5G-Advanced: The Next Evolution in Mobile Communications

By: Dongwoo Lee, Head of Technology Solution, Networks Business, Samsung Electronics

The fifth generation of wireless networks – 5G – is a significant technological achievement transforming mobile communications worldwide with its unrivaled capabilities. Its three pillars of high data rates, low latency, and support for a massive number of connections make it possible for the industry to achieve levels of efficiency that would not have been considered attainable even twenty years ago. However, 5G is not a single, monolithic set of standards – it’s several, which progressively build upon each other, maintaining backward compatibility while adding new features with each iteration. The next milestone is the 3rd Generation Partnership Project’s (3GPP) Release 18, which will be the first to have the distinction of being named ‘5G-Advanced’.

In 2018, the industry saw the beginning of 5G with 3GPP Rel-15, which laid out the standards for the first 5G New Radio (NR) and focused on the three pillars of 5G. Subsequently, Rel-16 enacted standards for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), beamforming, the Internet of Things (IoT), and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). Building upon this foundation, Rel-17 introduced advancements supporting non-terrestrial networks, industrial automation, broadcast services, and network slicing.

Release 18 will be the first to hold the name 5G-Advanced and is slated to be finalized in mid-2024, with Release 19 expected in late 2025. Rel-18 promises substantial enhancements spanning the core network, system architecture, and service landscape, providing new possibilities for environmentally-conscious networking solutions. Augmentations to the radio access network will be realized using automation run by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Rel-19 will expand upon Rel-18, focusing on improving performance and expanding 5G capabilities across devices and deployments as well as new applications, including Extended Reality (XR) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).

With 5G-Advanced, we’ll also see:

Additional enhancements will be included for edge computing, energy savings, the integration of smart repeaters, network slicing, extended support for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and improvements to AR/VR experiences.

With deployment anticipated in 2025, 5G-Advanced will provide a variety of new applications and capabilities. Vendors are expected to be able offer more energy-saving methods, additional spectrum-efficient radio access networks, upgraded network slicing, and improved backhaul capabilities. Communication Service Providers (CSP) are expected to be able to provide customers with higher throughput and expanded coverage, allowing for a wider variety of services. CSPs will likely implement automation in more of their networks, leading to increasing operational efficiencies. Enterprises will have the ability to operate new, advanced use cases with energy-efficient IoT devices and more accurate positioning for mobile robots and vehicles. At the same time, faster networks will allow them to make decisions more quickly and easily, making immediate use of real-time data. Subsequently, consumers will enjoy faster speeds and improved functionality, propelling our digital experiences further.

Samsung has long played a pivotal role in advancing wireless technology. Based on its long-term R&D and technical leadership, the company is ready for future networks supporting 5G-Advanced and beyond. At MWC 2024, Samsung unveiled its next-generation Massive MIMO radios for 5G Advanced (128TRx 6GHz) that will help operators build next-generation networks efficiently and seamlessly.

With a deep understanding of the ever-changing requirements within the telecommunications sector, Samsung has been instrumental in establishing 5G networks that are open, compatible, resilient, and trustworthy for operators worldwide. The continuing evolution of mobile networks exemplifies the remarkable capabilities of modern technology. With 5G-Advanced nearing on the horizon, this journey will continue with new features, functionality, and benefits for industry and individuals.