(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/Piotr Adamowicz)
The surge in smart devices largely drove wireless operators to rapidly deploy 4G LTE networks across many regions. Handling the explosive growth in data consumption has shaped mobile operators’ strategies for years: not only to supply bandwidth to data-hungry subscribers but also to protect profit margins expected by shareholders.
Today, 5G is being discussed much like 4G was in the late 2000s. Companies across the wireless ecosystem are actively shaping what 5G will become, and core technical definitions are gradually taking form alongside expectations for what the next generation must deliver.
Rolling out a new mobile generation is not a matter of flipping a switch. While much current debate centers on defining 5G, it cannot be realized until concrete plans exist for integrating it into networks. As with any ambitious transformation, significant obstacles must be addressed to achieve the desired outcome.
CommScope and other industry players view 5G as a “network of networks.” Continued cell densification—spanning macro sites, indoor coverage, metro cells and small cells—will be essential to deliver the speeds and capacity associated with 5G. That densification, however, increases network complexity and requires more advanced infrastructure solutions.
Delivering 5G will require new spectrum while still supporting legacy 3G and 4G services. Designing equipment that can manage multiple frequency bands at shared sites is a complex engineering challenge. New access techniques, such as Massive MIMO, are expected to play a central role. Advanced RF beamforming and interference mitigation methods must be developed to reach 5G performance goals.
Enhanced self-organizing network (SON) features and changes to core network architecture are also required. The next-generation core will leverage modern networking paradigms like Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN). Operators will combine these with powerful analytics to automatically optimize network performance.
5G is often discussed alongside the Internet of Things (IoT). In the IoT vision, countless sensors, meters and machines will connect wirelessly to the internet to deliver new efficiencies across many use cases. These machine-to-machine (M2M) connections will increase the load on wireless networks and heighten the demand for capacity.
One open question for IoT is how much bandwidth these connected devices will actually need. Not every IoT application will consume large amounts of data—connected parking meters, for example, are unlikely to use anywhere near the bandwidth of a person streaming video. Many projected IoT scenarios are connection-oriented rather than data-intensive, though some will impose stricter latency requirements.
For instance, vehicle collision-avoidance systems are driving requirements for latency as low as one millisecond. Other future applications may demand both greater bandwidth and lower latency. Precisely defining IoT use cases will be necessary to finalize the architectural requirements for 5G.
If 5G intends to deliver speeds up to 1,000 times faster than current 4G, it must use spectrum far more efficiently. As with previous generational shifts, the RF path remains critical to reaching “Destination 5G.” A high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) will be essential to provide robust, high-speed data services as demand grows.
Multi-antenna technologies like Massive MIMO are strong candidates for improving spectral efficiency in 5G networks. Implementations with large antenna arrays—often 64 or more transceiver elements—are expected to boost cell capacity far beyond today’s limits. Large-scale antenna systems become physically more practical at higher frequencies, where shorter wavelengths allow more compact arrays. These systems will likely be important in spectrum above 2 GHz and in TDD bands where continuous handset feedback is not required.
As with past generations, the precise definition of 5G will depend on standards set by global bodies such as the ITU-Telecommunication Standardization Sector. History shows that once a cellular generation is standardized, the industry quickly creates new devices, services and business models that take advantage of it. The potential of 5G to enable innovative products and applications is enormous, and the industry is eager to see what emerges.
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