Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Written by: Syed Ahmad Hafez, Editor, AOPG.

Building on the global wave of 5G that took the world by storm a few years ago, the dawn of 5.5G may very well herald the next evolutionary leap in cellular network technology. This groundbreaking advancement is poised to become the data superhighway, boasting speeds that surpass 5G by up to tenfold.

However, it is crucial to recognise that 5.5G encompasses more than just speed as it prioritises reliability and efficiency as well. Designed to combat interference and accommodate a higher volume of devices simultaneously, 5.5G networks ensure a dependable connection, even in densely populated areas.

With its immense potential, 5.5G emerged as a prominent subject at the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2023. During a fascinating interview at the event, Yang Chaobin, Board Member and President of ICT Products and Solutions at Huawei, shed light on 5.5G as an evolution—a transformative force that builds upon the foundations of 5G while safeguarding operators’ investments. “5.5G serves as a bridge between 5G and 6G,” he explained. This seamless transition incorporates further technological advancements to push the boundaries of what is achievable.

6G represents another captivating new frontier, although it remains in the nascent stages of conceptualisation. And as history has shown, it takes considerable time—from vision to commercialisation—for a revolutionary technology like 6G to come to fruition. In contrast, 5G has already made significant strides, with large-scale deployments transforming the way we connect and communicate.

Therefore, according to Yang Chaobin, 5.5G presents an opportunity to satisfy the burgeoning industry requirements in the here and now, rather than waiting for the full realisation of 6G. 5.5G is a gateway to a world where industries thrive, innovation reigns supreme and the boundaries of what’s possible continue to be pushed.

However, in order to fully harness its potential, we must be prepared and ready to seize the opportunities it offers.

Unleashing the Power of 5.5G

The advent of 5.5G heralds a new chapter in the realm of connectivity, one that holds immense value for operators and promises transformative changes for device consumers. Joining Huawei in the interview was Pau Castells, the Head of Economic Analysis at GSMA Intelligence, who provided valuable insights into the importance of this network evolution.

Initially, Pau Castells said operators worldwide embarked on 5G deployments using the non-standalone version, allowing for a rapid launch of 5G services. This approach proved instrumental in making 5G the fastest-ever mobile generational change, propelling its widespread adoption across the globe.

As the first phase of 5G rollouts concludes in many countries, attention now turns to the next stage—5G-advanced and 5G standalone. This new phase necessitates operators to deploy a dedicated 5G core network and advanced protocols.

To this end, Pau Castells stated that “20% of operators worldwide have already begun 5G standalone deployments and 80% of them will be beginning these deployments in the next three years.”

This network transformation is crucial to unlocking the full potential of 5G, enabling benefits such as reduced latency, enhanced network slicing, robust IoT support and the creation of innovative use cases that have the power to revolutionise industries.

As the discussion went on, Yang Chaobin further highlighted the value of 5.5G for operators. He mentioned that this evolutionary step allows operators to safeguard their investments in the current networks while bolstering their capabilities to better serve customers. The significant improvement in network speed translates into a remarkable consumer experience, with faster connections and heightened efficiency, especially in immersive experience and Artificial Intelligence (AI) application scenarios. Moreover, the remarkable enhancement in uplink speeds opens doors for a multitude of possibilities in B2B scenarios, catering to the needs of enterprises and industries that heavily rely on high uplink data traffic.

“In the 5.5G era, 10 times better uplink capabilities will drive the wider adoption of 5.5G networks amongst enterprises and industries that are undergoing digital transformation,” said Yang Chaobin. “This means operators can better serve them and the wider B2B market.”

Consumers are also prime beneficiaries of the 5.5G era, according to Yang Chaobin, who emphasised how operators’ 5.5G investments can help them serve customers better.

Thanks to the network experience being 10 times better, consumers can enjoy faster network speed. The great improvement of uplink speeds also means significantly higher efficiency for consumers in live webcast and AI application scenarios,” Yang Chaobin pointed out.

Chasing the 10Gbit/s Benchmark

As Yang Chaobin mentioned, the 10-gigabit experience is the most important feature of 5.5G. He said that in order to deliver a 10 Gbit/s experience, there is a need “to better collaborate the new frequency bands with the operators’ existing frequency bands.” Yang Chaobin then laid out two key frequency bands that come into play: 6 GHz and mmWave.

