GSA Monthly Pulse - June edition
GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association)
The Industry Voice of the Global Mobile Ecosystem
This month's focus - 5G RedCap
In this issue of GSA Monthly Pulse we look at the current state of 5G RedCap – the topic of our webinar mid-May. I encourage you to read the summary article below and do click on the link to watch the webinar if you missed it. There is also a link to download the full GSA 5G RedCap report.
Looking forward, on 19th June the GSA 4G-5G FWA Forum Plenary will debate what is driving global adoption of Fixed Wireless Access services. Scroll down to “Upcoming Events” where you can read more about what will be discussed and register to attend.
Also do have a read of Part 2 of Adrian Scrase’s series on “The path from 5G to 6G” where he looks at the standardisation process in more detail.
- Joe Barrett President, GSA
5G RedCap
5G RedCap represents a significant evolution in network architecture, offering enhanced reliability, flexibility, and efficiency to meet the demanding requirements of emerging 5G use cases and applications. But what does the industry ecosystem need to do to deliver on its promise?
Standing for 5G Reduced Capability, 5G RedCap essentially bridges the gap between different 5G capabilities. It addresses application shortfalls between enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communications (uRLLC) and massive machine-type communications (mMTC).?5G RedCap offers several benefits compared with LTE technologies, including?higher peak data rates, lower latency and improved power consumption. ?In our new 'hot topic' report, the GSA Research Team explores the industry's trajectory towards 5G RedCap deployment.
LTE-M, the Precursor to 5G RedCap
Operating on existing LTE networks, LTE-M is a low-power wide-area technology specifically designed for IoT devices and offers improved coverage and battery life compared with traditional cellular technologies.?
LTE-M is widely regarded as the predecessor to 5G RedCap, and with its global deployments, comparable benefits and applications, it could play a significant role in the continued growth of 5G RedCap as the transition to 5G New Radio progresses. By the end of April 2024, GSA had identified 61 operators in 39 countries with launched LTE-M technology.
NB-IoT Shows What's to Come
Similar to LTE-M, NB-IoT is tailored for low-power wide-area network applications, prioritising minimal data rates and maximising battery life. Although NB-IoT effectively serves the needs of basic IoT sensors and trackers that do not require broadband performance, it falls short for applications needing higher throughput or lower latency.
As of April 2024, GSA had identified 133 operators in 67 countries and territories that have deployed or launched NB-IoT technology. Additionally, 33 operators in 31 countries and territories are currently evaluating, testing or planning deployments
5G Standalone Is Vital to 5G RedCap
To deploy RedCap, operators must switch to a 5G core network and have a 5G standalone network. As of the end of April 2024, GSA had identified?126?operators in?58?countries, investing in 5G standalone with many of the largest markets in Asia, Europe and North America having launched networks.?
5G RedCap Is Nascent But Growing
When assessing the global status of 5G RedCap as of April 2024, GSA has identified 17 operators in 13 countries that are currently investing in RedCap technology, indicating its nascent stage.
According to GSA data, among the operators investing in the technology, four have launched commercial services. These operators are stc in Kuwait and the three major Chinese operators: China Unicom, China Telecom and China Mobile. Currently, the majority of investments are in the form of testing and trials, with 10 operators in 10 countries testing 5G RedCap.?
Device and Chipset Ecosystem
Like the development of 5G RedCap networks, compatible devices and chipsets are still in the early stages of development. As of May 2024, GSA has identified 2chipsets with 5G RedCap capabilities, while the current number of devices with support for RedCap is less than 20 globally.?
You can explore the latest global data and charts on the status of LTE-M, NB-IoT, 5G Standalone and the current status of operators’ 5G RedCap investments in more detail in the full report, free to download.
Watch on-demand replay of webinar
The path from 5G to 6G?(part 2)
While 6G is not intended for commercial deployment before 2030, plans are already being made for the drafting of the specifications that will define that generation. GSA's Adrian Scrase looks at the standardisation process.
Building on the success of 4G and 5G, the Standardisation Development Organisations (SDOs) that form 3GPP have already expressed their intention that 6G standardisation work should be undertaken there. This is important if a global unified standard for 6G is to be achieved.
It is also important to ensure that every generation meets the needs of those that will use it. With this in mind, 3GPP organised a workshop in May 2024 with the specific objective of gathering user needs from organisations that represent differing user communities. Only when those user requirements have been clarified can standardisation work begin.
3GPP has planned a further workshop which will take place in March 2025. That workshop will build on the consolidated set of User requirements and examine technologies that may be suitable to address them. The output of this Workshop will be an orientation of the technical direction that 6G will take together with a more detailed understanding of the tasks to be undertaken and the timeline for their completion.
Standardisation work in 3GPP is a continuous process with snapshots, called Releases, published at regular intervals. Releases are typically 12-18 months in duration and once complete represent a self-contained package of specifications that can be implemented in products. The work currently being undertaken by 3GPP will form Release 19 which is due for completion by the end of 2025. It is expected that Release 20 will contain the first studies into 6G candidate solutions and Release 21 a complete package of specifications that will define 6G. A complete set of 6G specifications is not expected to be delivered until March 2029 at the earliest.
GSA reports:
Published in May 2024
领英推荐
5G RedCap
The report delves into what 5G RedCap entails and the advantages it holds for operators. Additionally, it provides insights about the global status of LTE-M, 5G standalone access and 5G RedCap, examining current investments by both operators and equipment vendors.
5G Market Snapshot
GSA’s May 2024 snapshot of the 5G market highlights the rapid growth and adoption of 5G technology worldwide, with significant investments and deployments across various regions and operators.
NB-IoT and LTE-M Global Ecosystem
GSA market data reveals?258 operators have deployed or launched NB-IoT or LTE-M networks in 68 countries. Explore the market status in this free summary report. GSA Members and Associates can access a full annex of operators?with deployed or launched NB-IoT networks in the gated 'Member Report'.
Upcoming events
4G-5G FWA Forum Plenary
June 19th, 8.00am GMT
In FWA broadband services, GSA identified announced service offers using LTE or 5G from 554 operators in 187 countries and territories, and launched services from 477 operators in 175 markets worldwide, as of late 2023. However, dig into these global numbers and the regional picture of operators delivering FWA services using LTE or 5G varies widely.
Join operators, regulators and vendors?from the MEA and APAC regions as they?explore the FWA opportunity, the challenges that need to be overcome, and how regulators, mobile operators and the vendor ecosystem can work together to respond.
Follow GSA 4G-5G FWA Forum
6G IA and AIOTI?Webinar
The role of 6G in agriculture
Digital farming and precision agriculture are key trends which will leverage the evolution of IoT technologies and the evolution of connectivity services from 5G to 6G that will collect more high-fidelity data to monitor soils, crops, animal wellness and trigger automation in this sector.
Learn more in this public webinar, discussing the findings of the joint 6G IA and AIOTI white paper.
10 July, 15:00 - 16:30 CEST
GSA Membership
Member benefits
- Full access to all GSA reports
- Unrestricted access to all GAMBoD databases for every employee of the organisation
- Promote your white papers via GSA website and newsletter
- Access to GSA research team
That's a wrap for this edition of GSA Monthly Pulse - if something sparked a thought, leave a comment below! For more information about GSA, our industry advocacy and industry reports, follow us on LinkedIn or visit our homepage.
Let us know what else you would like to see in upcoming issues of the GSA Monthly Pulse!