Detailed technical performance requirements for radio systems to support 5G will be defined in close collaboration with manufacturers and national and regional standardization organizations, according to the strict timetable defined by the ITU.
"The new ITU-R Resolution defines the conditions for the future development of 5G mobile technologies," said Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of the ITU.
"The vision for IMT-2020 and subsequent systems opens the door to innovation that will determine how we communicate in the future, given the trend towards high data traffic in the era of the Internet of Things," said François Rancy, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.
In recent years, mobile communications have undergone revolutionary development and growth. New demands, such as applications requiring very high-speed data communications, a much larger number of devices with varying service needs, improved quality of experience (QoE), and greater affordability, will necessitate a growing number of innovative solutions.
Highly fast and reliable communications, enabling instant responses with a single click, are considered essential for the future development of new applications in healthcare, security, commerce, entertainment, and other sectors. Future wireless systems will encompass machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and the Internet of Things, with applications for enhanced mobile cloud services, emergency and disaster response, real-time traffic control optimization, and driverless vehicles utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-road infrastructure communications, along with efficient industrial communications and smart grids.
The new 5G specifications will make it easy to offer information and entertainment applications in shopping malls and large public events where the simultaneous use of a large number of phones and other devices can generate very high data traffic, but it would also facilitate professional use for police, fire and ambulance services that use public communications networks.
User devices will have enhanced media consumption capabilities, such as ultra-high-definition displays, mobile 3D projections, immersive video conferencing, and augmented and mixed reality displays and interfaces.
It is recognized that a connected society after 2020 will need users to be able to perceive similar quality regardless of whether they are moving or stationary, and the new 5G standards aim to maintain a high-quality service with high mobility, enabling the successful deployment of applications on mobile platforms such as cars or high-speed trains.
