5G Technologies: Fundamental Shift in Mobile Networking Philosophy

Abstract

The advent of 5G technologies and ICT networks signify the coming next wave of a globally connected Digital Society. Right now, all over the world, mobile access to the internet is becoming wholly fundamental to doing business in all industries. Flexible working practices facilitated by mobile networks and devices are already essential, and are allowing enterprises to conduct operations across boundaries that previously inhibited growth. Growing mobile access to the internet, cloud-based services and Big Data analytics is allowing anyone, anywhere to leverage “Big Wisdom�? – a whole new kind of globally connected and shared knowledge base. Transformation and convergence of ICT network infrastructure is driving business innovation and growth. Not only is ICT an increasingly effective tool for enhancing efficiency, but it is now a vital driver of economic and societal growth. The development of 5G technologies is a cornerstone for realizing breakthroughs in the transformation of ICT network infrastructure. Ultra-broadband and intelligent-pipe network features that achieve near-instantaneous, “zero distance�? connectivity between people and connected machines – no matter where they are – are just the first step. The European Commission’s Horizon 2020 plan, announced this month, includes roughly $172 million for 5G research and development, and South Korea’s Yonhap News announced that country’s government would spend $475 million on developing a national 5G network, to be completed by 2020. Both proposals cite the transformative effects and massive economic benefits of 5G technology. 5G wireless networks will support 1,000-fold gains in capacity, connections for at least 100 billion devices, and a 10 Gb/s individual user experience capable of extremely low latency and response times. Deployment of these networks will emerge between 2020 and 2030. 5G radio access will be built upon both new radio access technologies (RAT) and evolved existing wireless technologies (LTE, HSPA, GSM and WiFi). Breakthroughs in wireless network innovation will also drive economic and societal growth in entirely new ways. 5G will realize networks capable of providing zero-distance connectivity between people and connected machines. The proposal in this paper is fundamental shift in the mobile networking philosophy compared to existing 3G and near-soon 4G mobile technologies.