5G trends 2020

Here are some 5G trends for year 2020:

It looked like 5G and wireless dominated the airways in 2019. It seems that year 2020 will be a real test for 5G if it will really take on or fails to full-fill the big expectations. It seems that 5G networks are available at some place here and there from many operators, but 5G end user devices are not yet widely available or desired. New year will bring more 5G base stations.

5G: How Much is Real vs. Marketing? Is 5G ready for prime time? Breaking down the marketing hype versus what’s really going on in the industry. Marketing claims 5G is pervasive. The question is when: 2020 or is it 2025?

First, let’s define 5G also known as 5G New Radio, or 5G NR:
There is sub-6-GHz 5G for the cellphone protocol that requires LTE: 5G NSA.
There is sub-6-GHz standalone 5G: 5G SA.
There is 20- to 60-GHz 5G: 5G mmWave.

It seems that 2020 will be the real test for 5G devices as the 5G device mass market has not yet really started. Samsung says it shipped 6.7M+ Galaxy 5G phones globally in 2019, accounting for 53.9% of the 5G phone market (Galaxy S10 5G and the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G). 2020 is expected to be an interesting year for 5G growth across the smartphone market. Increased 5G rollouts by carriers means that customers will presumably be more interested in actually buying 5G devices. One June 2019 forecast made by Canalys has global 5G smartphone shipments crossing 4G smartphone shipments in 2023.

5G will be integrated to some PCs. Dell debuts a new Latitude 9510 laptop with built-in 5G, to launch March 26.

Ericsson says they are now 5G networks leader according to Ericsson ylitti odotukset kirkkaasti: ”Olemme 5g-johtaja” article. Nokia has cut its outlook for this year and next because of the need to step up its investments in 5G but ‘We don’t have a 5G problem,’ says Nokia’s head of software.

5G will be a good growing market for test device manufacturers as engineers will once again need to sharpen their skill sets and adopt new design and testing techniques. A lot of 5G Component Characterization and Test will be needed.Delivering 5G Devices to Market Will Bank on OTA Testing.

Network side needs also testing equipment. One approach being adopted to gain ground in the race to 5G involves the rapid prototyping and testing of network architectures. There is need for programmable RF devices. Industry seems to want their own private networks.

5G components are available from many sources already. The typical RF component suppliers are all providing 5G solutions: Avago/Broadcom, Huawei, MediaTek, Murata/pSemi (previously known as Peregrine), Qualcomm, Qorvo, Samsung, and Skyworks.

Challenges: Even the sub-6-GHz versions have technical issues in that the 5G target “air time” latency is 1 to 4 ms. Typical RF component manufacturers appear to be providing components that focus only on the sub-6-GHz frequency bands. The geopolitical situation relative to 5G also adds confusion to the 5G timeline.

There are many technical issues must be considered in the utilization of mmWave: mmWave frequencies travel relatively small distances. the mmWave transmitters consume a considerable amount of transmit power, providing additional challenges for battery-operated devices.

Market size: Several 5G market analyzers place the current worldwide market at approximately $40B (USD) and growing by a 57% CAGR to over $1T (USD) by 2025. With the standards still evolving, what are the likely changes that will occur by 2025?

5G in automotive: The automobile industry is experiencing exponential growth of self-driving features, and this trend is expected to continue. 5G network connections are expected to have a major influence on the development of self-driving cars making them faster, smarter, and safer. Where is car technology going in 2020?

As 5G work has started for many installers and marketers, the the researchers are already thinking about the nest step Beyond 5G chips. They are already planning technologies that could enable high-speed wireless devices beyond the 5G standard.

1,542 Comments

  1. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Gartner: 2020 device shipments to grow 0.9% to 2.16B thanks to 5G, before 2 further years of decline
    https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/21/gartner-forecast-2020-to-see-0-9-bump-in-global-device-shipments-thanks-to-5g-then-2-more-years-of-decline/

    The analysts at Gartner have published their annual global device forecast, and while 2020 looks like it may be partly sunny, get ready for more showers and poor weather ahead. The analysts predict that a bump from new 5G technology will lead to total shipments of 2.16 billion units — devices that include PCs, mobile handsets, watches, and all sizes of computing devices in between — working out to a rise of 0.9% compared to 2019.

    Reply
  2. Tomi Engdahl says:

    5G on the horizon: Here’s what it is and what’s coming
    5G is many things—but the most interesting part is what it will eventually become.
    https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/12/5g-wont-change-everything-or-at-least-probably-not-your-things/

    Reply
  3. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Researchers have demonstrated that putting base stations in parked cars can enhance 5G networks.

