Densifying the networks with small cells is a key part to making 5G a reality, but the most dense small cell networks are still in 4G. Network densification has been used in 4G LTE for a while. As the 3GPP standards committee meets in Busan, South Korea this week, let’s take a look at some recent network densification efforts in 5G. Networks need to be made more dense or just extended in areas with high concentration of mobile users, such as urban areas and large public venues. As with all 5G, the tech industry anticipates explosive growth of applications, some of which will require massive bandwidth. 5G network densification has become a priority in both fixed and mobile wireless for network operators. One method of network densification is to use the heterogenous networks or hetnets, which consist, among other iterations, of an army of small cells precisely placed to extend existing networks so they can provide enough coverage for more devices and using millimeter wave spectrum, which need the extra handoffs to occur physically closer to each other. A good explanation can be found on a 3GPP  blog.