Talk about the next generation of mobile internet – 5G connectivity – is fast heating up as chip manufacturers and telecom operators are in advanced stages of testing the blazing fast network for millenials of the 20th century. However, there is considerable time before the tech becomes widely available to the public. Samsung has just announced that the second standard for 5G networks will be set in December of 2019. Interestingly, this time it will not be only about mobile phones but will usher in the era of smart cars and smart factories among others.
The second 5G standard or Release 16, as it is called, will be handed over to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said Sungho Choi, VP at Samsung Electronics’ network business, at the ongoing two day 5G Vertical Summit 2018 in Seoul. The non-standalone standard was already given the go-ahead last year followed by 5G standalone standard this January which completed Release 15.
Release 15 is laid out to support enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). Release 16 encompasses much more than that. The standard will help connect smart cars, factories, enterprise networks and ensure public safety. The 5G Automotive Association and 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G ACIA) will work closely with 3GPP to set standards that will result in high-speed data connectivity, boost safety and help improve reliability.
Samsung is hoping to cash in on the 28GHz spectrum and is betting on it to be deployed in 5G SA next year which could give it a lead over Huawei. Both the company’s network business arm and logic chips wing are gunning on 5G that will open new vistas for the Korean giant in these respective sectors in 2019.
