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Today, 5G services have been put into commercial use in more than 90 countries/regions around the world, and the network supports 5G functions based on 3GPP Release 15 and 16. Commercial 5G devices already offer enhanced experiences across different form factors and use cases thanks to the Snapdragon® X70 modem-RF system.
5G-Advanced, as the next evolutionary step in 5G technology, will bring new enhancements beyond connectivity and provide a wider range of advanced use cases for vertical industries. Its launch will support advanced applications with enhanced mobility and high reliability, introduce artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve network performance, and achieve further improvements in spectrum efficiency and energy conservation.
In this article, Rui Ge will take you to have a good understanding of 5G-Advanced, let’s get started directly!
Table of contents:
Article directory
1. Technical basis of 5G-Advanced
1.1 Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology
Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology is an important component of 5G-Advanced, which greatly improves the performance of communication systems by using multiple antennas simultaneously for data transmission. Compared with traditional single-antenna systems, MIMO technology not only improves network capacity, but also significantly increases data transmission speed.
Example: In high-density urban areas, MIMO technology can more effectively handle situations where a large number of users are connected at the same time, ensuring that network quality is not affected by congestion.
1.2 mmWave and beamforming
5G-Advanced uses millimeter wave and beamforming technology to further expand the communication spectrum. The use of millimeter waves enables communication systems to take advantage of higher frequencies, thereby increasing spectral efficiency and transmission speeds. Beamforming technology allows signals to be transmitted directly to specific users, reducing signal scattering and loss.
Example: In cities, millimeter wave and beamforming technologies can help achieve ultra-high-speed broadband access, providing users with a faster Internet experience, supporting high-definition video streaming and large-scale data transmission.
1.3 Network slicing technology
Network slicing is another key technology of 5G-Advanced, which allows the communication network to be divided into multiple independent virtual network instances to meet the needs of different application scenarios. This customized service capability makes the communication system more flexible and adaptable.
Example: In the medical field, network slicing technology can provide a low-latency and high-reliability communication environment for remote surgery, ensuring that doctors can operate remote surgical equipment in real time.
2. Key enhancements of 5G-Advanced
5G-Advanced, as a further evolution of 5G technology, will introduce a series of key enhancements to promote the development of communication technology to a higher level.
- XR (AR, VR, gaming) enhanced experience : 5G-Advanced will expand the scope of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications and cloud gaming, providing an excellent mobile XR experience. This requires high data rates, low latency and high application awareness, helping to shift the XR processing load from the device to the network, reducing the cost, size and power consumption of user devices.
- Enhanced coverage and MIMO performance : 5G-Advanced will address the growth of uplink-demanding applications such as real-time high-quality video streaming and is expected to provide 20% higher data rates than 5G. It will also improve uplink latency issues, providing low latency for two-way communication for XR applications.
- 5G replaces GSM-R : 5G-Advanced will expand to deploy NR in dedicated spectrum bandwidth, replacing GSM-R and providing support for areas such as railways, utilities and public safety. This will drive upgrades to railway communications systems, connect next-generation smart grids, and power hyper-connected and responsive Bluetooth services.
- Evolution beyond smartphones : 5G-Advanced will usher in an era of new types of devices, benefiting from 5G’s wide coverage and efficient connectivity. In addition to smartphones, full-featured devices will emerge in different fields, such as industrial quality control, process monitoring, video surveillance, etc. This will reduce equipment costs and promote the development of drones, self-driving cars, robots and other equipment.
- Precise positioning : 5G-Advanced will provide more powerful cellular-based positioning capabilities, including non-line-of-sight path identification and centimeter-level accuracy. This will be widely used in indoor and outdoor scenes to support fields such as industrial automation, logistics, construction and automobiles.
- Flexible timing : 5G-Advanced becomes a viable alternative to GNSS/GPS, providing high-precision, synchronized, and continuous monitoring to support multiple fields from industrial automation to real-time financial transactions and smart grids.
- Network operational efficiency : Introduce new artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to improve performance, automation and energy efficiency in RAN, core and network management areas. Achieve more efficient data collection, model training and model exchange, while introducing AI/ML on the air interface to further improve the performance of 5G-Advanced.
- Enhanced Sidelink : 5G-Advanced will continue to enhance direct communication between users or users and infrastructure, including Sidelink enhancements that support device-to-device relay mechanisms.
- Enhanced mobility : 5G-Advanced will enable greater mobility with almost zero service interruption time during handovers, critical for mobile devices using latency-critical services such as XR, Industrial IoT or ultra-reliable low latency communication.
