What is 5G Advanced?

5G Advanced is the next major update to the 5G standard. This update was first introduced in 3GPP Release 18 with further advancements made in Release 19. 5G-Advanced builds upon the foundations laid by 5G technology, aiming to address its limitations and unlock new capabilities. It includes new wireless technology innovations that strengthen the 5G system foundation including improving speed, maximizing coverage, enhancing mobility and power efficiency.

The first phase of 5G Advanced, builds on the existing 5G standard defined in Releases 15, 16, and 17 making it fully backwards compatible, so it will be able to co-exist with the current 5G NR Releases 15-17, including the ability to serve legacy 5G devices. 5G Advanced will continue to evolve through Release 21, expected in 2028.

5G Advanced will bring new enhanced capabilities beyond connectivity and enable a wider set of advanced use cases for various verticals. 5G advanced will support advanced applications with enhanced mobility and high reliability as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) that will improve network performance providing a truly immersive user experience based on extended reality (XR) features. The AI and ML enhancements will be applied across the RAN, Core, and network management layer for improved performance, network optimization, and energy efficiency. It will also introduce further improvements in spectral efficiency and energy savings.

Key Features of 5G-Advanced: 

• Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC): One of the defining features of 5G-Advanced is its ability to deliver ultra-reliable, low-latency communication, making it ideal for applications that demand real-time responsiveness and mission-critical reliability. From autonomous vehicles and remote surgery to industrial automation, URLLC opens up a myriad of possibilities across various industries. 

• Massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC): 5G-Advanced expands the capabilities of mMTC, allowing for seamless connectivity between a vast array of IoT devices. With the ability to support a massive number of connected devices simultaneously, 5G-Advanced lays the groundwork for the Internet of Things (IoT) to flourish, enabling smart cities, intelligent infrastructure, and interconnected ecosystems. 

• Enhanced Spectral Efficiency: Leveraging advanced antenna technologies and spectrum optimization techniques, 5G-Advanced delivers exceptional spectral efficiency, allowing for higher data throughput and increased network capacity. This enables service providers to accommodate growing data demands while ensuring a seamless and responsive user experience. 

• Network Slicing: Network slicing is a revolutionary concept introduced by 5G-Advanced, allowing operators to partition a single physical network into multiple virtual networks, each tailored to specific use cases or applications. This enables unprecedented customization and flexibility, empowering enterprises to deploy dedicated network slices optimized for their unique requirements. 

• Integration with Emerging Technologies: 5G-Advanced serves as a catalyst for the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, edge computing, and augmented reality. By leveraging these synergies, 5G-Advanced unlocks new possibilities in areas such as immersive multimedia experiences, predictive analytics, and intelligent automation. 

• Sustainable design: 5G-Advanced will also aim at reducing energy consumption through smarter protocols and network management.

Source: Nokia - Key enhancements in 5G-Advanced

Applications of 5G Advanced

5G advanced will enable truly immersive experiences will be possible thanks to the use of XR, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR), in which the physical and the virtual world will be fused. By introducing enhanced positioning with sub-centimeter level accuracy consistently both indoors and outdoors, as well as time synchronization as a service, 5G-Advanced offers valuable benefits for use cases as diverse as smart power grid control, industrial automation, and real-time financial transactions. This will enhance navigation and make logistics systems more efficient. 

5G-Advanced will extend the reach of connectivity and make it available to new market segments including innovations for improved coverage, enhanced low-cost massive IoT, and further support for non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and drones. It will also be fundamental to the operation of driverless cars, autonomous robots, and industrial automation systems.