Layout of "real" 5G, planning application scenarios such as smart cities is imminent
Industry Watch
With the landing of large-scale 5G applications such as smart cities, 5G can truly play its role and its due value.
On September 9, Beijing announced that it had achieved full coverage of 5G independent networking, becoming the second city to achieve full coverage of 5G independent networking after Shenzhen.
It is reported that many places, including Henan and Guangzhou, are also accelerating the sprint for independent 5G networking.
To understand the key to this round of racing, perhaps we have to start with the 5G standard.
In 2018, 3GPP frozen the R15 standard that everyone is now widely discussing. This standard divides the construction of 5G into two steps. The first step is the non-independent networking mode NSA, which uses the existing 4G as the core network, 4G as the core network, and 5G as the core network. auxiliary.
The second step is the independent networking mode SA. 5G is used as the core network and only 5G base stations work.
In layman's terms, NSA refers to the joint networking of 5G and 4GLTE. The deployment of 5G networks based on existing 4G equipment can simultaneously use 4G core networks, 4G wireless networks and 5G wireless networks.
However, in NSA mode, 5G relies on 4G networks and cannot work alone, nor can it be built and shared. It has limited capabilities in terms of bandwidth and delay. Therefore, in addition to meeting the eMBB (high-speed network) scenario, the uRLLC (ultra-high reliability) Scenarios such as ultra-low latency communication) and mMTC (Massive Machine Communication) are powerless. That is to say, for many people, 5G is just a faster network speed, and the so-called Internet of Everything and real-time communication cannot be realized.
Of course, the layout of non-independent networking also has its own advantages.
For example, user flexibility is high and the initial construction cost is low, but in terms of 5G future applications, non-independent networking is still embarrassing to be used.
Therefore, NSA is destined to only apply to the transition phase, and ultimately it will turn to SA network construction.
In other words, only when all the features of the 5G network can be realized at the SA stage, can we truly enter the 5G era.
And this is the basis for the large-scale commercial use of 5G. For example, we are looking forward to the Internet of Vehicles. In the future, the empowerment of independent networking is required between cars and people, cars and cars, and cars and roadside units. Such infrastructure can realize long-awaited applications such as automatic parking, vehicle formation, unmanned driving, and remote driving through brand-new information technology and sensory control technology.
Under 5G independent networking, industrial production and service consumption industries will usher in revolutionary changes.
In this regard, early planning and deployment are necessary.
In the author’s opinion, the top priority should be the application scenario layout. The three major application scenarios cannot be fully rolled out at once. There must be a clearer development path. Mobile applications are currently more important, but they are still the basic stage. The application of ultra-low latency and massive connections must also keep up. The former can take the lead in the medical field and industrial production field, and then combine with the latter to connect the three scenarios in series to build smart cities and smart factories.
With the landing of large-scale 5G applications such as smart cities, 5G can truly play its role and its due value.
In the follow-up, there must be corresponding explorations in the application model. In the early stage, it is not easy to promote the application of 5G, and it is more dependent on government policy guidance, but this method is not sustainable.
Take the construction of a smart city as an example. Due to the wide range of coverage, the large amount of funds required, the high technical requirements, and the many links, only multi-party cooperation can be completed. Therefore, explore more reasonable ways to use capital and technology to better play the role of government connection Only with the role of the platform can we develop 5G better and faster.
Pan Helin (Executive Dean and Professor of the Institute of Digital Economy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and author of "5G New Industry")