5G technology is evolving, and the next big step is 5G Advanced with the 3GPP Release 19. This new release is set to lay the groundwork for 6G. After many months of discussions, the final 3GPP RAN Plenary meeting of 2023, held in Edinburgh, decided on the scope of 5G Advanced Release 19. Let’s dive into the key projects expected to start soon.
What is 5G Advanced Release 19?
5G Advanced Release 19 builds on the first 5G Advanced 3GPP Release 18. It aims to improve the existing 5G system, expand into new uses, introduce advanced features, and set the technical foundation for 6G.
Key Focus Areas of 5G Advanced Release 19
1. System Enhancements
MIMO Evolution: Enhancements in massive multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) will focus on better uplink performance and beam management. Support for more CSI-RS ports (up to 128) will help match state-of-the-art antenna configurations. Multi-TRP operation will also evolve, aiming for improved Coherent Joint Transmission (CJT) support.
Device Mobility Enhancements: Improvements will be made to lower-layer triggered mobility, including support for inter-CU Layer 2 mobility and enhancements related to AI/ML.
Advanced Network Topology: This includes studying Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB) and 5G femto-cells. WAB will provide PDU session backhaul for all 5G deployments, while femto-cells will be analyzed for efficient 5G support.
Other Enhancements: Projects will focus on self-organizing networks (SON), minimization of drive tests (MDT), RACH optimizations, and enhanced carrier aggregation support. Smaller projects will improve coverage, multi-carrier operations, multi-SIM, sidelink, positioning, quality of experience, broadcast, device capabilities, and more.
2. Use Case Diversifications
Ambient IoT: Release 19 will study different architecture and design options for low-complexity 5G devices with minimal or no energy storage, supporting battery-less devices.
Enhanced XR: Building on Release 18’s XR enhancements, Release 19 will further improve traffic scheduling, device power savings, and latency to enhance user experiences.
Evolved Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN): Enhancements will be made for both IoT-NTN and NR-NTN, including uplink capacity improvements and support for regenerative payload. NR-NTN will also extend MBS and RedCap support to NTN.
3. New Advanced Capabilities
Wireless AI: Release 19 will provide specification support for AI/ML in air interfaces, focusing on beam management and positioning. It will continue studying channel state information enhancements for larger gains.
Network Energy Savings: Techniques will be specified to reduce energy consumption in the 5G network, including on-demand SIB1 transmissions and adaptation of common signal transmissions.
Low-Power Wakeup Receiver (LP-WUR): Release 19 will support efficient signaling for very low-power IoT use cases, complemented by enhanced RedCap features.
4. 6G Technical Foundation
Duplexing Evolution: Release 19 will support subband full duplex, which allows simultaneous transmission and reception in the same band.
New Spectrum Bands: The ecosystem will study the channel characteristics of the 7–24 GHz range, potentially becoming the wide-area coverage band for 6G.
Integrated Sensing and Communications: Release 19 will study RF sensing, enabling new use cases like sensing-assisted communications and public safety.
Conclusion
5G Advanced Release 19 is a crucial step in the evolution of 5G, paving the way for 6G. With faster speeds, lower latency, improved coverage, and new use cases, it promises to transform our world. As we approach 2024, we can look forward to remarkable progress in 5G technology.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore the exciting advancements in 5G and beyond!
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