3GPP's first 5G international standard report released

The evolution of the 5G NR architecture is divided into two main approaches: NSA and SA. Industry leaders from companies like ZTE and Intel had previously stated that the Rel.15 standard would be frozen in December 2017, with the SA version following in June 2018, targeting eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband) commercial scenarios. According to 3GPP's roadmap, the full Rel.16 standard was expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

This timeline reflects the industry’s coordinated efforts and strategic planning for 5G development. The pace of technological advancement has accelerated significantly, and the 5G standardization process is now moving at an unprecedented speed.

China has played a crucial role in shaping 5G standards. It is reported that Chinese communication companies contributed nearly 40% of all proposals submitted to 3GPP for 5G. Additionally, Chinese experts held a substantial presence in various 5G working groups. For instance, in RAN1, which focuses on the physical layer of 5G, Chinese experts accounted for 60% of the group. Chinese and foreign experts affiliated with Chinese companies also made up 40% of the total participants in these groups.

China is not only a major player in 3GPP but also leads in 5G testing and spectrum planning globally. The IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group, led by China, has completed the second phase of 5G technology R&D tests and launched the third phase, focusing on product development, verification, and industrial collaboration before commercial deployment. Furthermore, China became the first country to release a frequency usage plan for the 5G system in the mid-band (3000–5000 MHz), setting a global precedent.

The 5G trials in China, initiated by the IMT-2020 Promotion Group in January 2016, have been instrumental in advancing the industry. The first phase focused on verifying key technologies, while the second phase, launched in September 2016, created the world’s largest 5G test field to support the development of a complete 5G ecosystem.

After achieving positive results in the second-phase tests, Wei Kejun, head of the 5G trial team, announced that the third-phase test specifications were fully initiated in September 2017. Both NSA-based and SA-based frameworks began construction, with transmission infrastructure completed by the end of 2017 and full environmental setup finished by March 2018.

An in-depth analysis of the first 5G international standard reveals the minimum performance requirements for 5G networks. For consumers, this means that a single mobile base station can achieve a downlink speed of at least 20 Gbps and an uplink speed of 10 Gbps. While this is a theoretical maximum, it allows for over one million users per square kilometer, showcasing the massive capacity of 5G networks.

Compared to 4G, the difference is staggering. Downloading an 8GB HD movie, which takes 7–8 minutes on 4G LTE, would take just six seconds on 5G. Even 3G, which is much slower, would require over an hour for the same task.

ITU’s approval marks the first step toward standardization. Sergio Buonomo, a consultant for ITU-R, noted that while ITU has more work ahead, the final 5G standard is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. The ITU recommendations will include all technical specifications for IMT-2020 (5G).

It’s important to note that no global ICT solution can be fully standardized without ITU’s approval. Although many companies are conducting their own R&D and testing, they follow the initial guidelines set by ITU.

In February of this year, ITU adopted and published the draft IMT-2020 in Geneva, laying the foundation for 5G technical specifications across 192 member states. The final document closely resembles the draft, as expected for such high-tech reports.

The 3GPP R15 NSA (Non-Standalone) core standard defines how 5G can be deployed using existing 4G infrastructure. It uses the 4G core network (EPC) as the control plane anchor, with LTE and 5G NR operating in dual connectivity. This approach allows operators to quickly expand 5G coverage without building a new 5G core network from scratch.

For NSA deployments, there are two options: co-site and non-co-site. In co-site deployment, 5G and 4G base stations share the same location, while in non-co-site, they are placed separately. This flexibility helps address indoor or hotspot coverage challenges.

At the Busan conference last year, Deutsche Telekom proposed 12 networking options for 5G. Among them, options 3/3a/3x, 7/7a/7x, and 4/4a are NSA architectures, while options 2 and 5 represent SA configurations.

In short, NSA networking is divided into three phases:

1) In the first phase, both 4G (eNB) and 5G (gNB) base stations share the 4G core network (EPC). The eNB acts as the master station, while the gNB serves as the slave. Control plane signaling goes through the 4G channel to the EPC. This method allows quick deployment using existing 4G infrastructure but risks overloading the 4G core network. It’s ideal for early 5G coverage.

2) In the second phase, the 4G and 5G base stations still share the 4G core network, but the control plane signaling is routed through the 5G core network (NGCN). This reduces the load on the 4G core and addresses capacity needs, making it suitable for higher data demands.

3) In the third phase, both base stations share the 5G core network, with the gNB acting as the master station. This configuration supports a wide range of 5G applications, including enhanced mobile broadband, large-scale IoT, and low-latency communications. It represents the full potential of 5G in a connected world.

Dual connectivity between LTE and NR is not a new concept. LTE dual connectivity was introduced in R12, and similar techniques for LTE and WLAN were added in R13. However, this is the first time that dual connectivity has been implemented between two different generations of 3GPP wireless technologies.

Despite the differences in underlying technologies, the implementation of LTE-NR dual connectivity presents several challenges, such as ensuring devices can handle both LTE and NR RRC control signaling. Overcoming these hurdles is essential for smooth operation and efficient resource management.

Overall, the first 5G standard provides a solid foundation for early commercial deployment. From 2G to 5G, the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, marking a new era in wireless communication and connectivity.

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