3. Advantages of 5G-Advanced
3.1 Capacity improvement and speed leap
5G Advanced will continue to challenge the spectral efficiency limitations of sub-7 GHz and millimeter wave spectrum. By continuously optimizing MIMO technology, especially in terms of DMRS 2 port and MIMO layer support, the spectrum utilization efficiency of the system will be further improved. This will provide users with higher data transfer rates and a more stable network connection.
In Release 18, 5G Advanced is expected to introduce intelligent air interface design, which will become a key innovation for future network development. Through the application of machine learning across CSF 3 nodes, communication overhead will be reduced, thereby increasing capacity and throughput. The introduction of this intelligent design will make the network more flexible and better able to adapt to changing communication needs.
In order to further increase capacity and reduce latency, 5G Advanced will focus on the research and development of full-duplex systems, especially in the uplink. The full-duplex system allows simultaneous transmission and reception, which will greatly improve network utilization, especially during high-traffic moments, allowing users to upload and download data faster.
5G Advanced not only improves capacity and speed, but also introduces a series of enhancements, such as multicast reception in inactive mode. This will improve the efficiency of the device when the network transmits content to multiple devices at the same time, thereby better meeting the needs of scenarios where multiple users and multiple devices are connected at the same time.
3.2 Coverage expansion and liquidity enhancement
5G Advanced will achieve coverage improvements through enhanced multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and interface relay (IAB) designs. This includes more advanced antenna technology that supports more ports and more layers of MIMO, as well as more flexible IAB designs that allow signals to be transmitted over longer distances and increase network coverage.
5G Advanced will introduce new infrastructure such as intelligent network control repeaters and mobile IAB to further enhance coverage. These new facilities will more intelligently coordinate signal transmission to ensure stable 5G connectivity in different geographical conditions, including at high speeds.
In order to meet the coverage needs in rural areas, 5G Advanced will continue to enhance the broadband and IoT functions of non-terrestrial satellite networks. This will enable 5G services to cover wider geographical areas, including remote areas, providing high-speed Internet connections to more people.
5G Advanced enables devices to connect more seamlessly as they move from one cell to another through L1/L2-based inter-cell mobility and conditional handover enhancements. This will improve user connection stability while moving and ensure continuous communication services even when moving at high speeds.
Machine learning will play a key role in beam management, especially in the millimeter wave spectrum. This is critical to optimizing signal transmission and solving challenges in the millimeter wave spectrum. Through the introduction of machine learning, 5G Advanced will adjust beams more intelligently to improve network coverage and performance.
3.3 Green Network
5G Advanced carefully studies the energy consumption model of core infrastructure such as base stations to fully understand its energy consumption. Through in-depth analysis of the energy consumption characteristics of different components, technological innovations can be introduced in a targeted manner to minimize the energy consumption of networks and devices.
The goal of Release 18 is to define an evaluation model with relevant KPIs to measure the energy consumption performance of the system. Through this model, the research team will be able to study and verify the effectiveness of various energy-saving technologies. This includes but is not limited to optimizing power control strategies, improving hardware efficiency, and introducing smart sleep modes to improve the overall energy efficiency of the system.
In order to further reduce the power consumption of inactive mode devices, 5G Advanced is working on launching a new ultra-low power WUS (Wake-Up Signal) design. This innovation aims to significantly reduce the energy consumption of devices in inactive states through refined power management and intelligent wake-up mechanisms, thereby achieving a more sustainable communication network.
3.4 Extended functions
An important direction of Release 18 is to further improve device ranging and positioning accuracy for use cases such as navigation. By introducing advanced ranging technology and positioning algorithms, 5G Advanced will enable users to obtain location information more accurately when using navigation services, improving the overall navigation experience.
Sidelink technology will play an increasingly important role in 5G Advanced systems. Not only can it improve positioning and ranging performance, but it can also be used for data offloading and connecting new devices, such as wearables and XR glasses. The introduction of Sidelink will further expand the application scenarios of 5G Advanced, allowing users to use various smart devices more flexibly.
Sidelink technology can not only improve positioning and ranging performance, but also enable data offloading and reduce the burden on the core network. At the same time, Sidelink can also be used to connect new devices, such as wearable devices and XR glasses, to provide users with a richer and more diverse communication experience.
4. Key driving forces of 5G-Advanced
5G-Advanced will focus on three general directions and lead the expansion of technological boundaries.
- Performance improvements : 5G-Advanced will achieve significant advances in communications performance, including higher data transfer rates, lower latency and greater network capacity. This will provide users with faster and more stable connections and support a wider variety of application scenarios.
- Better management and higher efficiency : 5G-Advanced will improve the efficiency of the entire network through more efficient network resource management and more advanced spectrum utilization. This can not only reduce operating costs, but also provide better service quality and provide users with a smoother communication experience.
