The Road to 5G: Paving a Multi-Standard Way for Next-Gen Wireles...

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Electronic Design
Richard Edgar
Mon, 2015-04-20 09:51

While industry leaders are still figuring out where exactly 5G is headed, expectations remain high for the
next-generation wireless mobile standard, which will require higher data rates, massive device connectivity,
more system capacity, reduced latency, energy savings, and cost reduction. As the era of 5G approaches, the
wireless mobile communications sector will need to keep a focus on consumer demand while harnessing
existing, proven technologies to keep their networks going.
Mobile carriers may feel a sense of urgency to have their fifth-generation networks in place by 2020, but its
important to stop and look at whats happening with existing wireless mobile communications. Keep in mind
that most of the world is still using 2G systems; though 4G is globally growing at a much faster rate than 2G and
3G, its current market penetration is just 7%.
Todays 4G networks are based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. Most mobile carriers are still rolling
out their LTE services, and some have begun to deploy the latest LTE-Advanced, which has quicker data speeds
and overall improved network capacity. Certain carriers are also working to expand their Wi-Fi capabilities,
which lead to more efficient use of available capacity on cellular networks.
Related
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New Instruments Target 5G Testing
Waiting for 5G: Making Do with LTE Advanced
The more data capacity you take off your network, the better it performs. Ultimately its about delivering what
end users want, when they want it, which does not necessarily mean being the fastest. Most people dont care
how they get their data or how its delivered to them, whether its on cellular or Wi-Fi. Most people dont care if
they have 3G, 4G, or 5Gthey want access to the Internet, email and Facebook wherever they are, and they
dont want to pay $200 a month for it.
Instead of carriers focusing on one Holy Grail standard for 5G, they should use a combination of licensed and
unlicensed technologies, such as Wi-Fi, to provide an always-on experience for consumers. This would also
take pressure off their existing cellular networks.
One challenge for the successful rollout of 5G will be spectrum. Its nearly impossible to design a
communications standard that performs well across the wide 600-MHz to 80-GHz spectrum range being
discussed for 5G. Different solutions will be required for different parts of the spectrum, and existing
communications standards that already exist, for example, 60-GHz Wi-Fi, aka WiGig, should be considered as

4/20/2015 10:13 AM

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rt of the solution.
With the wide range of potential spectrum available for 5G, new techniques will also be needed in cellular-radio
design. One way forward would be to use cognitive-based software-defined radio (SDR) technology. SDR allows
communications via a variety of waveforms simply by reloading or reconfiguring the required software for the
particular application. If integrated into 5G networks, cognitive SDR has the potential to help identify available
frequencies and spectrums and reconfigure itself for the optimum performance.
While existing technologies will play a critical role in the successful rollout of 5G, more research needs to be
done to figure out the best way to move forward and deliver superior services to the masses.
One organization thats providing a working test bed for early 5G technologies, as well as addressing key
challenges, is the U.K.-based 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC) at the University of Surrey, which includes leaders in
academia and industry. Meanwhile, the EU and South Korea signed a deal to work on 5G deployment. In
addition, the United States has a 5G test bed at NYU Wireless, part of the Polytechnic Institute of New York
University. Researchers are gathering data from New York City using prototype base stations and mobile units
that they hope will help in the development of 5G channel models.
Elza Erkip, a computer and electrical engineer at New York Universitys Polytechnic School, is even researching
ways to use the various available frequencies in millimeter-wave networks for 5G wireless technologies via
energy-efficient methods. Erkips theory is that as more communication flows through wirelessly connected
devices, redesigning the way they connect to networks will allow for more efficient, lower-power signal
transmission. Industry leaders should pay close attention to this type of research as they try to figure out how
next-generation wireless networks should be designed and operated, while maintaining energy efficiency.
Unlike previous mobile communication networks, 5G must be focused more on users and their needs. The
proliferation of smartphones is pushing demand for mobile data, while the emergence of the Internet of Things
has the potential to connect billions of devices to help achieve daily tasks, such as finding a parking space or lost
keys. In the future, several applications like advanced gaming will also require shorter network response times
to enable quick reactions.
The year 2020 isnt that far away, and industry leaders are gearing up for what will be a mad dash in the 5G
race. Consumers insatiable appetite for faster, better, cheaper services will keep carriers and developers on
their toes. Leading the pack will be companies that stay on the leading edge of the latest 5G research and those
who integrate the right mix of available technologies into their networks. Fasten your seat beltits going to be a
roller-coaster ride with many twists and turns.
Richard Edgar is Director of Communications Technology for Imagination Technologies, which offers a broad
range of silicon IP, including key processing blocks needed to create systems on chips (SoCs) that power all
mobile, consumer, and embedded electronics. Imaginations licensees include many leading semiconductor
manufacturers, network operators, and OEMs/ODMs.
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