3GPP approves the first 5G specification

It is a milestone that will foster cost-efficient, large-scale 5G development, greatly enhancing the capabilities of 3GPP systems while facilitating the creation of vertical market opportunities.

El 3rd Generation Partnership Program (3GPP), a collaboration body that includes groups of telecommunications associations, has approved in its plenary meeting held this Wednesday in Lisbon (Portugal), the specifications of the New Non-Autonomous 5G Radio (NSA 5G NR, or Non-Standalone 5G New Radio). This is the first Fifth Generation (5G) mobile network standard officially approved by the 3GPP.

The New Non-Standalone 5G Radio specification will rely on the use of existing LTE (4G) networks to offer 5G carriers on the air interface, thus offering higher transfer speeds and lower latency than its 4G predecessor.

This step represents a significant advance for the mobile industry in anticipation of the first commercial deployments of standardized 5G networks. It is undoubtedly a milestone that will foster cost-efficient, large-scale 5G development, greatly enhancing the capabilities of 3GPP systems and facilitating the creation of vertical market opportunities.

The 5G specification covers a wide range of spectrum, from the 600 and 700 MHz bands to the millimeter wave portion of the spectrum at 50 GHz. In the low bands it will use frequencies of 600 and 700 Mhz, in the medium band it will use 3.5Ghz and in the highest band it will use 50Ghz. Each band will have its own role to guarantee the correct functioning of this new network.

AT&T, BT, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Huawei, Intel, KT Corporation, LG Electronics, LG Uplus, MediaTek, NEC Corporation, Nokia, NTT DOCOMO, Orange, Qualcomm Technologies, Samsung Electronics, SK Telecom, Sony Mobile Communications, Sprint, TIM, Telefonica, Telia Company, T-Mobile USA, Verizon, Vodafone y ZTE han hecho público un comunicado en el que expresan su “agradecimiento por los enormes esfuerzos que 3GPP ha dedicado para cumplir con este complicado calendario de estandarización”.