Driven by demand for mobility, scalability, and efficiency, wireless broadband is rapidly becoming the dominant infrastructure for connectivity solutions for both consumers and enterprises. By the end of the decade, the number of global 5G connections is expected to grow from 2 billion to 10 billion.

Advancements in communications technology over the past decade have positioned wireless as the leading communications standard. Powered by high-speed, high-bandwidth 5G, wireless connectivity bridges gaps left by traditional fiber and cable infrastructure. It enables enterprises to expand operations into underserved regions, offering reliable connections to remote sites and linking them seamlessly to global networks. Additionally, wireless broadband plays a crucial role in reducing the digital divide, providing innovative solutions to connect rural communities with ease.

As we enter the golden age of wireless broadband, 5G Advanced has emerged as a key enabler of the future of connectivity. Major carriers are already deploying 5G Advanced in targeted markets, and T-Mobile has announced the first nationwide 5G Advanced network. The launch of these networks doesn’t just represent technological progress — it paves the way for next-generation applications that require instant, reliable, and efficient communication.

What is 5G Advanced?

5G Advanced, or 3GPP Release 18, represents a pivotal evolutionary step in the 5G journey. While previous 5G releases (15-17) laid the groundwork for enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low-latency communication, and massive machine-type communications, 5G Advanced focuses on optimizing these foundational capabilities and introducing entirely new functionalities. It’s about moving beyond just raw speed to deliver intelligence, efficiency, and a broader range of specialized services. This includes integrating AI and machine learning directly into the network for smarter operations, enabling more precise positioning, and refining support for immersive experiences like extended reality (XR), ultimately shaping the path towards 6G.

Key enhancements of 5G Advanced

5G Advanced is a transformative catalyst, driving innovation, enhancing user experiences, and advancing sustainability across a variety of industries. It is fundamentally shaping the future of wireless connectivity with several key advancements.

Advanced massive MIMO and performance optimization

5G Advanced features enhancements to Massive Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology. These improvements raise system capacity and data rates in both uplink and downlink, leading to faster, more responsive experiences. This includes aspects like improved beamforming and enhanced demodulation reference symbols (DMRS).

Unlock lightning-fast 5G internet almost anywhere

Enhanced mobility and handover

Release 18 introduces new handover procedures that enable shorter interruption times for more seamless mobility. This includes improvements to Conditional Handover (CHO) and Layer 1/Layer 2 triggered mobility, which can reduce latency and overhead during cell changes.

High-precision positioning

A significant advancement in 5G Advanced is its enhanced positioning accuracy, now capable of centimeter-level precision for both indoor and outdoor environments. This is crucial for applications like asset tracking in logistics and precise time synchronization in advanced industrial automation. Release 18 specifically addresses positioning for RedCap devices, bandwidth aggregation for measurements, and sidelink-based positioning.

Deterministic networking and time-critical applications

Beyond just low latency, 5G Advanced introduces capabilities for deterministic networking. This ensures predictable and consistent latency and low delay variation for critical applications where precise timing is paramount, such as advanced industrial robotics, autonomous driving, and remote surgery.

Reduced capability (RedCap) evolution

Release 18 further evolves Reduced Capability (RedCap) devices. These lower complexity, cost-effective, and energy-constrained devices are designed for applications like video surveillance, process monitoring, and asset tracking. Enhancements include further power consumption reduction and support for 5 MHz bandwidth in FR1, enabling new possibilities for wearables and industrial sensors.

AI and machine learning integration

5G Advanced significantly improves network operation and efficiency through the seamless integration of AI and ML technologies across the RAN, core, and network management. This enables operators to optimize data collection, traffic prediction, network energy savings, load balancing, and mobility management through intent-based capabilities. Release 18 lays the groundwork for standardized AI support in areas like positioning and beam management.

Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) evolution

Release 18 further integrates Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), such as satellite communications, into the 5G system. This facilitates extending 5G reach to remote and underserved areas and supports IoT/MTC over satellite.

Enhanced network slicing and exposure

5G Advanced bolsters network slicing capabilities, allowing operators to create more flexible and scalable customized network slices with specific Quality of Service (QoS) parameters. Network exposure provides controlled access to network capabilities for developers and enterprises, fostering new service innovation.

XR enhancements

5G Advanced includes specific enhancements to optimize XR applications (VR, AR). This involves traffic management for resource-efficient and low-latency radio resource allocation, mobility support with consistent data rates, and device energy-efficient operation compatible with XR traffic and latency requirements. Improved application awareness allows for shifting XR processing loads from user devices to the network.

Enhanced sidelink

Release 18 includes enhanced sidelink mechanisms that support device-to-device relay, ensuring seamless connectivity and virtually zero service interruption during traffic handovers for low-latency services.

Sustainability features

Beyond AI-driven energy savings, 5G Advanced includes features for optimized power amplifier design, dynamic power adaptation based on UE feedback, and stepwise deactivation of carriers to minimize unnecessary power drain in devices. This also includes efforts to reduce energy in cells and beams serving limited traffic.

Getting ready for 5G Advanced with Inseego

5G Advanced is poised to fundamentally reshape how we connect, work, and live. Its innovative capabilities, from enhanced XR and precision positioning to AI-driven network optimization and deterministic networking, are transitioning from concept to reality.

Inseego's cutting-edge wireless broadband products are engineered to soon take advantage of the full potential of these 5G Advanced technologies, making their benefits accessible in the near future.

Enhanced performance with cellular routers

Our cellular routers are being built to soon leverage the eMBB enhancements of 5G Advanced, providing the high-speed, high-bandwidth connectivity essential for demanding applications like real-time streaming, cloud gaming, and robust enterprise operations. Their design will incorporate support for URLLC, enabling ultra-reliable, low-latency connections critical for mission-critical uses, minimizing interruptions. Furthermore, our latest routers, like the FX4100, are being developed to directly support network slicing, which will enable businesses to tailor dedicated connectivity segments with specialized QoS for diverse needs, from point of sale (PoS) systems to emergency services, directly reflecting 5G Advanced’s flexibility. In fact, Inseego recently showcased the powerful possibilities of 5G Advanced at MWC with a device leveraging the Qualcomm Dragonwing X82 chipset, demonstrating its potential for delivering next-generation connectivity.

By integrating these next-generation 5G Advanced capabilities into our product portfolio, Inseego will empower businesses and individuals with reliable, energy-efficient, and highly capable solutions that drive innovation and connectivity everywhere.

If you would like to learn more about how Inseego can help your business get ready to use 5G Advanced, contact our experts today.