5G Briefing

5G is expected to radically transform the communications industry and reshape peoples’ daily lives and business operations. Expectations are high, as 5G offers mobile operators new revenue opportunities. The worldwide success of previous technology generations put mobile broadband into reach of the masses with ever-rising expectations for higher data speed, quality of experience, new applications and services. It has also grabbed the attention of small and large businesses, most of which have, or plan to incorporate, mobile voice and high speed data connectivity in their operations and business models. With 4G/LTE established as the world’s fastest growing and leading cellular technology - with continuously evolving capabilities, how will 5G differentiate itself, how and when will it deliver its promise of superior performance and capabilities, richer features, and greater efficiencies to enhance existing services and open new markets? Who will be the 5G industry leaders and why?

The infrastructure supplier’s perspective

Operators constantly need to invest in their networks and services to meet existing and evolving customer expectations, while planning for future capacity requirements and services evolution. The road to 5G adoption is complicated and is still evolving. The scale and timing of new investments, in addition to internal pressures for maximizing the value of existing assets – including sites and spectrum, will be critical to business success. Which market segments look the most promising for 5G and how can they be addressed? More spectrum will be needed to fully realize the market potential with 5G. When will new spectrum be needed, in which bands, and when? How are regulators creating the environment for success of 5G? How is the device ecosystem for 5G systems expected to develop? What advice can infrastructure suppliers give to ensure the optimum path that operators should take to introduce 5G?

5G is the next generation of technology and will deliver major performance gains, many new features and capabilities which will enhance many of today’s services and enable new business opportunities. 5G’s inherent ultra-low latency performance will open up the possibility to address markets which demand “real-time” connectivity and communications, including for industrial automation, the transport sector including driverless vehicles systems, utility company operations smart cities /urban management systems and other critical communications needs. Which are the most promising vertical markets for initial 5G deployments and what are their key requirements? Which strategies are best to address the vertical segments and how should operators transform and evolve to create the new business partnerships?

4G LTE ushered in the era of mobile internet which 5G builds on. 5G will be a new kind of platform that will not only deliver superior performance to enhance mobile broadband services but will also expand network capabilities to support new device types and services and connect new industries, especially those sectors requiring “real time” ultra-low latency. Expectations are high for 5G success with three broad use case types – Enhanced mobile broadband (introducing immersive experiences including AR and VR to a wider audience), mission critical communications (for emergency services, health sector, medical procedures, etc.), and the Massive Internet of Things (IoT). 5G will be very fast (peak data rates up to 20 Gbps), but it’s not only about speed. 5G will mean more capacity with access to new spectrum, including into millimeter wave bands. Which are the “pioneer” bands for 5G and the regulatory status in the various regions? Which are the key differentiating technologies with 5G and when will they be introduced? How long will 5G need to fully establish in the market?