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5G is a marketing term for some new mobile technologies. Definitions differ and confusion is common. The ITU IMT-2020 standard provides for speeds up to 20 gigabits per second and has only been demonstrated with millimeter waves of 15 gigahertz and higher frequency. The more recent 3GPP standard includes any network using the NR New Radio software. 5G New Radio can include lower frequencies, from 600 MHz to 6 GHz. However, the speeds in these lower frequencies are only modestly higher than new 4G systems, estimated at 15% to 50% faster. At least at the lower frequencies, "5G is evolutionary."
Speed
5G NR speed in sub-6 GHz bands can be modestly higher than 4G with a similar amount of spectrum and antennas.[3][4] Adding LAA (Licensed Assisted Access) to a 4G configuration can add hundreds of megabits per second to the speed.[5]Until there is substantial field testing, 5G speeds can only be estimated. Qualcomm, the leading chipmaker, presented at Mobile World Congress a model that has been cited by many.[6][7][8] The simulation predicts 490 Mbit/s median speeds for a common configuration of 3.5 GHz 5G Massive MIMO. It predicts a 1.4 Gbit/s median speed for a configuration using 28 GHz millimeter waves.[9]
Some 3GPP 5G networks will be slower than some advanced 4G networks. T-Mobile's LTE/LAA network is deployed and serving customers at over 500 megabits per second in Manhattan.[5] The 5G specification allows LAA as well but it has not yet been demonstrated.
Standards
Initially, the term was defined by the ITU IMT-2020 standard, which required a theoretical peak download capacity of 20 gigabits.[10] More recently, the industry standards group 3GPP has included any system using NR (New Radio) software.[11] The 3GPP standards do not require any particular performance level.ITU has divided 5G network services into three categories: enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) or handsets, Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC), which includes industrial applications and autonomous vehicles, and Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC) or sensors.[12] Initial 5G deployments will focus on eMBB[13] and fixed wireless,[14] which makes use of many of the same capabilities as eMBB. 5G will use spectrum in the existing LTE frequency range (600 MHz to 6 GHz) and also in millimeter wave bands (24–86 GHz). 5G technologies have to satisfy ITU IMT-2020 requirements and/or 3GPP Release 15; while IMT-2020 specifies data rates of 20 Gbit/s, 5G speed in sub-6 GHz bands is similar to 4G.[3][4]
IEEE covers several areas of 5G with a core focus in wireline sections between the Remote Radio Head (RRH) and Base Band Unit (BBU). The 1914.1 standards focuses on network architecture and dividing the connection between the RRU and BBU into two key sections. Radio Unit (RU) to the Distributor Unit (DU) being the NGFI-I (Next Generation Fronthaul Interface) and the DU to the Central Unit (CU) being the NGFI-II interface allowing a more diverse and cost effective network. NGFI-I and NGFI-II have defined performance values which should be compiled to ensure different traffic types defined by the ITU are capable of being carried. 1914.3 standard is creating a new Ethernet frame format capable of carrying IQ data in a much more efficient way depending on the functional split utilized, this is based on the 3GPP definition of functional splits. Multiple network synchronization standards within the IEEE groups are being updated to ensure network timing accuracy at the RU is maintained to a level required for the traffic carried over it.
