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5G is Unlike Any G Before It |
NEWS |
The wireless telecommunications industry has taught us that each generation of technology ushered into market brings a new level of functionality and performance. The transition from 2G to 3G, for example, brought wireless data transmission in addition to voice and messaging services. Similarly, with the shift from 3G to 4G, the emphasis was on introducing mobile broadband performance to the mobile network and increasing data speeds to be comparable to home broadband service.
Unlike the major air interface evolutions the industry has experienced before, 5G sets an entirely different set of goals. At a recent analyst event hosted by industry trade group 4G Americas, the organization assembled a 5G workshop to both dispel the myths about 5G and set the record straight for what this next generation of wireless communications solution will consist and when it can be expected to be first commercialized.
4G Evolution, 5G Technical Requirements and 5G User-Driven Requirements |
IMPACT |
5G is more than mobile broadband and as such has numerous use cases. Rather than taking a “build it and they will come” approach to revenue generation, 5G use cases will be driven by sustainable business models firmly rooted in the evolution of LTE technologies.
The path forward with all this work is to tackle use cases that share common criteria. For example, use cases that are performance-centric (greater throughput, lower latency and higher density for IoT) can be grouped together. Similarly, uses cases that are capabilities-centric (control multiple interfaces; ensure security, trust, identity and privacy; consistent UX) can also be grouped together.
Concurrently with the development of 5G, LTE technologies will continue to evolve. The most notable change occurring in 4G LTE networks today is support for voice over the LTE network (VoLTE). Network operator AT&T notes that it will continue adding VoLTE coverage across its network through at least calendar year-end 2016. Carrier aggregation (CA) is being implemented in select, high-density, high-traffic markets with the end-goal of utilizing fragmented spectrum allocations to better serve customers in these markets. CA is one of the first LTE-Advanced capabilities to be commercialized. A lesser-known effort is that of Narrowband-LTE, which is part of 3GPP’s Release 13. Developed for low-power IoT network applications, Narrowband-LTE will utilize a 180 KHz channel that can operate in parallel to existing LTE deployments.
The technical requirements for 5G can be summarized in three major vectors:
What makes 5G unique from 4G, 3G and 2G before it is that it provides an end-to-end ecosystem. 5G will not replace 4G; it is to be implemented as 4G extensions. This is a key principle driving the 5G definition, scope and development. It will also be one of the biggest hurdles facing user education and awareness. Past generations of network technologies have had a clear theme for users: SMS and MMS messaging services, voice and data, and mobile broadband data speeds. With 5G, the message may not be as clear-cut, though the list of user-driven 5G requirements remains extensive:
The expectations for completing the 5G technical requirements in 3GPP is 2017. Due to the complexity of implementation, the first commercial deployments conforming to the 3GPP release are not expected until 2020 at the earliest. Rumors continue to fly about trial networks during Olympic events in 2018 and 2020, though the 4G Americas member companies were quick to caution about setting unrealistic expectations too soon.
With 5G Technical Requirements Approaching Consensus, Major Topics Still to Be Broached |
COMMENTARY |
Communicating all of these technical requirements and plans still leaves a number of 5G topics unaddressed, namely in the areas of spectrum access, capital expenditures (CapEx) and business models:
While these major milestones are yet to be reached, we have to applaud the efforts of 4G Americas and its member companies for coordinating dialogue between the regulators, technology providers and carriers across the Americas. The industry trade group has broadened its relationship with other industry groups, regulators, and standards bodies, making it a more relevant forum for the 4G evolution to 5G than it has in previous wireless generation transitions.