The second phase of the 3GPP 5G standardisation process, 5G-Advanced brings a new wave of wireless innovations that will push technology boundaries in three broad directions: Performance Improvements, Better Management and Greater Efficiency, and Enhancement for Specific Use Cases.
This document focuses primarily on 3GPP Rel-18 – the inaugural release of 5G-Advanced. Initial work on Rel-18 in 3GPP started in 2022 (just before the finalisation of Rel-17), targeting commercialisation from 2024 onwards. As it evolves, 5G-Advanced will play an important role bridging from 5G to 6G with new features previously not standardised in 3GPP.
5G-Advanced will provide all kinds of smart connectivity, including services that focus on uplink communication and connect people moving at high velocities, such as those on trains and on planes. 5G-Advanced will also efficiently support highly immersive and interactive applications, which will be widely deployed in the entertainment, training and education sectors.