Wireless data traffic will grow 10,000 fold within the next 20 years due to ultra-high resolution video streaming, cloud-based work, entertainment and increased use of a variety of wireless devices. These will include smartphones, tablets and other new devices, including machine type communications for the programmable world.
To meet demand, Nokia envisions 5G as a system providing scalable and flexible services with a virtually zero latency gigabit experience when and where it matters. In addition, 5G will provide at least a ten-fold improvement in the user experience over 4G, with higher peak data rates, improved “everywhere” data rates and a ten-fold reduction in latency.
5G mobile communications will have a wider range of use cases and related applications including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of data sharing and various forms of machine type applications, including vehicular safety, different sensors and real-time control. Starting with trials in 2016 and the deployment of first use cases in 2017, the full 5G system will be introduced in 2019/20 and will be in use well beyond 2030. 5G also needs the flexibility to support future applications that are not yet fully understood or even known.
In addition to the more traditional cellular access bands below 6 GHz, 5G is expected to exploit the large amount of spectrum above 6 GHz. One or more new radio interface technologies will be needed to address this regime of frequency bands due to different channel characteristics. Extending the LTE air-interface to frequencies above 6 GHz may be considered, but a simpler and more efficient air interface can be designed to address specific challenges.
©2016 Nokia
This white paper is published on the GSA web site with the permission of the author.
Nokia is an Executive Member of GSA.