    Parked Cars Could Improve 5G Coverage and Throughput via Radio Crowdsourcing, Researchers Say
    https://www.hackster.io/news/parked-cars-could-improve-5g-coverage-and-throughput-via-radio-crowdsourcing-researchers-say-05520e7867f2

    100 car-based radios and 200 fixed-point base stations can outperform 400 fixed-point base stations, researchers claim.

    crowdsourcing coverage from nearby parked cars.

    “A large number of small cells are densely deployed in the era of 5G and beyond 5G mobile networks to achieve high rate and low latency data transmission. Small cells are composed with fixed ground radio units (RUs) in the conventional networks, and thus the utilization rate of them is drastically deteriorated due to the spatio-temporal patterns of mobile traffic demand,” the researchers explain of the core problem they’re looking to solve. “To address this problem, adaptive network architectures have been investigated to reconfigure networks on demand using small cells mounted on moving objects such as vehicles and drones.

    this paper proposes a concept of small cells composed with crowdsourced RUs mounted on parked vehicles. They are activated based on the traffic demand in surrounding area by road side units (RSUs) assuming a smart city. The proposed idea is based on the correlation between the distribution of people and the occupancy rate of parking lots.

    Reply
  4. Tomi Engdahl says:

    3 factors that will drive worldwide 5G connections
    https://www.cablinginstall.com/wireless-5g/article/14092644/3-factors-that-will-drive-worldwide-5g-connections?utm_source=CIM+Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS200131038&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R

    In its first worldwide 5G forecast, technology analyst firm IDC projects the number of 5G connections to grow from roughly 10.0 million in 2019 to 1.01 billion in 2023.

    Reply
  5. Tomi Engdahl says:

    UK will allow Huawei to supply 5G — with ‘tight restrictions’
    https://tcrn.ch/38Halsg

    The UK government will allow Chinese tech giant Huawei to play a limited role in supplying the country’s 5G networks, it has been announced today.

    The government said the package of restrictions being announced on “high risk” 5G vendors will allow it to “mitigate the potential risk posed by the supply chain and to combat the range of threats, whether cyber criminals, or state sponsored attacks”.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-plans-to-safeguard-countrys-telecoms-network-and-pave-way-for-fast-reliable-and-secure-connectivity

    Reply
  6. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Creatives in the UK contribute £100 billion to the economy each year. This is only set to grow with the use of new and emerging technologies.

    How new tech can help the UK’s creative industry flourish
    https://www.wired.co.uk/article/vodafone-5g-creative-industry?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Paid_Social&utm_campaign=Wired_Vodafone_Traffic_February_2020

    Creative businesses need to be able to work from anywhere. 5G and unlimited data plans will push them to the next level

    Reply
  7. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Nokian 5g-ongelmien syy paljastui toimitusjohtajan puheessa: Riuttahai-teknologia ei valmistunut ajoissa
    Nokia käyttää yhä suurimmaksi osaksi kalliimpia ja tehottomampia vaihtoehtoja.
    https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11194822

    Reply
  8. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Reuters: Deutsche Telekom arvioi Nokian 5g-laitteet alan huonoimmiksi https://www.is.fi/taloussanomat/porssiuutiset/art-2000006399989.html

    https://www.is.fi/taloussanomat/porssiuutiset/art-2000006399989.html
    Kyllä se vielä tulee rytinällä alas.

    Reply
  9. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Exclusive: Fearing Huawei curbs, Deutsche Telekom tells Nokia to shape up
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-deutsche-telekom-nokia-europe-exclusi/exclusive-fearing-huawei-curbs-deutsche-telekom-tells-nokia-to-shape-up-idUSKBN2010TU

    BERLIN (Reuters) – Deutsche Telekom has told supplier Nokia it must improve its products and service to win business installing the German group’s 5G wireless networks in Europe, according to internal documents and a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

    Europe’s biggest telecoms operator has dropped Nokia as a provider of radio gear from all but one of its dozen markets in the region, according to the source and the documents

    Reply
  10. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Don’t tell us to go Huawei, Chinese ambassadors tell UK and France
    https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/02/10/china_backs_huawei_ambassadors_uk_france/

    Locking out network biz ‘goes against the principles of a market economy and free trade’, says diplomat

    The Chinese state has gone on a diplomatic offensive over Huawei and 5G, with ambassadors to the UK and France both accusing their host countries of discriminating against the company.

    Orange, one of France’s largest domestic mobile operators, declared days ago that it would not buy Huawei gear for its 5G networks.

    Major steps in France’s 5G journey will be made this year, including spectrum auctions and contract awards.

