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3GPP and LTE Evolution To 5G and Beyond

5G Evolution To 6G_070922A
[5G Evolution To 6G - Rohde & Schwarz]

  

5G - Powering the New Digital Economy

 

 

- Overview

The evolution from 3GPP LTE to 5G and beyond involves a continuous process of improvement through new 3GPP releases, moving from the Evolved Packet System (EPS) to the new 5G Core Network (5GC). 

While 5G introduces new technologies like the NR (New Radio) air interface, it also builds on and enhances LTE with features like LTE-Advanced Pro, which serves as a bridge to 5G, and continues to evolve with releases like 16, 17, and the upcoming 5G-Advanced and 6G. 

A. LTE to 5G evolution:

  • Incremental improvements: The transition is as much an evolution of LTE as it is a revolution, with many 5G features built upon LTE technology through various 3GPP releases (8-14).
  • LTE-Advanced Pro: This is the official term for the set of advanced LTE technologies that serves as a bridge to 5G, with features developed in releases 13 and 14.
  • Phase 1 of 5G: Initial 5G deployments (around 2020) were based on a combination of new 5G New Radio (NR) features and the existing, enhanced LTE network.
  • Backward compatibility: 5G was designed to integrate with the existing LTE ecosystem to maximize the benefits of the established infrastructure and economies of scale.


B. 5G and beyond: 

1. 5G New Radio (NR): This new air interface is a core component of 5G, designed to handle a wider range of services beyond just mobile broadband.
2. 5G Core (5GC): 5G introduces a new, cloud-native core network architecture, though initial deployments can still use the older EPC (EPS).
3. Release 15 and beyond:

  • Release 15: Incorporated the initial set of NR features for 5G, along with control plane steering of roaming.
  • Release 16: Included features for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC).
  • Release 17: Introduced support for verticals like asset tracking, critical medical applications, and the Reduced Capability (RedCap) IoT standard.

4. 5G-Advanced (Release 18 and beyond):

  • This is the next phase of 5G development, focusing on enhanced capabilities like extended reality (XR), integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), and AI/ML integration into networks.
  • It is also laying the groundwork for the eventual development of 6G.
 

Please refer to the following for more information:

 

- The Key Roles of 3GPP and the ITU for the Future Mobile Systems

3GPP develops the technical standards (like 5G NR) for mobile networks, building on requirements from the ITU, ensuring global interoperability, and that 5G coexists with older 2G/3G/4G systems due to deployment costs and operator investment, with 2G/3G phasing out for 5G space, showing 3GPP's crucial role in evolving mobile comms through sequential "Releases". 

In essence: The ITU defines what is needed (next-gen requirements), and 3GPP defines how to build it (the technical standards).

The key roles of 3GPP and the ITU:

  • 3GPP's Role: The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) creates detailed technical specifications (standards) for mobile technologies like 5G.
  • ITU's Role: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) sets the high-level requirements and timelines for new mobile generations (IMT-2020 for 5G).
  • Coexistence: 5G must coexist with 4G (LTE), 3G, and 2G because new tech deployment takes time and investment, allowing operators to maximize existing infrastructure while transitioning.
  • Phased Rollout: 2G and 3G networks are being retired to free up spectrum and resources for 5G.
  • 3GPP Releases: Progress is measured in numbered Releases (e.g., Release 15 for initial 5G, Release 16 for enhancements), with work on future releases happening in parallel.

 

 

[More to come ...]


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