Driving Shared Success with 5G-A: Launch of the 5G-A Pioneers Program at MWC Shanghai 2024

At MWC Shanghai 2024, the spotlight was on the launch of the 5G-A Pioneers Program. Under the theme "Driving Shared Success with 5G-A," this event brought together leading 5G operators from around the globe, including China's "big three," HKT, du, and Oman Telecommunications.

The goal? To push forward the high-quality development of 5G-A networks and explore new market opportunities in our increasingly intelligent world.

Announcing the 5G-A Pioneers Program

In a collaborative announcement, 华为 and its operator partners introduced the 5G-A Pioneers Program. This marks a crucial milestone in the evolution of 5G technology. The first standard release for 5G-Advanced, known as 3GPP Release-18, was officially frozen on June 28, 2024, in Shanghai. This sets the stage for 2024 to be the inaugural year of commercial 5G-A deployment.

A keynote titled "5G-A: Paving the Way for Shared Success” highlighted how 5G-A will protect existing investments while creating new business opportunities by expanding business boundaries. As we approach 2030, the industry must reinforce 5G-A technologies to ensure the healthy development of 5G and make the world a better place.

Six Key Consensuses for 5G-A Development

During the launch ceremony, six specific consensuses were reached to maximize the value of advanced 5G-A capabilities:

1. Pioneer Operators: Promoting early adopters of 5G-A to drive innovation.

2. Pioneer Cities: Developing cities that lead in 5G-A implementation.

3. Business Model Upgrade: Enhancing business models to seize new opportunities.

4. High-Quality Networks: Ensuring robust and reliable 5G-A infrastructure.

5. Service Innovation: Encouraging innovative services leveraging 5G-A capabilities.

6. Thriving Ecosystems: Building ecosystems that support 5G-A growth.

These consensuses aim to support operators' innovation efforts in networks, services, and ecosystems, helping them build differentiated competitiveness in the 5G-A era. This promotes high-quality industry development and enables digital and intelligent transformation for a better world.

AI, tech & Shanghai?

I was in Shanghai this past year, and while exploring the city, I came across some really cool tech implementations. One of those that impressed me most was the Shanghai Tower.

I visited the world's second tallest building, the Shanghai Tower, which stands at an impressive 632 meters. The elevator ride to the observatory deck on the 118th floor, 562 meters high, takes only 55 seconds.?

Yes, you read that right – just 55 seconds! The tower boasts the world's fastest elevators, speeding up at 73.8 km an hour.

But that's not all. At that height, the tower still has robust 5G connectivity, with download speeds close to 500 Mbps. The tower's 120° twist in architecture is designed to reduce wind loads by 24%, allowing the use of 25% less structural steel than a non-green design of equal height.?

As Shanghai continues to lead in technological advancements, 5.5G and AI are set to bring even more vitality to the city. These technologies promise to enhance urban life in multiple ways:

• Enhanced Connectivity: 5.5G will provide faster and more reliable internet connections, supporting the growing demand for data and enabling new applications in smart homes, healthcare, and transportation.
• Smart Infrastructure: AI can optimize urban infrastructure management, from traffic systems to energy grids, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing residents' quality of life.
• Advanced Public Services: AI-driven analytics will help city planners make more informed decisions, leading to better public services and resource allocation, from emergency response to waste management.
• Innovative Business Opportunities: The integration of 5.5G and AI will foster innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting talent and investment and boosting economic growth.
• Sustainable Development: AI can optimize energy usage, while 5.5G can support the deployment of smart grids and renewable energy sources, contributing to sustainable urban development.

?Bringing AI to Networks

An ambitious plan to integrate AI into networks was unveiled during the 5G-A & AI Roundtable. This initiative aims to build an ecosystem of RAN Intelligent Agents in collaboration with operators, boosting network productivity. The first phase targets 1,000 site engineers and 10,000 sites across cities like Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Bangkok, Jinan, and Shenzhen within six months.

The RAN Intelligent Agent reshapes network operations, experience, and services through:

• Reshaping Operations: Boosting efficiency with AI-based assistants that simplify processes.
• Reshaping Experience: Enabling networks to autonomously optimize user experience and energy savings.
• Reshaping Services: Allowing operators to provision new services in real-time to ensure a seamless service experience.

Join the Conversation

MWC Shanghai 2024 highlighted the industry's collective efforts to drive shared success with 5G-A. By working together, we aim to build healthy 5G-A ecosystems, upgrade standards, and share in the benefits of this technological advancement. Together, we can bring the intelligent world into reality faster, ensuring a prosperous future for the 5G industry and beyond.