    Orange has an elegant solution to Huawei question in France: We’ll stick with Nokia and Ericsson for 5G networks
    C’est simple comme bonjour!
    https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/02/04/orange_nokia/

    Orange, France’s largest telecoms company, will use Nokia and Ericsson to deploy its 5G networks as pressure to ban Huawei from European networks mounts.

    The decision will please US authorities, who have pushed European allies to ban Huawei from their 5G infrastructure. Washington argues using the Chinese firm’s kit might enable Beijing to conduct surveillance and intelligence gathering.

    “For Orange France, it was the easiest solution,”

    But for others, changing from Chinese-made kit is a costly decision. Telecoms association GSMA has said that replacing Huawei and fellow Chinese firm ZTE’s gear, which is used in 40 per cent of European telco equipment, would add €55bn to the cost of building 5G networks in Europe and delay the technology by 18 months.

    BT recently warned that UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s 35 per cent cap on Huawei equipment in the UK would cost the company £500m over the next five years.

    Reply
  11. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Vodafone to strip Huawei from ‘core’ network at cost of £200m
    Move follows new UK rules and EU guidelines on use of Chinese group’s equipment
    https://www.ft.com/content/b4bbd752-47f0-11ea-aeb3-955839e06441

    Vodafone is to strip Huawei systems out of the core of its European network at a cost of €200m as the European telecoms sector moves to adapt to new limits on use of the Chinese company’s equipment.

    Chief executive Nick Read said on Wednesday the process would take five years because of the complexity of removing systems critical to its network.

    The UK government last week imposed a 35 per cent market share limit on Huawei equipment in the country’s 5G network, while banning it from the “core”

    Reply
  12. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Vodafone to strip Huawei from ‘core’ network at cost of £200m
    Move follows new UK rules and EU guidelines on use of Chinese group’s equipment
    https://www.ft.com/content/b4bbd752-47f0-11ea-aeb3-955839e06441

    Vodafone is to strip Huawei systems out of the core of its European network at a cost of €200m as the European telecoms sector moves to adapt to new limits on use of the Chinese company’s equipment.

    Chief executive Nick Read said on Wednesday the process would take five years because of the complexity of removing systems critical to its network.

    Reply
  13. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Think 5G is exciting? Just wait for 6G
    https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/10/perspectives/6g-future-communications/index.html

    While commercial cellphone providers and equipment vendors are working feverishly to build out 5G, and as the public eagerly awaits its rollout, researchers around the world are at work producing the wireless world’s next generation: 6G.

    What is 6G? No one quite knows yet

    work at New York University shows that by 2035, 6G will usher in the ability to send wireless signals at the rate of human computation.
    Dubbed “wireless cognition” by researchers, 6G could mean that human intelligence could eventually be sent over the air instantaneously.

    Reply
  14. Tomi Engdahl says:

    5G is no longer exciting as reality start to gets on the way in trying to sell dreams what it could be – so research marketers need 6G to keep the hype bubble overblown!

    Reply
  15. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Nokia mukana toteuttamassa maailman ensimmäistä 5G-autoa
    https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/10416-nokia-mukana-toteuttamassa-maailman-ensimmaista-5g-autoa

    Japanissa halutaan liittää autot verkkoon 5G-tekniikan avulla. Nokia on ollut toimittamassa laitteistoa Hondaan, joka tiettävästi on maailman ensimmäinen NSA-verkossa eli ensimmäisen polven 5G-verkossa operoiva ajoneuvo.

    Verkkointegraattorina projektissa oli Softbank, joka tunnetaan myös Arm-prosessorien omistajana. Demo osoitti, että NSA-verkkotekniikkaa voidaan käyttää verkotettujen autojen yhteyksiin kaupallisissa verkoissa.

    Reply
  16. Tomi Engdahl says:

    You, FCC, tell us again why cities are only allowed to charge rich telcos $270 to attach 5G tech to utility poles?
    Well, we just reached inside our ass and pulled it out, regulator tells court
    https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/02/12/ninth_circuit_fcc_5g_fee/

    The controversial decision by the FCC to impose a $270 limit on what cities are allowed to charge mobile operators for hosting a 5G cell on their utility poles finally came up for judicial review this week.

    The per-pole-per-year fee is only one part of a larger year-long battle between US states and the federal regulator over rules that the FCC adopted in a bid to speed up deployment of the next-generation wireless network. But the $270 has become a focal point for the simple reason that no one has any idea how it was arrived at.

    “How did you get to $270?” Judge Bybee of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals asked the FCC’s lead lawyer Scott Noveck. “I don’t see much data there.”

