5G Buzz: What does "5G launch"​ mean in 2021 & whats the "Truly 5G"​ target

In the last 1–2 yrs there has been a lot of buzz around 5G with many operators announcing launch of 5G in many countries globally while some declaring that they are 5G ready where spectrum allocation is pending. Now, while this all sounds very exciting, the question that really arises is that in start of 2021 what service are Telco providers offering & whats the bigger picture — “Truly 5G” [I have taken liberty of using the word “Truly 5G” here for describing state of network that has been optimized to realize maximum benefits of what 5G can offer. (See below for some of its key aspects) ]

The 5G Network ready today in 2021 by most operators is a version of “Truly 5G” which is capable of providing Mobile Broadband for public to use & officially “launching 5G” (from marketing perspective).

For a normal Cell Phone user “5G” is a mere new hot trend that is cool to have and promising to deliver higher data speeds & lower latency. However, for all practical purposes, 4G had already met most of the mobile broadband user needs from day to day usage perspective & 5G is more of a luxury for this scenario.

5G was introduced to handle growing data traffic not only from users consumption of triple play services (voice, video & internet) but also from “connected devices” which make up “Internet of Things(IoT)”. With 4G having taken care of users connectivity, 5G’s major promise lies with offerings around “connected devices” which is ultimately what the operators need to target. Additionally “connected devices” vastly expands the scope of services that operators can offer & sources of revenue for them.

Bigger Picture: Below are some of the key aspects a “Truly 5G” network would involve from a Communication Service Provider(CSP) perspective:

1. 5G network architecture implemented in the data centers along with 5G RAN (preferably ORAN based solution) in the cell sites and
2. Majorly cloud native infrastructure running most workloads as Container Network Functions while some as Virtual Network Functions.
3. Having cloud orchestration platform/solution for faster deployment & lifecycle management of network functions & applications (new & existing) along with closed loop automation capability.
4. Upgrading of Back-haul by laying more fibers, partnership with other fiber companies and having proper mix of wireless & fiber connectivity between cell sites for maximum coverage of the country to support 5G use cases
5. Running use cases that connect “every-one” to “every-thing”. The network should be providing services covering all the 3 major use case areas of 5G i.e. Enhanced Mobile Broadband(eMBB), Massive machine-type communications (mMTC) & Ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). 

Some of the areas where use cases for 5G can be identified include but not limited to: Smart Cities, Smart homes, Smart Farms, Asset tracking & logistics, Self Driving Cars, Smart Grids, Remote Patient Monitoring, Industrial Automation,Immersive Experience, etc.

Journey to Truly 5G: Many of the key features mentioned above for Truly 5G would already be available in any Telco network which is “5G Ready” or has “launched 5G” but in varying degrees. This will essentially be the starting point for Telecom operator’s journey to Truly 5G from 5G ready state & the duration will vary vastly based on Telco & their country of operation, readiness of services/use cases, Spectrum availability, local regulations,etc

It is important to realize that while “5G” may have already been launched in some countries or ready to be launched, it’s just tip of the 5G iceberg that is visible today with long way to go before its true potential is seen . Additionally, with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic & need of the hour who knows what surprises 5G may throw along the way.

 

Disclaimer: The views shared in this article are my own and do not represent the view point of any organization i have been associated with in the past or currently associated with.