According to Huawei, “5.5G” networks give users a 10-Gbps experience.
Huawei has emphasised the key components of upcoming “5.5G” networks at Mobile World Congress 2023. This is the company’s brand name for innovations in fields like integrated sensing and communication, Level 4 autonomous driving, “all-scenario IoT” concepts, and green ICT. The vendor further asserted that consumers will experience 10-Gbps speeds with 5.5G, enabling immersive and interactive services.
The firm added that the latency, location precision, and reliability of these future networks will all be improved tenfold. Also, the Chinese vendor claims that by 2030, there will be 100 billion connected things, an increase from the current 10 billion.
Huawei also emphasised how passive IoT technology is enabling mobile connection to go from the present high-speed active solutions to ultra-low-speed passive solutions. “Passive IoT tags can transmit data, and can also be used for positioning and on temperature sensors. Such tags can be used in a wide variety of scenarios, such as automated inventory of warehouse items, agriculture and livestock development, and positioning of personal items. Currently, more than 30 billion passive IoT tags (based on technologies like RFID) are consumed a year. As more industries go digital, the number of passive IoT tags used every year is expected to reach 100 billion.”
The deployment of 5.5G networks with sensing capabilities, according to Huawei, will be widespread in applications like perimeter sensing and smart city road traffic services, which will improve the effectiveness and intelligence of urban infrastructure. “5.5G networks, for instance, can automatically identify barriers or irregularities on the road and inform drivers through the maps in their cars one kilometre in advance, improving transportation safety.”
In a media roundtable held during MWC 2023, Paul Scanlan, president advisor of Huawei’s carrier business group, stated that in order to commercially launch 5.5G networks, the technical standards need be specified and an ecosystem is still in need of development.
The company claims that there are no particular spectrum bands required for 5.5G because all bands can be utilised by this technology. The corporation claims that the spectrum now given to the mobile sector is insufficient for 5.5G, therefore operators may encounter some difficulties.
The so-called 5.5G technology will, according to Huawei, rely heavily on the 6 GHz band, and the company has urged telecom regulators worldwide to reserve this spectrum band for mobile operators.
Following the specification of 5.5G, or 5G Advanced, by 3GPP Releases 18, 19, and 20, the organization’s efforts will be directed towards 6G, which is anticipated to enter commercial use around 2030.