    Reply
  17. Tomi Engdahl says:

    S20 Ultra 5G: Samsung unfurls Galaxy flagship with bonkers 108MP cam, 6.9-inch display
    If you tell my hand, my achy-breaky hand, it might fling up and hit the fan
    https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/02/11/samsung_s20_ultra_5g/

    Reply
  18. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Switzerland halts rollout of 5G over health concerns
    The country’s environment agency has called time on the use of all new towers
    https://www.ft.com/content/848c5b44-4d7a-11ea-95a0-43d18ec715f5?fbclid=IwAR2BQhrRsUWUH2SZ7_M2XOcu4EiBNXTX1e8RZgCNlC6HH4-c6J4gkMzuVX0

    Switzerland, one of the world’s leaders in the rollout of 5G mobile technology, has placed an indefinite moratorium on the use of its new network because of health concerns. 

    a letter sent by the Swiss environment agency, Bafu, to the country’s cantonal governments at the end of January, has now in effect called time on the use of all new 5G towers

    Bafu has said it cannot yet provide universal criteria without further testing of the impact of 5G radiation.

    The agency said it was “not aware of any standard worldwide” that could be used to benchmark recommendations. “Therefore Bafu will examine exposure through adaptive [5G] antennas in depth, if possible in real-world operational conditions. This work will take some time,” it said.

    Swiss law on the effects of radiation from telecoms masts is broadly in line with that of European peers, but specifies the application of more stringent precautionary measures in certain cases.

    Reply
  19. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Voit tutustua myös tuoreeseen Euroopan parlamentin tutkimuskeskuksen selontekoon:

    http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2020/646172/EPRS_BRI(2020)646172_EN.pdf

    Reply
  20. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Nokia supporting SoftBank Corp. in completing the world-first 5G connected car test
    https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2020/02/11/nokia-supporting-softbank-corp-in-completing-the-world-first-5g-connected-car-test/

    Nokia supporting SoftBank Corp. in completing the world-first 5G connected car test

    Reply
  21. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Nokia jatkaa 5g-taistelua – itseään vastaan?
    https://www.sijoitustieto.fi/sijoitusartikkelit/nokia-jatkaa-5g-taistelua-itseaan-vastaan

    Q3-raportin yhteydessä näkymistä varoittaneen Nokian kuluva vuosi on yhtiön odotusten mukaisesti haasteita täynnä. Yhtiön 5g-teknologian edistämistä pusketaan jopa USA:n ministerien toimesta, mutta kaikki ostajat eivät ole olleet vaikuttuneita Nokian teknologian erinomaisuudesta.

    Reply
  22. Tomi Engdahl says:

    A network traditionally regarded as the challenger player today announced big plans for ground-breaking 5G roll-out, at no extra cost to customers.

    Three Network Launches Fastest 5G In 66 Locations, Ready For “Critical” 5G iPhones
    http://on.forbes.com/61881cqDs

    In just a few hours, Three, the UK cellphone network, will stage an audacious event in London. In conjunction with Central Saint Martins, the leading art and fashion school, Three is co-hosting a fashion show.

    Reply
  23. Tomi Engdahl says:

    What’s in Store for 5G This Year
    https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-institute/ieee-news/whats-in-store-for-5g-this-year

    Although 5G is poised to replace LTE for cellular communications, its base stations require about three times as much power. That is one challenge identified by members of the IEEE Future Networks Initiative in “7 Experts Forecast What’s Coming for 5G in 2020,” a round up of predictions for the technology. The initiative, an IEEE Future Directions program, is helping to pave the way for 5G

    “As more operators push 5G from demonstration sites into wider deployment, 2020 is going to be the year that power efficiency moves to the center of the conversation,”

    “Later this year could see the deployment of 5G-enhanced mobile broadband networks for portable devices used in malls, convention centers, and sports arenas

    Witkowski and Waterhouse both predict debates will continue over whether 5G will have harmful effects on humans and the environment. Overcoming such fears will require a deliberate response from industry, governments, and medical academia, Witkowski says.

    Reply
  24. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Maistiaiset loppuvat – 5g lähtee täyteen lentoon tänä vuonna
    https://www.tivi.fi/uutiset/tv/41784f43-db3c-4953-80d9-c6934949c98b
    Viimeisten 12 kuukauden aikana eri maissa ja markkina-alueilla on
    saatu pikku hiljaa maistiaisia siitä, mitä seuraavan sukupolven
    mobiiliverkot voivat tehdä. Tänä vuonna 5g:n vauhti kiihtyy ja 2020
    loppuun mennessä maailmassa on jo satakunta miljoonaa 5g:n käyttäjää..
    Eurooppalainen 5g-organisaatio huomauttaa, että puolet unionin
    jäsenmaista ei ole vielä edes julkistanut kansallisia
    5g-strategioitaan.

