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2016 MWC focus on achieving 5G
The 2016 World Mobile Communications Conference (MWC) is set to kick off in Barcelona, Spain on the 22nd of this month. This year's event is expected to mark a significant milestone in the evolution of 5G mobile communication, moving beyond last year’s focus on standardization and stepping into the realm of commercialization. With telecom giants like AT&T, Verizon in the U.S., and Korea Telecom (KT) actively preparing for 5G network trials, the technology is getting closer to real-world deployment. South Korea, for instance, is planning to showcase some form of 5G network during the 2018 Winter Olympics, with full-scale operations expected by 2020.
Volker Held, head of innovation marketing at Nokia Networks, emphasized the importance of engaging with industries to demonstrate 5G’s potential and align it with real-world needs. "Technical challenges are largely under control, but the real test lies in the ecosystem," he said. Meanwhile, Peter Jarich, a senior analyst and MWC speaker, highlighted that the commercialization of 5G will shift attention toward the core network, with virtualization, network slicing, and radio access architecture playing critical roles. He noted that telecom operators considering short-term investments need clear financial models to assess the impact of cost savings and new revenue streams.
The success of 5G commercialization depends heavily on the applications that drive demand. Key sectors such as transportation and automotive stand out due to their need for high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and reliable connectivity. At MWC, Nokia will showcase its 5G-enabled autonomous vehicles, though the demonstration will feature a toy car controlled entirely via the network. Data will be transferred between clouds while the vehicle moves, highlighting the potential of 5G in smart mobility.
Jarich also pointed out that startups and large telecom operators alike are pushing the boundaries of 5G innovation, with the U.S. showing surprising progress. However, there are still many technical hurdles to overcome, including defining new air interfaces and wireless access technologies. Questions remain about low-data-rate IoT solutions, high-speed AR/VR applications, and how to support both low- and high-frequency bands.
Nokia’s Held stressed that 5G isn’t just about wireless tech—it’s about integrating new solutions with advanced architectures, enabling end-to-end data stream control. The 3GPP has already begun working on 5G standards, with key decisions expected this year. The ITU aims to finalize the 5G standard by 2020, while the 5GPPP in Europe is also accelerating efforts. However, vendors are waiting for the WRC to agree on lower frequency band usage.
Spectrum allocation remains a major concern. While companies like Nokia have demonstrated technologies across multiple bands, including 28 GHz, 50 GHz, and up to 90 GHz, Held believes the centimeter wave band (3–30 GHz) holds more promise than millimeter waves due to better propagation characteristics. Both Jarich and Held expect 5G testing at various frequencies to gain approval from the WRC in 2019, though much work remains in terms of investment strategies and prioritizing features for operators.