Nokia and NTT DoCoMo Firms developing 5G Mobile Networks Coming 2020

In developed markets, LTE service has quickly become the norm. The data service has proven to be an improvement over the older "3G" networks in just about every way. While we refer to LTE service as "4G,".

LTE-Advanced meets the true definition of 4G and as such, the insiders refer to LTE-A as "true 4G." Since LTE-A is already seeing commercial deployment, eyes are already starting to look at what is next. What is in store for us with 5G?

Mr. Onoe, along with Nokia Solutions and Networks VP of research and technology, Lauri Oksanen, said there is still a great deal of work to be done just to reach a definition of what 5G will be, but there are some things they both expect to see written into the specification.

5G will most certainly operate with much higher frequency bands and utilize millimeter wave radios. This is based on the expectation that providers will simply need access to more spectrum. With higher bands though (28GHz and above) comes the requirement for more densely arrayed antenna systems.

That means 5G will definitely have some spec requirements related to the physical facilities on the back end. 5G will have a more comprehensive multi-frequency standard as well, since the lower frequency bands will eventually migrate to the new standard and will be needed for the same reasons they are desirable now. Machine-to-machine communication will be in the picture as well.

Onoe believes the year 2020 may see the first launch of 5G and we may begin seeing testing of the technology as early as 2018.

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