Summary
This study examines the key radio technologies for mobile networks in the five years to come. 4G evolutions and 5G networks will integrate the major technological innovations described in this report and will allow the use of mobile technologies in unlicensed frequency bands and the support of a huge number of machines with optimised characteristics such as power consumption or reduced device cost.
Improvements in carrier aggregation support will enable mobile operators to fully exploit their spectrum asset and to provide higher data rates to their customers while expanding their network capacity. Improvements in antenna systems will enable higher spectrum efficiency, reduced interferences and operation of mobile systems in frequency bands above 6 GHz.
In the longer term, innovations in 3GPP Release 14 will focus on latency reduction, use of unlicensed spectrum by mobile networks, massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna use, active antenna systems and indoor positioning.
Further Releases will pave the way for 5G with use of spectrum above 6 GHz, improvements in signalling and control, work on new modulation schemes, 3D massive MIMO, cognitive radios and ultra-dense HetNets.
Table of contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Methodology & definitions
2.1. General methodology of IDATE’s reports
2.2. Definitions
3. Radio access network (RAN) evolution in mobile networks
4. New features in 3GPP Release 13
4.1. Licensed-Assisted Access
4.2. LTE Wi-Fi Aggregation
4.3. Carrier Aggregation improvements
4.4. Uplink improvements
4.5. Machine Type Communication (MTC) LTE
4.6. Device to Device
4.7. Mission Critical Push-To-Talk
4.8. Isolated E-UTRAN operation for Public Safety
5. What will 3GPP Release 14 be about?
5.1. LTE evolution
5.2. Latency reduction
5.3. Unlicensed spectrum
5.4. Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO)
5.5. Active Antenna Systems
5.6. Indoor positioning
5.7. Mission Critical Communication Push-to-Talk
5.8. New use cases: Intelligent Transport Systems and Machine Type Communication
6. The long road ahead to 5G
6.1. 5G philosophy
6.2. Possible roadmap
6.3. 5G technical blocks
6.3.1. Operation above 6 GHz
6.3.2. Improving signalling and control
6.3.3. A new modulation scheme with NOMA?
6.3.4. Filter Bank Multiple Access (FBMC)
6.3.5. 3D Massive MIMO
6.3.6. Cognitive Radio
6.3.7. Ultra-dense HetNets (Heterogeneous Network)
List of tables and figures
Tables
Table 1: Features currently part of Release 14
Table 2: Comparison of modulation schemes in existing and future radio access technologies
Figures
Figure 1: Evolution of LTE evolution from basic deployment to improved network capabilities
Figure 2: Early presentation of LTE Release 13 features by 3GPP
Figure 3: Principles of licensed-assisted access
Figure 4: Initial Qualcomm presentation on LWA
Figure 5: Demonstration of five Carrier Components aggregation at MWC 2015 by KT
Figure 6: D2D/LTE Direct
Figure 7: Local routing of communication in absence of backhaul
Figure 8: Radio Access Technology cohabitation
Figure 9: Dual connectivity principle
Figure 10: Performance objectives for 5G and associated use cases
Figure 11: Current 5G roadmap
Figure 12: Impact of packet loss on speed performance
Figure 13: Filter Bank Multiple Access (FBMC)
Figure 14: Massive MIMO examples
Figure 15: Ultra-dense Heterogeneous Network
Geographic area
Players
- OperatorsChina Mobile
- China Unicom
- Deutsche Telekom
- KT
- LGU+
- NTT DOCOMO
- Telecom Italia
- TeliaSonera
- T-Mobile USA
- Verizon WirelessVendorsAlcatel
- Cassidian
- Ericsson
- Hitachi
- Huawei
- InterDigital
- Motorola
- Nokia
- Qualcomm
- Samsung
- Sequans
Slideshow
Other details
- Reference: M15318INA
- Delivery: on the DigiWorld Interactive platform
- Languages available: English
- Tags: 3D Massive MIMO, 3GPP Release 13, 3GPP Release 14, 4G evolutions, 4G+, 5G, 5G networks, 640 MHz bandwidth, Active Antenna Systems, antenna systems, Cognitive Radio, D2D, Device to Device, FBMC, Filter Bank Multiple Access, Heterogeneous Network, Indoor positioning, Intelligent Transport Systems, Isolated E-UTRAN operation for public safety, LAA, Latency reduction, Licensed-Assisted Access, LTE, LTE evolution, LTE Wi-Fi Aggregation, LTE Wi-Fi Aggregation/ LTE-H, Machine Type Communication, Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output, MIMO, Mission Critical Communication Push-to-Talk, Mission Critical Push-To-Talk, mobile network performance, mobile networks, mobile technologies, MTC, public safety, radio access network, radio technologies, RAN, spectrum, Ultra-dense HetNets, unlicensed spectrum