He added that the critical challenge lies in effectively integrating these new bands with the sub-6 GHz bands currently utilised by operators. This integration is a vital pathway to achieving the coveted 10 Gbit/s experience. Huawei’s technical verification reveals a promising solution—leveraging a 400 M band within the 6 GHz frequency band can deliver the desired 10 Gbit/s experience. Similarly, mmWave’s substantial bandwidth can be harnessed to provide a downlink rate of 10 Gbit/s.

The key lies in synergistically combining the vast bandwidth capabilities of 6 GHz and mmWave with the existing sub-6 GHz frequency bands. This integration enables the mobile network to offer both extensive coverage and an exceptional 10 Gbit/s experience, ensuring that urban consumers within the network’s purview can enjoy ubiquitous 1 Gbit/s speeds.

Addressing the historic weakness of uplink rates in 5G also becomes paramount in the 5.5G era. The need to overcome this challenge becomes a crucial prerequisite for the widespread adoption of 5.5G technology across enterprise and industry scenarios.

APAC Pushing for 5.5G

A new era of connectivity is upon us, said Pau Castells. The numbers speak volumes, as by the end of March this year, an impressive 38 operators had successfully launched commercial 5G standalone networks. The momentum continues to build, with an additional 14 operators poised to join the ranks by the end of this year.

While the global stage is set for this technological revolution, it is the dynamic Asia Pacific region that is emerging as the vanguard of 5G standalone development. Astonishingly, according to Pau Castells, approximately half of all global launches of 5G services on standalone networks have come from this thriving region.

Joining them in this race to the future are other influential countries in the region, such as Japan and South Korea, with countless others eagerly preparing to launch their own 5G networks in the near future.

The impact of this monumental shift in connectivity is truly global, with Pau Castells noting how, “Nearly 130 operators from nearly 60 countries have either launched or shown intent to launch 5G standalone networks globally.” These dedicated operators have either launched their own 5G standalone networks or have expressed their resolute intention to do so. This widespread enthusiasm underscores the universal recognition of the transformative potential that 5G standalone networks possess.

Accelerating 5G Expansion for Maximum Impact

It is widely recognised that digital transformation holds significant economic implications. But to what extent do these implications truly manifest?

GSMA Intelligence, The Economist Group and Huawei recently released the groundbreaking report “Driving Development: The Impact of ICT Investments on the Digital Economy,” which delves into the emerging trends in the global digital economy during the post-pandemic era. The report also provides both quantitative and qualitative assessments of the relationship between ICT investment and the development of the global digital landscape.

Through meticulous econometric research, GSMA Intelligence uncovered a captivating truth: ICT investments wield a staggering influence on economic growth, employment and productivity. The evidence is indisputable, showcasing robust linkages between these investments and the flourishing of nations. The numbers speak volumes, with a 10% increase in mobile adoption over a 20-year period leading to a remarkable 1% surge in GDP.

But there is more to this story.

According to Pau Castells, as connections evolve from one mobile generation to another, the impact of connectivity further amplifies, resulting in a staggering 15% boost in economic growth. In fact, this technological revolution has played a pivotal role in economies the world over, contributing approximately 7% to global GDP growth over spanning the past two decades.

“5G clearly represents the opportunity now to accelerate economic growth further in a post-pandemic world,” said Pau Castells. “We estimate that by 2030, 5G will represent approximately 600 billion in terms of additional GDP value to the global economy, which works out at that point of around 1% of GDP.”

Pau Castells emphasised, however, that the benefits of improved connectivity are not limited solely to the ICT sector.

“Since 5G is a general-purpose technology which serves as a key input to other services, it means that the impacts are expected across pretty much all sectors, manufacturing, services, retail,” Pau Castells noted. “They will all take advantage of Internet technology and be able to develop new services and products using new use cases such as enhanced mobile broadband, fixed wireless access, low latency communications and massive IoT. All these benefits will increase if 5G connectivity is accelerated in the medium to long term, especially in emerging markets.

Despite the inroads being made, there remains a critical call to action—or a plea to accelerate the push towards 5G, 5.5G and, ultimately, 6G. The true potential of 5G connectivity will only be fully realised in the medium to long term if its expansion is expedited, especially in the fertile grounds of emerging markets.

The time is ripe to seize the opportunities that lie before us, embrace the transformative power of ICT investments, and embark on a journey where innovation and progress know no bounds.

Reference Resource: https://impact.economist.com/projects/driving-the-digital-economy/

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