Latest developments in global 5G-A industry - Chapter 1
With the large-scale commercialization of 5G networks around the world, the industry has begun research and exploration on the next stage of 5G technology evolution. 3GPP launched relevant standard research in the R18 version, marking that global 5G development has entered a new stage of 5G-A (5G-Advanced). 5G-A will be significantly improved over 5G in terms of peak speed, connection density, positioning accuracy and bit energy efficiency, and will lay a good foundation for 6G network deployment. Some countries and regions, represented by Asia, are accelerating 5G-A technology pilots and network deployment, and it is expected that 2024 will be the first year of global 5G-A commercialization.
01
Policy progress in major countries and regions around the world
The United States has released a national spectrum strategy and implementation plan. In November 2023, the United States released the National Spectrum Strategy, announcing the release of a total of 2786MHz of wireless spectrum to meet domestic wireless needs. Among them, the 7.125GHz-8.4GHz spectrum will be used for wireless broadband. In March 2024, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released the "National Spectrum Strategy Implementation Plan" and formulated a timetable for the completion of spectrum work. In December 2023, US President Biden signed the "5G Spectrum Administration License Enforcement (Sales) Act", granting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a one-time temporary authorization to issue licenses to ensure 5G coverage in rural areas of the United States. Spectrum policy provides guarantee for expanding 5G coverage and upgrading to 5G-A.
South Korea has identified 5G-A as a national key technology. In December 2022, the South Korean government released 12 national strategic technologies that "must be ensured in the competition for technological hegemony". One of the key strategic technologies is "next generation communications" technology, including 5G-A, 6G, Open RAN, 5G/ 6G communication components and 5G/6G satellite communications.
The Middle East has taken the lead in proposing the goal of building a 10G network city. Saudi Arabia proposed as early as 2016 in its "Vision 2030" transformation goals that 10 Gigabit networks will be built in the top five cities in Saudi Arabia by 2025. In 2022, the United Arab Emirates Telecommunications Authority released the "White Paper on the Role of 5G in the Industrial Digitalization of the United Arab Emirates" proposing that in 2026, the United Arab Emirates plans to build a high-quality network with an edge rate of Gbit/s. Many countries in the Middle East have released active spectrum policies. It is expected that 15 new spectrums will be released in the region in the next three years, and millimeter wave spectrum will be released in 2025. 10 Gigabit network and millimeter wave are typical factors promoting the development of 5G-A