Capabilities
5G systems in line with IMT-2020 specifications,[15] are expected to provide enhanced device- and network-level capabilities, tightly coupled with intended applications. The following eight parameters are key capabilities for IMT-2020 5G:| Capability | Description | 5G Target | Usage Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak data rate | Maximum achievable data rate | 20 Gbit/s | eMBB |
| User experienced data rate | Achievable data rate across coverage area | 1 Gbit/s | eMBB |
| Latency | Radio network contribution to packet travel time | 1 ms | URLLC |
| Mobility | Maximum speed for handoff and QoS requirements | 500 km/h | eMBB/URLLC |
| Connection density | Total number of devices per unit area | 106/km2 | MMTC |
| Energy efficiency | Data sent/received per unit energy consumption (by device or network) | Equal to 4G | eMBB |
| Spectrum efficiency | Throughout per wireless bandwidth and per network cell | 3-4x 4G | eMBB |
| Area traffic capacity | Total traffic across coverage area | 10 (Mbit/s)/m2 | eMBB |
Deployment
Development of 5G is being led by companies[16] such as Intel[17] and Qualcomm[18] for modem technology and Lenovo,[19] Nokia,[20] Huawei,[21] Ericsson,[22] ZTE,[23] and Samsung[24] for infrastructure. AT&S is supporting the current roll-out of the 5G mobile communications generation with high frequency (HF) optimized interconnect solutions by developing and producing hybrid-printed circuit board (PCB) structures [25]Worldwide commercial launch is expected in 2020. Numerous operators have demonstrated 5G as well, including Korea Telecom for the 2018 Winter Olympics[26][27] and Telstra at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[28] In the United States, the four major carriers have all announced deployments: AT&T's[29] millimeter wave commercial deployments in 2018, Verizon's 5G fixed wireless launches in four U.S. cities and millimeter-wave deployments,[30] Sprint's launch in the 2.5 GHz band, and T-Mobile's 600 MHz 5G launch in 30 cities.[31] Vodafone performed the first UK trials in April 2018 using mid-band spectrum,[32] and China Telecom's initial 5G buildout in 2018 will use mid-band spectrum as well.[33]
Beyond mobile operator networks, 5G is also expected to be widely utilized for private networks with applications in industrial IoT, enterprise networking, and critical communications.
Spectrum
In order to support increased throughput requirements of 5G, large quantities of new spectrum (5G NR frequency bands) have been allocated to 5G, particularly in mmWave bands.[34] For example, in July 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States freed up vast amounts of bandwidth in underutilised high-band spectrum for 5G. The Spectrum Frontiers Proposal (SFP) doubled the amount of millimeter-wave (mmWave) unlicensed spectrum to 14 GHz and created four times the amount of flexible, mobile-use spectrum the FCC had licensed to date.[35] In March 2018, European Union lawmakers agreed to open up the 3.6 and 26 GHz bands by 2020.[36]Mobile networks
Initial 5G launches in the sub-6 GHz band will not diverge architecturally from existing LTE 4G infrastructure. Leading network equipment suppliers are Nokia,[20] Huawei,[21] and Ericsson.[22]5G modems
Traditional cellular modem suppliers have significant investment in the 5G modem market. Qualcomm announced its X50 5G Modem in October 2016,[37] and in November 2017, Intel announced its XMM8000 series of 5G modems, including the XMM8060 modem, both of which have expected productization dates in 2019.[17][38] In February 2018, Huawei announced the Balong 5G01 terminal device[39] with an expected launch date for 5G-enabled mobile phones of 2018[40] and Mediatek announced its own 5G solutions targeted at 2020 production.[41] Samsung is also working on the Exynos 5G modem, but has not announced a production date.[42]Technology
New radio frequencies
The air interface defined by 3GPP for 5G is known as New Radio (NR), and the specification is subdivided into two frequency bands, FR1 (<6 and="" class="reference" fr2="" id="cite_ref-43" mmwave="" nbsp="" sup="" z="">[43]each with different capabilities.
Frequency range 1 (< 6 GHz)
The maximum channel bandwidth defined for FR1 is 100 MHz. Note that beginning with Release 10, LTE supports 100 MHz carrier aggregation (five x 20 MHz channels.) FR1 supports a maximum modulation format of 256-QAM while LTE has a maximum of 128-QAM, meaning 5G achieves significant throughput improvements relative to LTE in the sub-6 GHz bands. However LTE-Advanced already uses 256-QAM, eliminating the advantage of 5G in FR1.Frequency range 2 (24–86 GHz)
The maximum channel bandwidth defined for FR2 is 400 MHz, with two-channel aggregation supported in 3GPP Release 15. The maximum phy rate potentially supported by this configuration is approximately 40 Gbit/s. 5G Networks. In Europe, 24.25-27.5 GHz is the proposed frequencies range.[44]Massive MIMO antennas
Massive MIMO (multiple input and multiple output Antennas) increases sector throughput and capacity density using large numbers of Antenna and Multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO). Each antenna is individually-controlled and may embed radio transceiver components. Nokia claims 5x capacity increase for a 64-Tx/64-Rx Antennas) system. The term "massive MIMO" was first coined by Nokia Bell Labs researcher Dr. Thomas L. Marzetta in 2010. and has been launched in 4G networks, such as Softbank in Japan.Edge computing
