Why isn't the 5G toolbox available for students/home users?

I have recently downloaded Matlab 2021b but I am unable to download the 5G toolbox for some unknown reason.

Thanks, Betty

Answer 1

[Nihal]

Hi Betty,

I understand you are facing problem in finding 5G tool box.

In order to use additional toolboxes with the MATLAB Student Version, they must first be purchased from mathworks.com. To do so, first log in to your MathWorks Account :

1. Click on the shopping cart button in the row with your license number
2. After selecting the products you wish to purchase, click on "Proceed to checkout"
3. Click on "Checkout"
4. Review and Confirm to the Terms of Student Use by clicking "Continue"
5. Enter your Address of Use and click "Continue"
6. Complete the Billing Information section and click "Continue"
7. Complete the Payment Information section and click "Continue"
8. Confirm your Billing and Payment Information, the items being purchased and click "Submit My Order"
9. Your Order number will be displayed on the Purchase Confirmed screen and you will be able to Download Your Products or Check Order Status

In order to purchase additional toolboxes, the license must be current on Software Maintenance Service. If the license is not current on Software Maintenance Service, the Renewal Product line will need to be added to the cart in order to purchase additional toolboxes.

If the toolbox is not listed in the MathWorks Store, it may not be available for the Student Version. Not every toolbox available for the professional version of MATLAB is available for the Student Version.

I hope this information resolves your query.

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

The reason why the 5G Toolbox cannot be purchased for the Student license is likely that at present Mathworks believes that there is not significant undergraduate student courses that would use the 5G Toolbox -- but that at the same time, there would be a significant risk that commercial companies might obtain (very inexpensive!) Student licenses in order to get access to the toolbox instead of paying commercial rates for the toolbox.

More generally, Mathworks needs to be able to point to something not being available in the Student license in order to satisfy government purchasing requirements in some jurisdictions -- purchasing requirements that commercial companies must offer "most favored customer" prices. The more toolboxes that are not available to Student licenses, the better that Mathworks can defend the position that the Student license is substantially different than the Standard (commercial) license that governments are requires to purchase.