The number of 5G networks deployed by 2025 will be 270, according to a new report from GSA.
Incidentally, Ericsson Mobility Report yesterday said the number of 5G mobile subscriptions will be 150 million by 2021.
Telecom network vendor Ericsson says South Korea, Japan, China and the U.S. will lead with the 5G subscription uptake.
5G subscription uptake is expected to be faster than LTE 4G. 5G networks, based on standards that will meet ITU IMT-2020 requirements, are expected to be deployed commercially in 2020.
Pre-standard, pre-commercial networks are expected to be launched earlier in selected telecom markets boosting IoT projects.
GSA says growth drivers for 5G include the demand for wireless broadband services, which require faster and higher capacity networks to deliver video and other content-rich services and the growth of Internet of Things (IoT) applications – some of which will require ultra-low latency and need IP connectivity.
5G challenge
5G subscriptions will provide enhancements in mobile broadband services, as well as enabling a widening range of use cases for the IoT. The US, Japan, China and South Korea are expected to be the first countries where 5G subscriptions will be available. India does not figure in the 5G list from Ericsson. While UK and the US are talking about 5G regulation, India’s telecom regulator TRAI has not yet open its 5G topic.
A 5G subscription requires a device capable of supporting LTE Evolved or NX, connected to a 5G-enabled network, supporting new use cases, says Ericsson.
5G will drive future growth of IoT. There will be around 400 million M2M and consumer electronics devices with cellular subscriptions at the end of 2015.
Today, LTE’s share of cellular M2M device penetration is around five percent. Reductions in cost will make LTE-connected devices increasingly viable. Battery life of IoT device is a big challenge for the industry to take off. Ericsson feels that network systems improvements will support battery lifetimes beyond 10 years for remote cellular devices, bolstering the demand for IoT services.
The use of the new 70/80 GHz band will enable 10 gigabit capacities in urban areas and support the evolution towards 5G.
Ericsson says the 5G network enabling the connectivity will guarantee QoS for the critical data traffic by prioritizing it over non-critical data traffic.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
