As the Mobile World Congress approaches, the tech world is abuzz with anticipation for the debut of 5G-Advanced. This next-generation technology is set to make its grand entrance at the prestigious event, with industry giants vying to showcase their advancements in Barcelona.
Leading the charge in the race for 5G-Advanced dominance is Huawei, which has been at the forefront of early marketing efforts for the standard. In October 2023, the Chinese tech giant unveiled a comprehensive lineup of 5.5G hardware and software, signaling its commitment to driving the evolution of 5G technology.
Not to be outdone, Qualcomm has been diligently preparing for the impending 5G-Advanced era. The company has developed the Snapdragon X75, a chipset designed to be 5G-Advanced ready, positioning Qualcomm as a key player in the upcoming wave of 5G innovation.
With the stage set for a grand reveal at the Mobile World Congress in February, industry heavyweights such as Ericsson and Nokia are also poised to demonstrate their strides in 5G-Advanced. Based on the 3GPP release 18, the progression towards 5G-Advanced is expected to bring about a new reality for the industry, with vendors gearing up to unveil their latest advancements at the highly anticipated event.
According to industry analyst Roy Chua, the next edition of the 3GPP 5G standard, set to arrive by early summer 2024, will serve as the catalyst for the emergence of 5G-Advanced. The implementation of 3GPP Rel-18, which defines 5G-Advanced, is anticipated to deliver implementable specifications by June 2024, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of 5G technology.
However, the road to commercial availability may not be immediate, as it typically takes 12-24 months for the elements in the specifications to transition into commercially available products. Despite this timeline, there are expectations that certain aspects of Release 18 could begin to materialize earlier, with potential implementations in China by the end of 2024 and subsequent global adoption in 2025 and 2026.
As the industry gears up for the arrival of 5G-Advanced, mobile network operators (MNOs) are poised to eagerly embrace the mid-life 5G upgrade, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of wireless connectivity.
