What is 5G Advanced or 5.5G? When will it be released?

While we’re only just beginning to take 5G plans for granted, another cellular upgrade is already on the way. The new technology, called 5G Advanced, promises not only faster data speeds, but also improved reliability and lower power consumption. And unlike 6G networks, the first smartphones supporting 5G Advanced are already in stores. So what exactly does the 5.5G or mid-generation 5G Advanced update mean to you and me? Let’s break it down.

Officially defined in 3GPP Release 18, 5G Advanced is an upgrade to existing 5G networks, with initial deployment in some countries. Various optimizations will be introduced to the current 5G deployment, laying the foundation for future cellular generations such as 6G.

Historically, mobile networks have reached the end of their lifespan over a 10-year period. For example, the first 3G networks appeared in the early 2000s, and eventually they were replaced by LTE and 4G in the 2010s. Fast forward to the 2020s and carriers are ready to deploy their 5G infrastructure. But while it may seem like mobile networks are suddenly upgraded every 10 years, that’s not entirely true. Case in point: 3G and 4G both received evolutionary updates during their lifetimes.

In that sense, 5G Advanced can be considered a continued enhancement of existing 5G standards. The same thing happened over a decade ago when 3GPP announced his LTE Advanced. LTE Advanced introduced carrier aggregation (CA) and his MIMO or multi-antenna transmission, which significantly speeds up the transmission. And in 2016, LTE Advanced Pro was his final step before moving to a 5G network. If you see an LTE-A or LTE+ icon on your phone, your phone is connected to one of these new networks.

With that in mind, you may be wondering what improvements 5G Advanced brings. There is both good news and bad news on this front.

The good news is that 5G Advanced offers notable improvements over regular 5G in several areas. Unfortunately, some of these benefits are so subtle that they don’t immediately impact everyday smartphone use. Additionally, 5G Advanced is scheduled to be introduced in multiple stages from 2024 to 2026 and beyond.

Nevertheless, here’s what 5G Advanced or 5.5G is going to offer compared to regular 5G.

1. faster speed: Without bold claims of faster data transfer speeds, cellular generation updates are unlikely to garner traction. This maxim also applies to his 5G Advanced, with industry insiders claiming that his promise of 10Gbps download speeds will eventually come true.
2. Massive MIMO:Massive MIMO was one of the featured features at the launch of 5G. This includes cell phone towers that use dozens (or more) of antennas to handle multiple data streams simultaneously. Combined with beamforming, which sends these streams exactly where they are needed, this technology has made it possible for sub-6GHz 5G to reach gigabit speeds in the real world. 5G Advanced brings several improvements to Massive MIMO and adds more antennas to improve connection quality even in crowded areas such as stadiums. We’ve also heard rumors of AI being used to predict traffic patterns and improve signal strength.
3. energy efficiency: When flagship smartphones started migrating away from 4G a few years ago, users quickly realized that 5G caused significant battery drain. Smartphone modems have improved since then, and 5G Advanced promises to reduce battery drain by allowing devices to enter low-power states when idle. To improve energy efficiency at the broadcast level, mobile phone base stations can intelligently adjust their output power or sleep when not actively serving devices.
4. High precision discovery: Thanks to the technology’s multi-antenna approach, 5G Advanced can use signal timing to locate devices in real-time. This centimeter-level accuracy could pave the way for the adoption of his 5G-A in logistics and asset management.

Apart from these highlights, 5G Advanced or 5.5G also looks to unlock additional mid-band frequencies beyond 6GHz. The latest 3GPP releases add support for bands from 7 GHz to 24 GHz. This is in line with his 5G Advanced goal of providing a smooth transition to 6G networks.

5G Advanced is still in its early stages, with the first official announcement not expected until the end of 2024. However, China Mobile became the world’s first carrier in March 2024 when he announced the limited launch of 5G Advanced. This is perhaps not surprising. We have seen extensive demonstrations by local companies such as Huawei and ZTE.

Given the US sanctions against two Chinese telecom giants, China’s rapid rollout of advanced 5G technology could serve as a show of technological prowess. Fortunately, companies such as Qualcomm, Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung continue to be actively involved in the standardization and research aspects of 5G-A. This healthy competition and global cooperation will ensure that 5G Advanced is no longer dominated by any single country’s technology or influence.

Early adopters of 5G, such as South Korea and the United States, should adopt 5G Advanced by 2025. The UAE is also conducting extensive testing, so both may not be far behind. As with previous mobile phone generations, 5.5G is expected to be rolled out in major cities first.

As of March 2024, only OPPO Find X7 series supports 5G Advanced or 5.5G. The company is likely working with China Mobile to enable support for the new network.

Mainstream smartphones with 5G Advanced are expected to start rolling out in late 2024 or early 2025. However, carrier support remains the missing piece of the puzzle, as infrastructure upgrades to support 5G Advanced require significant investments.

The good news is that today’s hardware already looks like it’s ready for the first launch of 5G Advanced or 5.5G. The OPPO Find X7 series is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and the company’s X75 5G modem. It stands to reason that flagship Android smartphones released in 2024 may also support new network types in future software updates.