In this issue: 2G/3G switch-offs, 5G Broadcast, and 6G timelines
GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association)
The Industry Voice of the Global Mobile Ecosystem
In this August issue of the GSA Monthly Pulse newsletter, we look at how the increasing pace of 2G and 3G switch-off is affecting the business case for technologies such as 5G Broadcast as spectrum capacity increases. See below for a link to the GSA report on the topic released last month as well as a link to the replay of the related Hot Topic Webinar which took place in July.
Also in July, the GSA Research team released a summary report providing its regular status update on 6G Networks, with data on usage scenarios and overarching aspects for the ITU’s recently published IMT-2030 Framework as well as expected timelines. Click on the link in the article below to access the full report.
GSA events coming up in August include a Regional Spotlight Webinar looking at 5G and 5G SA in APAC. This session at 9am UK on Thursday August 22nd, will look at to what extent operators and organisations embracing private mobile networks and how the availability of spectrum will shape the 6G future. Register now to secure your place by clicking the link in the Upcoming Events section below.?
In other news, we're also delighted to share our new website, redesigned and refreshed to give you easy access to our reports, webinars, and the activities of our Working Groups, including the Spectrum Group, the GSA 4G-5G FWA Forum , Private Mobile Networks Group and our new Standardisation Group. You can explore the new website here - we'd love to hear your feedback.
We hope you enjoy this month's edition of our newsletter.
President, GSA
According to the latest data from GSA’s GAMBOD database, switch-off of 192 2G and 3G services in 68 countries has been completed, planned or are in progress. Repurposing of 2G and 3G spectrum has the potential to alter the business case for broadcast technologies deployed over LTE and 5G by increasing the capacity of networks to support more unicast video users. But what are the use cases that could benefit from this?
The GSA “5G Broadcast” report published in July details its evolution as a global broadcast standard for TV, radio, data and emergency alerts. It also looks at the technology’s potential to address the growing demand for mobile data and improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of mobile video streaming, particularly during large events such as The Olympics, where network congestion can be a problem.?
As mobile data usage continues to increase networks may struggle to keep up with the data transmissions needed to accommodate video streaming to large numbers of users. The promise of 5G Broadcast is that it is able address any reduction in service quality for broadcast video or other data content that needs to be delivered consistently to many users simultaneously.?
As a mobile standards-based solution 5G Broadcast is intended to work with standard phone hardware. It does not require a SIM card and therefore the service can be offered for free, a benefit to users though this may present providers with challenges when it comes to recouping the cost of deployment.
Real-world applications
Ongoing 5G Broadcast trials in Europe and the US, highlight efforts to implement and refine this technology across different regions and applications. Yet the business case remains uncertain, with more trials needed to explore revenue strategies and technical challenges.
Potential use cases for 5G Broadcast technology include:
State of play
5G Broadcast does have the potential to offer an efficient and lower-cost alternative to traditional mobile video streaming. Since 2019, GSA has tracked at least 23 separate trials or pilots in 12 countries or territories, with more detailed information available in the full report which is available to members.
The report also highlights specific projects that are currently taking place in the US, Spain and Germany.?
"5G Broadcast has the potential to offer an efficient and lower-cost alternative to traditional mobile video streaming. However,?uncertainty about the business case means trials are needed. Although 5G Broadcast does not require a SIM card and the service can be offered for free, not all content is suited to free delivery. If it is provided free of charge, a major challenge is how providers can recoup the costs of deployment. Other challenges, which many trials are seeking to understand, are how to offer the service at large, congested events and how to communicate the benefits to users"
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6G Networks Status Update
While 5G and 5G-Advanced networks are being commercially deployed, work has already started to define how 6G networks will be characterized. The move from one generation to the next follows a systematic process that involves many actors and takes considerable time. Notably, 6G networks are not expected to be commercialized before 2030, but work has already begun to pave the way for this transition.
The first step in defining a new generation is to ensure that the most-advanced research results are considered. Research is an ongoing process that typically takes place at institutional, national and regional levels, but each new generation presents an opportunity to capture those results and use them as a basis for standardisation. For 6G, these research activities have been underway for some time and early results give an indication of the capabilities that 6G may offer.
ITU Framework
One of the fundamental characteristics of mobile systems is that they need to be interoperable globally. Users expect their devices to work wherever they are, and this requires cooperation at the international level. This cooperation has proven to be successful for 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G and therefore provides a good basis for the development of 6G. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has already published its IMT 2030 Framework, also known as ITU-2023, which lays out a set of objectives for 6G. This framework will form the basis of detailed work on specifications that will be undertaken by organisations such as 3GPP.
6G will be the first generation to go beyond pure communication to include an integrated “sensing” capability. The inclusion of sensing capabilities in mobile networks will open many opportunities for innovative service offerings.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also expected to be a key component of 6G for managing networks and supporting AI-based applications. Of course, none of these advanced features will have any value unless network coverage is improved, so ubiquitous coverage will be a major requirement of 6G.