    Reply
  25. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Nokia ajaa ”oikeaa 5G:tä” pilvessä
    https://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10465&via=n&datum=2020-02-24_15:49:39&mottagare=31202

    Nokia on askeleen lähempänä toisen polven 5G-verkkotekniikan toimituksia, jota monet pitävät ”todellisena 5G:nä”. Yhtiö sai japanilaisen KDDI:n kanssa valmiiksi testit, joissa SA- eli standalone-verkon core-osuutta ajetaan pilvessä.

    Nokian pilvipalvelun nimi on 5G AirGile. Sen avulla SA-verkon core-osuus voidaan toteuttaa täysin riippumatta aiempien sukupolvien matkapuhelinverkkojen arkkitehtuurista.

    KDDI:n kanssa toteutetussa testissä SA-verkon ohjaustoiminnot siirrettiin täysin pilvipohjaiseen ympäristöön. Nokian mukaan data- ja ohjaustasojen yhdistäminen auttaa myös monimutkaisen verkon hallinnan automatisoinnissa.

    Reply
  26. Tomi Engdahl says:

    7 Questions for the Mobile Industry
    https://www.eetimes.com/7-questions-for-the-mobile-industry/

    When will we have a “universal” 5G smartphone?
    What kind of apps will really drive mmWave 5G?
    Fallout of The U.K.’s 5G directive on the limited use of Huawei gear
    Invest in Nokia or Ericsson?
    China will continue to ‘design out’ US technology
    Radar in your handsets?
    Time-of-flight sensors in smartphones

    Reply
  27. Tomi Engdahl says:

    https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/10483-intel-aikoo-uusilla-piireillaan-valloittaa-tukiasemat

    Intel on yllättänyt monet esittelemällä koko joukon 5G-verkkojen eri osiin räätälöityjä piirejä sekä core- että radioverkkoon. Yksi uutuuksista on maailman ensimmäinen 5G-tukiasemiin tarkoitettu x86-prosessori. Intelin vahva ulostulo on mielenkiintoinen myös Nokian kannalta.

    Nokia on kipuillut oman ASIC-piirinsä eli Reefsharkin kanssa, jonka myöhästymisen on sanottu olevan yksi keskeisistä syistä, jonka takia Nokia on teknisesti kilpailijoitaan jäljessä. Nyt Intelin mukaan niin Nokia, Ericsson kuin ZTE ovat jo suunnittelemassa uuteen Atom P5900-piiriin – koodinimeltään Snow Ridge – perustuvia tuotteita. Kyse on 24 ytimen prosessorista, joka operoi 2,2 gigahertsin kellotaajuudella.

    Reply
  28. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Analyysi: Nokian Rajeev Suri valmistautui kymmenen vuotta 5G:n tuloon, mutta myöhästyi – Vähemmästäkin on toimitusjohtajia irtisanottu
    https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11236240

    Kypsyykö taustalla isompikin muutos? Sitä arvuutellaan todennäköisesti pitkään, sillä Pekka Lundmark aloittaa vasta syksyllä, kirjoittaa taloustoimittaja Juha-Matti Mäntylä.

    Reply
  29. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Nokia and Marvell enter into partnership on silicon technology for 5G
    https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2020/03/04/nokia-and-marvell-enter-into-partnership-on-silicon-technology-for-5g/

    Press Release

    Nokia and Marvell enter into partnership on silicon technology for 5G

    · Nokia expands range of ReefShark chipsets with Marvell, improving performance and decreasing energy footprint of 5G networks

    4 March 2020

    Espoo, Finland and Santa Clara, Calif. – Nokia and Marvell today announced that they are working together to develop leading 5G multi-RAT (Radio Access Technology) silicon innovations, including multiple generations of custom silicon and infrastructure processors to further expand the range of Nokia ReefShark chipsets available for 5G solutions.

    The two companies are developing a new generation of custom system-on-chip (SoC) and infrastructure processors combining Nokia’s differentiated wireless technology with Marvell’s industry-leading multi-core Arm processor platforms. These new chipsets are designed to be deployed in several building blocks of the Nokia AirScale radio access solution, as part of Nokia’s 5G “Powered by ReefShark” portfolio. By deploying ReefShark, these solutions will benefit from a reduction in size and power consumption, while also seeing a boost to capacity and overall performance.

    Reply

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