5.5G: China is rolling out the next big thing in communications technology
- China is embracing the improvements offered by 5.5G to improve network speeds and support smart factories
- 5.5G is expected to increase mobile user bandwidth from 1Gbps to 10Gbps and reduce delay, or latency, significantly
The mobile communication industry typically follows a 10-year generational cycle. The move from 4G to 5G has already transformed the mobile internet experience, and the industry anticipates commercial application of the next generation.
But in the interim, 5.5G, also known as 5G-Advanced, is finding its growth in China.
International standards organisation 3GPP, which is responsible for releasing technical specifications, established the technical standards for 5.5G in 2021.
“An update named ‘Release 18’ that points out tech-advance directions for 5.5G, are expected to be finalised by 3GPP in the first half of 2024,” said Song Xiaodi, chief marketing officer of Huawei Carrier Business Group.
“This development indicates that global suppliers will align their products with these standards, with 2024 anticipated as the inaugural year for commercial 5.5G deployment.”
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