Although 6G is not intended for commercial deployment before 2030, planning has started for the specifications that will define the generation. Building on the success of 4G and 5G, the standardisation development organisations 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.
In this new GSA report, key charts include:
6G is being developed in a systematic and carefully planned manner. A clear framework is already in place that defines the high-level objectives to be achieved, and an overall timeline has been established to ensure that commercial deployment will be possible from 2030.
Through its standards and spectrum groups, GSA is participating in development of 5G and the early activities of 6G. We will continue to update the industry on progress of 3GPP technologies.
"6G is being developed in a systematic and carefully planned manner. A clear framework is already in place that defines the high-level objectives to be achieved, and an overall timeline has been established to ensure that commercial deployment will be possible from 2030. Through its standards and spectrum groups, GSA is participating in development of 5G and the early activities of 6G. We will continue to update the industry on progress of 3GPP technologies."
GSA Member reports:
Published in July 2024
A closer look at 5G Advanced Release-18
Where are we on the 5G journey? What’s in 5G Advanced Release 18 and what are our key innovations? How does 5G Advanced fit into our 6G vision? ?These are the questions addressed by 高通 in their latest report: "A closer look at 5G Advanced Release 18".
领英推荐
The report looks at the cellular innovation cycle and the advanced innovations leading the path to 6G. It digs into 5G?Advanced Release 18, 5G RedCap, 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN), and 5G?multicast broadcast.
Ericsson Mobility Report
5G is expected to become the dominant mobile access technology by subscription before the end of the forecast period. Although 5G population coverage is growing, 5G mid-band?is only deployed in around 25% of all sites globally outside of mainland China. The 5G mid-band spectrum?provides a sweet spot between both coverage and capacity, while improving user experience, as shown by measurements from a leading service provider. As 5G matures, the focus for many service providers is expected to shift toward developing differentiated connectivity?offerings.
In the latest 爱立信 Mobility Report, key forecasts and charts include: 5G mobile subscriptions to reach close to 5.6 billion in 2029 Smartphone market recovering in 2024 5G subscription?uptake rising in every region North America: A closer look Mobile network data traffic 5G set to account for around 75% of mobile data?traffic in 2029 Differentiated connectivity to drive growth and service innovation Time-to-content: Great user experience on 5G mid-band Leveraging 5G capabilities for innovative mobile service packages Speed-based Fixed?Wireless Access now offered by 40% of FWA?service providers * 5G mid-band population coverage reaches 35%
GSA reports:
Published in July 2024
6G Networks Status Update
Dig into the latest standardisation timelines for 6G and the likely usage scenarios that are shaping the development of the technology.
5G Devices Ecosystem
Since the previous edition of this report in January, the number of announced 5G devices reached a total of 2,741 devices. Of these, 2,348 are understood to be commercially available, representing 85.7% of all announced 5G devices. This is an increase of 62.3% in the number of commercial 5G devices since the end of December 2022. Find out the latest data in this updated report.
Mid-Band Spectrum
Many LTE networks have been launched using mid-band spectrum, and operators and regulators have come to recognise the value of mid-band spectrum for 5G networks, as it serves a combination of coverage and capacity. This report provides a snapshot of the global status of national usage of mid-band spectrum between 1.7 GHz and 5 GHz for LTE and 5G services. It is part of a series that separately also covers spectrum below 1.6 GHz (low-band spectrum) and spectrum above 24.25 GHz (high-band spectrum).
2G-3G Switch-Off
This report provides information on the global switch-off of 2G and 3G networks, including the number of operators and countries involved, planned switch-off dates, and the transition to LTE and 5G networks. It details the global shift from 2G and 3G networks to more-advanced LTE and 5G technologies. As these older technologies become obsolete, many operators and governments are shutting down 2G and 3G networks to free up spectrum for faster and more efficient services.
5G Broadcast
A new GSA report detailing the evolution and potential of 5G Broadcast. Initially introduced in 3GPP’s Release 16 in 2020, 5G Broadcast is a global standard for transmitting TV, radio, data and emergency alerts. It was enhanced further in Release 17 with a new Multicast and Broadcast Service architecture.
Upcoming events
Regional Spotlight: 5G & 5G SA in APAC
August 22nd, 9am UK
Across the APAC region, GSA is currently tracking 843 networks including LTE, LTE-Advanced, 5G and fixed wireless access. 2G and 3G networks are being switched off, non-terrestrial satellite services are being launched, and 5G Standalone is being evaluated, trialled and deployed throughout the region.
What is the true status of 4G, 5G and 5G SA in APAC? To what extent are operators and organisations embracing private mobile networks? And how will the availability of spectrum shape the 6G future?
Dig into the latest data on the APAC market in this 30-minute webinar.
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Thank you for reading the GSA newsletter - we hope you found the content interesting and useful. If there are any topics you would like the GSA to explore in future issues, please comment below!
Next month's issue, we'll be reviewing the status of 5G and 5G Standalone in APAC, plus looking ahead to a very special Private Mobile Networks event in September.
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