Edge computing is a method of optimizing cloud computing systems "by taking the control of computing applications, data, and services away from some central nodes (the "core area"). In a 5G network it would promote faster speeds and low latency data transfer on edge devices.[45]Radio convergence
One perceived benefit of the transition to 5G is the convergence of multiple networking functions to achieve cost, power and complexity reductions. LTE has targeted convergence with Wi-Fi via various efforts, such as License Assisted Access (LAA) and LTE-WLAN Aggregation (LWA), but the differing capabilities of cellular and Wi-Fi have limited the scope of convergence. However, significant improvement in cellular performance specifications in 5G, combined with migration from Distributed Radio Access Network (D-RAN) to Cloud- or Centralized-RAN (C-RAN) and rollout of cellular small cells can potentially narrow the gap between Wi-Fi and cellular networks in dense and indoor deployments. Radio convergence could result in sharing ranging from aggregation of cellular and Wi-Fi channels to the use of a single silicon device for multiple radio access technologies.First 5G Network Deployments
A variety of operators have announced 5G trials and network launches. (Comprehensive list of 5G networks.)United States
US operators' launch plans fall into two distinct categories: Fixed wireless and Mobile. Fixed wireless typically services residential broadband customers with speeds in excess of 1 Gbit/s using mmWave bands. Mobile launch will use sub-6 GHz spectrum in traditional LTE or newly-allocated bands with similar performance to LTE.| Fixed Wireless | Mobile | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Launch Date | Bands | Launch Geographies | Launch Date | Bands | Launch Geographies |
| AT&T | TBD[46] | 28/39 GHz[47][48] | Trials: Austin, Waco, South Bend, Kalamazoo | End 2018[49] | TBD[50] | Dallas, Waco, Atlanta (12 cities total)[51] |
| Verizon | 2H 2018[52] | 28 GHz | 3-5 cities including Sacramento, Los Angeles and Houston (2H18) | 1H 2019[53] | TBD[54] | TBD |
| Sprint | N/A | N/A[55] | 1H 2019[56] | 2.5 GHz | Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Washington, New York, Phoenix, Kansas City | |
| T-Mobile | End 2018 | 28/39 GHz[57] | Trials: Bellevue, WA[58] | End 2018[59] | 600 MHz | Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Dallas (30 cities total) |
| Dish Networks | N/A | N/A | 2020[60] | 600 MHz | ||
| Charter Communications | End 2018 | 28 GHz[61] | Orlando, Reno, Clarksville TN, Columbus, Bakersfield and Grand Rapids | |||
United Kingdom
EE, a large mobile network operator in the UK, plans to trial a 5G network in October 2018. A small number of businesses and homes in East London Tech City will take part in the trial.[62] BT Group, who owns EE, had previously said during a presentation in May 2018 that they plan to launch a commercial 5G product "within 18 months".[63] The UK first plans to deploy 5G to London and other major cities (e.g, Bristol, Birmingham) as a starting point, and then it will establish a 5G network in other major cities. The next step will be for small- and medium-sized towns.[64]Spain
Vodafone announced officially in July 2018 that they had completed a minor pre-market deployment of 5G base stations across several big cities in Spain including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga, Bilbao and Sevilla. They also announced that only the wireless technology is completely 5G based but not the connection of the base stations itself, which will be temporarily based on the LTE infrastructure.[65]Finland & Estonia
On June 27, 2018, Elisa, a Finnish telecommunications company, launched the world's first commercial 5G network in Tampere, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia.[66]South Korea
South Korea successfully launched the trial of 5G showcases during the 2018 Winter Olympics.[26][27]| Fixed Wireless | Mobile | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Launch Date | Bands | Launch Geographies | Launch Date | Bands | Launch Geographies |
| KT, LG U+, and SK Telecom | By no later than the middle of 2019 | T.B.D | Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan | T.B.D | T.B.D | T.B.D |
South Korea's three major mobile companies which are KT, LG U+, and SK Telecom, agreed to collaborate on a single nationwide 5G infrastructure by no later than the middle of 2019. Previously South Korea's three mobile companies constructed their 3G or 4G network independently. South Korea Government recommended sharing some of their infrastructure (examples: 3G/4G base-station and mobile tower) where it is possible. However, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT analysed that 5G requires "small cell" base stations, which is expected to about 8~12 times of more significant numbers of stations to cover the current coverage of 4G base stations. It potentially involves a lot of infrastructure cost and redundant investments.[67] South Korea agreed to collaborate with China and Japan for the 5G standardisation.[68]
