- 5G-Advanced is an improved version of 5G, marked by the introduction of new AI-based capabilities and greater energy efficiency.
- Also known as 5G-Advanced, it will lay the foundations and pave the way for 6G.
Our colleague Patricia Robles explained in a recent article what 5G is, in which, among many other issues, she referred to what the next step will be: ‘5G-Advanced is an improved version of the 5G standard, more energy efficient, optimising latency and network capacity and introducing new AI-based functionalities’.
She also told us that ‘5G-Advanced will lay the foundations and pave the way for the next generation of mobile networks, 6G’.
But what exactly does this technology consist of?
5G-Advanced
The website of the “UNICO I+D 5G Avanzado y 6G” programme, run by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service, explains that “5G-Advanced maintains the speed of 5G, but implements improvements such as making the transition between user antennas transparent even at high speeds, the possibility of using free bands for communication between terminals, and reduced battery consumption.”
Capabilities of 5G-Advanced
The Nokia website explains the capabilities of 5G-Advanced from four different perspectives.
On the one hand, experience, as this advanced version of 5G will enable machines and people to enjoy an enhanced experience focused on ‘improving uplink performance, reducing service interruption time and enabling superior digital experiences’, which will enhance the enjoyment of truly immersive Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Extended Reality experiences.
On the other hand, expansion, as 5G-Advanced will enable the development of services beyond traditional communication “by introducing improved positioning with sub-10 cm accuracy both indoors and outdoors, as well as time synchronisation as a service, 5G-Advanced offers valuable advantages for use cases as diverse as smart power grid control, industrial automation and real-time financial transactions”, which will result in better navigation and enable more efficient logistics systems.
5G-Advanced also promotes the expansion of connectivity reach, making it available to new market segments ‘including innovations to improve coverage, low-cost massive IoT and greater support for non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and drones’, thereby helping to reduce the digital divide.
Finally, 5G-Advanced will be based on operational excellence with the aim of both improving and optimising 5G and its operation ‘through the gradual introduction of AI/ML enablers, the convergence of fixed and wireless networks, improved resilience and increased energy efficiency’.
Advantages of 5G-Advanced
Those familiar with the benefits of fifth-generation mobile telephony will find certain similarities with those of 5G-Advanced.
This technology offers even greater speed and lower latency.
In addition, thanks to spectrum optimisation, the ability to support millions of simultaneously connected devices favours the development of the Internet of Things (IoT).
From an energy perspective, optimising network usage and reducing energy consumption also help to reduce the carbon footprint.
Finally, one of the most notable possibilities of 5G-Advanced is sensing, a concept that refers to the ability of mobile networks to detect, identify and track movements directly from the mobile network itself without the need for sensors or peripherals such as radars or cameras.
This capability will have an impact on numerous sectors, such as mobility and road safety, industry and logistics.
