Carriers Form 5G Air Interface Testing Alliance

KT, NTT DOCOMO, SK Telecom and Verizon have formed a new global initiative to encourage 5G air interface trials applicable across mobile networks, at various frequencies above and below 6 GHz.

The 5G Open Trial Specification Alliance says it will focus on 5G radio interface trials, and provide the industry with the ability to test and validate key technical components in real-world settings.

The trial specification will be neutral and is not intended to limit on-going standardization discussions and decisions that will be happening in 3GPP.

Those moves are part of a quickening tempo in the standards area, with service providers pushing for relatively rapid setting of standards. At least one supplier, Nokia, pre-standard networks actually could be operating by about 2017.

In substantial part, "pre-5G" is a matter of definition. Many expect pre-5G to appear first as part of the evolution of 4G networks.


source: Analysys Mason

Some observers think the line will blur so much it is hard to determine precisely where 4G ends and 5G starts. For that reason, "second phase 5G" might be commercially deployed in 2022 or so. 

The first phase of 5G might well be a series of changes based in large part on what is done to support 4G and core networks.


source: Frank Rayal