- Enhancements for specific use cases : 5G-Advanced will provide enhanced communication services for specific industries and application scenarios through customized network slicing technology. This will enable various vertical industries, such as intelligent transportation, industrial automation, etc., to better meet their unique communication needs.
5. Application fields of 5G-Advanced
5.1 Smart cities and the Internet of Things
The application of 5G-Advanced in smart cities and the Internet of Things has brought revolutionary changes to urban life. Its high-speed and low-latency characteristics enable a large number of devices to be interconnected in real time, thereby improving the intelligence of urban infrastructure.
Example: In intelligent transportation systems, 5G-Advanced’s high capacity and low latency enable smart traffic lights, real-time traffic monitoring, and autonomous vehicles to work together seamlessly.
5.2 Industry 4.0
The application of 5G-Advanced in the industrial field promotes the development of Industry 4.0 and enables more efficient production and resource utilization. Through low-latency and high-reliability communication, different equipment and machines can work together in real time, improving overall production efficiency.
Example: In manufacturing, the application of 5G-Advanced enables robots and automation equipment to achieve more precise and flexible operations, thereby reducing production costs and improving product quality.
5.3 Augmented reality and virtual reality
5G-Advanced provides strong support for the development of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Its high bandwidth and low latency characteristics enable users to experience immersive virtual environments more smoothly.
Example: In the entertainment field, 5G-Advanced enables users to live stream game content through cloud gaming platforms without the need for local high-performance equipment. Such application scenarios greatly improve the gaming experience.
Through the wide application of 5G-Advanced in different fields, we see that the impact of this technology is penetrating into every aspect of our daily lives. However, as technology continues to advance, 5G-Advanced faces some challenges and unsolved mysteries.
6. Challenges and future prospects of 5G-Advanced
6.1 Security and Privacy Issues
Although 5G-Advanced provides high-speed, low-latency communications, it also raises a series of concerns related to security and privacy. Due to its highly interconnected nature, 5G-Advanced networks are easily targets of cyberattacks, and users' privacy is more easily violated.
Solution: Use end-to-end encrypted communications, strengthen authentication, and implement strict access controls to ensure the security of 5G-Advanced networks. At the same time, regulations and policies are formulated to protect user privacy.
6.2 International standards and cooperation
The wide application of 5G-Advanced requires international standardization and close cooperation to ensure seamless connection between equipment and systems of different manufacturers and operators and to ensure the integrated operation of global communication networks.
Solution: Promote cooperation among international organizations, industry associations and governments to develop unified 5G-Advanced standards. Strengthen transnational cooperation and promote the coordinated development of global communications technology.
6.3 Future prospects
Looking into the future of 5G-Advanced, we can foresee higher communication speeds, lower latency, and wider application areas. As technology continues to advance, we are expected to see more innovations, such as quantum communications and edge computing, which will provide new impetus for the development of 5G-Advanced.
Technological innovation: 5G-Advanced is expected to further improve communication security and efficiency with the help of emerging technologies, such as quantum communication. The introduction of edge computing will accelerate data processing and provide better support for real-time applications.
Industry changes: 5G-Advanced will trigger industry changes in many fields such as medical care, education, and transportation. Applications such as medical remote surgery, distance education, and intelligent transportation systems will become more mature, bringing more convenience and innovation to human society.
By overcoming challenges and continuing to innovate, 5G-Advanced is expected to become the cornerstone of the future digital society, driving technological progress and changing the way we live.
in conclusion
As a pioneer of next-generation communication technology, 5G-Advanced provides new possibilities for global communications in the digital era. Through the application of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, millimeter wave and beamforming technology, and network slicing technology, 5G-Advanced successfully solves the limitations of traditional communication technologies in terms of speed, capacity, and flexibility.
At the application level, the wide application of 5G-Advanced has ushered in huge development opportunities in fields such as smart cities, Industry 4.0 and virtual reality. From smart transportation to smart manufacturing to virtual reality entertainment, 5G-Advanced is leading a new digital era.
Facing the future, 5G-Advanced also needs to deal with a series of challenges, including security and privacy issues, the formulation of international standards and cooperation, and the continuous development of emerging technologies. By developing practical solutions, 5G-Advanced is expected to overcome these obstacles and achieve greater success.
5G-Advanced will continue to promote innovation in communication technology and bring faster, more reliable, and smarter communication services to the global society. While technology continues to evolve, the international community needs to further strengthen cooperation to ensure that 5G-Advanced can achieve unified standards globally and realize its greatest potential.
Through a comprehensive introduction to 5G-Advanced, we not only understood its key technologies and application areas, but also deeply thought about its challenges and future development directions. I hope this article can provide readers with an in-depth understanding and stimulate more thinking about the future possibilities of communication technology.