{"id":8864,"date":"2016-10-31T15:40:46","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T15:40:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/networks\/?post_type=digest&p=8864"},"modified":"2025-02-17T01:35:44","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T01:35:44","slug":"5g-becoming-clearer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/networks\/digest\/5g-becoming-clearer\/","title":{"rendered":"5G is becoming clearer – update from the NGMN conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Michele Zarri, Technical Director – Networks, GSMA<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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GSMA\u2019s Network 2020 programme was invited to speak at the recent NGMN conference<\/a> on \u20185G: Status of Demand and Delivery\u2019 in Frankfurt. The conference brought the industry together to discuss what 5G is, and to explore use cases and drivers with the aim of clarifying the path to 5G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key themes and technologies were discussed to bring a harmonised approach to delivery including network slicing as a technical enabler to serve all use cases with the same infrastructure. The ITU-R triangle<\/a> was widely used to illustrate the expected portfolio of services that 5G will make available and how they exploit the enhanced data rates, low latency and support of massive IoT capabilities provided by the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New vertical markets<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While enhanced mobile broadband was indicated by both Operators and Vendors as a key use case to fuel the deployment of 5G there was also further inspiration from new vertical markets. Some vertical markets, IoT in particular, may be too broad to be captured in a single set of functional requirements. However, a strong and tangible example of what is expected from 5G in terms of functionality came from the automotive industry with Audi, BMW Group and Continental representing the 5GAA (5G Automotive Association). The presentation looked at a new definition of mobile services and the next era of automotive innovation in the era of cloud, data, and business model innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlight –<\/strong> automotive industry presented their vision of what their expectation on 5G is:<\/strong>\n

\u2022 Connectivity everywhere, whatever the carrier,<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ultra reliable,<\/p>\n

\u2022 Low latency for mission critical messages (when accident occurs, sensors),<\/p>\n

\u2022 Licensed spectrum, with quality of service as a driver,<\/p>\n

\u2022 National and international roaming, with seamless roam, low latency and broad coverage.<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Spectrum allocation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another key topic for 5G is the spectrum allocation, and harmonisation across the industry and worldwide. Most Operators declared their intention to start deployments below 6GHz, however we heard during the conference that it would be unlikely that a globally harmonised band could be selected (as an example some mentioned 700MHz as a potential frequency, although this band is already used in the US). The most popular spectrum band is 3.2 to 3.6GHz, which is not available in countries such as Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relating to the use of millimetre wave frequencies 28 GHz was indicated by most as the likely band of choice. Samsung also presented some lab tests performed at 60 GHz, a band already used by 802.11ad (WiGig) compliant equipment. 5G will be deployed in these frequencies at a later stage, most likely considering the small footprint of a cell operating at such high frequency, for special use cases like broadband hotspot or specific industry needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Calvert, Head of the Network 2020 programme highlighted the role GSMA will play in helping Operators to obtain sufficient amount of spectrum and requested the UN sustainable development goals<\/a> of connecting the unconnected were taken into account while developing the 5G system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Technology driving 5G<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of technologies, the hot topics were virtualisation, with a focus on Network Slicing and Cloud based architecture. Most of the demonstrations in the exhibition area were showcasing these technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two further specific and interesting areas were debated, security and testing\/proof of concept:<\/p>\n\n\n\n