What Is F5G?
Before 2019, there was no F5G in this world.
So, what is F5G?
F5G is The 5th generation of fixed networks, the fifth generation of fixed networks.
From F1G to F5G, the differences are as follows:
F1G: Narrowband era represented by PSTN/ISDN technology, rate level: 64Kbps
F2G: Broadband era represented by ADSL technology, rate level: 10Mbps
F3G: Ultra-wideband era represented by VDSL technology, speed level: 30-200Mbps
F4G: Super 100M era represented by GPON/EPON technology, rate level: 100-500Mbps
F5G: Gigabit ultra-wideband era represented by 10G PON technology, rate level: 1-5Gbps
Where did F5G come from?
Before 2019, there was no F5G in this world.
In 2019, looking at the rapid development of 5G, fixed-line experts believe that three international organizations, ITU, 3GPP, and GSMA, are coordinating actions in the field of mobile communications.
ITU is responsible for technical research and spectrum allocation, and 3GPP is responsible for the intergenerational definition and standard formulation. , GSMA undertakes industrial cooperation and development. The cooperation of the three has created the glory of the mobile communications industry and 5G.
On the other hand, in the fixed network field, organizations such as ITU, IEEE, ETSI, BBF, OIF, etc. have their own shares. They have not formed a close coordination mechanism, nor have they given a clear generational division and evolution roadmap, which has largely hindered the solid network. The development of Internet technology and its applications.
Therefore, they decided to set up a new organization to take the lead in the coordinated development of fixed network technology and promote the standardization of technology.
In the second half of 2019, 10 companies including China Telecom, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Huawei, Telecom Italia, and Portugal Telecom jointly initiated the establishment of an F5G working group.
This initiative was approved by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) in December.
In February 2020, ETSI announced the establishment of ETSI F5G ISG (ISG: Industry Specification Group). The kick-off meeting of the working group was held from February 20 to 21. The panel members elected Dr. Luca Pesando (Telecom Italia) as the chair and Dr. Jiang Ming from China Telecom Research Institute as the vice-chair.
Currently, ETSI ISG F5G has 7 WIs (standard research projects), and Release-1 will be released around the end of this year. The first white paper of F5G is expected to meet with you soon.
The expansion rate of the F5G organization is also relatively fast. As of August 2020, the number of members has reached 45.
What are the industry vision and key features of F5G?
At the beginning of the establishment of ETSI F5G ISG, it put forward the industrial vision of Fibre to Everywhere.
At the same time, they also defined three key F5G features: FFC, eFBB, and GRE:
FFC (full-fiber connection, all optical connection)
Utilize the comprehensive coverage of the fiber optic infrastructure to help the fiber business boundary extend to every room, every desktop, and every machine, and fully expand the vertical industry applications. The business scenario was expanded by more than 10 times, the number of connections increased by more than 100 times, and the coverage of 100,000 connections per square kilometer was achieved.
eFBB (enhanced fixed broadband, enhanced fixed broadband)
With more advanced technology, the network bandwidth capacity can be increased by more than ten times, the uplink and downlink symmetrical broadband capacity can be realized, and the Gigabit family, 10 Gigabit buildings, and T-class park can be realized.
GRE (guaranteed reliable experience, ultimate experience)
Support 0 packet loss, microsecond delay, 99.999% availability. Cooperate with AI intelligent operation and maintenance to meet the ultimate business experience requirements of home and enterprise users.
In short, F5G has the characteristics of deterministic large bandwidth, massive connections, low latency, and zero packet loss, and can provide high-quality network connection services through wide coverage.
What is the representative technology of F5G?
10G PON, Wi-Fi 6, 200G/400G, OXC, NG OTN, etc.
10G PON: Passive optical network technology currently being popularized. The gigabit home broadband that many provinces are currently pushing is based on 10G PON technology. For details, please see here: Brief History of PON
Note: By the way, the three gigabits frequently mentioned by operators and equipment vendors now refers to gigabit 5G+ gigabit, WiFi+ gigabit broadband. Gigabit WiFi is Wi-Fi 6, and Gigabit broadband is 10G PON (although the name is 10G PON, the user-side rate is 1Gbps).
200G/400G: 400G mainly refers to the backbone bearer network to further promote the implementation of single-wave large bandwidth.
OXC: Optical cross-connect. Operators are now promoting the upgrade of ROADM networks (details) to OXC all-optical crossover networks, replacing ROADM's increasingly complex connecting fibers with all-optical backplanes, realizing fiberless and full interconnection of optical ports. To put it bluntly, All-Optical Network 2.0.
NG OTN: Next-generation OTN (Optical Transport Network). China Telecom’s M-OTN is this thing. The enhanced version of OTN has lower latency, higher efficiency, supports lossless bandwidth adjustment, and is smarter.
What is the relationship between F5G and 5G?
F5G and 5G are different concepts, and there is no ownership relationship between the two. In other words, F5G does not belong to 5G, and 5G does not belong to F5G.
5G is a mobile communication network technology that focuses on wireless and mainly serves the access of mobile terminals such as mobile phones.
While F5G is a fixed communication network technology, the focus is on wired, and the main business is fixed network optical fiber broadband access.
F5G and 5G share some technologies and networks. F5G can effectively coordinate with 5G, complement each other, and enhance user network perception.
What is the relationship between F5G and all-optical networks?
Neither the all-optical network nor the all-optical network 2.0 mentioned more now can be completely equivalent to F5G.
The name of the all-optical network is the advanced version of optical fiber in and copper out. At that time, it was mainly to promote the optical fiber of the access network, FTTH (Fiber to the Home), and the like. In addition to the access network, the all-optical network also emphasizes the all-optimization of the convergence layer and the backbone layer.
The all-optical network 2.0, in addition to the optimization of the transmission lines between nodes, emphasizes the all-optical switching of the transmission nodes, completely eliminating the conversion of optical signals and electrical signals. All-optical network 2.0 relies on ROADM and OXC technologies.
In contrast, F5G is a more comprehensive concept and an end-to-end concept. It should include the all-optical network (2.0) above it. At least in terms of Wi-Fi 6, the all-optical network does not include Wi-Fi 6.
What is the significance of F5G?
Use two sets of data to show:
According to estimates by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, between 2019 and 2025, F5G will directly create 102.688 billion yuan in economic added value each year and create an indirect economic value of 222.303 billion yuan.
A research report from the World Bank shows that every 10% increase in broadband penetration can bring society a maximum GDP increase of 1.38%.
Everything is for economic benefit.
The foundation of all communication networks is the basic bearer network represented by optical communication. For our users, whether you are using 5G data services or Wi-Fi 6 services, there is an optical network behind it.
Therefore, the all-optical network is a good thing, and F5G and 5G based on the all-optical network are both good things.
The application scenarios of 5G can basically be copied to F5G. It is even said that F5G may be better than 5G.
F5G and 5G share the mission of empowering hundreds of industries. There are huge market demands and broad application scenarios in various fields such as home, transportation, education, medical care, energy, finance, and industrial manufacturing.
Under the tide of new infrastructure, it will be normal for F5G and 5G to cooperate with each other. They will not only greatly improve the life experience of our ordinary users, but also promote the digital transformation of the industry and contribute to high-quality social and economic growth.