Move over 4G: ITU defines 5G, data speed at 20Gbps, demo by 2018 Olympics!

As India battles network call drops and slow data access, and now thinking of migrating to 4G, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has agreed on the definition of fifth generation telecommunication networks. What this means is while India is gearing up for the fourth, the world will be thinking of 5G services.

Although the standard is currently under the definition stage now, the ITU has laid out a timeline for a name, demo and distribution.

Similar to IMT2000, which was the term used for 3G services, the 5G service is likely to be named IMT2020. 4G services were named IMT-Advanced.

The ITU has defined a 5G network as one capable of transmitting data at 20 Gbps. What this means is as a user you can download one ultraHD movie in 10 seconds.

According to a report in the Korea Times , a Korean Ministry official is quoted as saying, “The vision for the 5G network and its global standardization schedule has been agreed based on our suggestion. This has shown that Korea is leading the world’s mobile communication technology and related policies.”

According to the ITU, between 2016 and 2018, “WP 5D (Working Party) will define in detail the performance requirements, evaluation criteria and methodology for the assessment of new IMT radio interface.” It is anticipated that the timeframe for proposals will be focused in 2018.

In 2018-2020 the evaluation by independent external evaluation groups and definition of the new radio interfaces to be included in “IMT-2020” will take place. Working Party 5D also plans to hold a workshop in late 2017 that will allow for an explanation and discussion on performance requirements and evaluation criteria and methodology for candidate technologies for “IMT-2020” that has been developed by WP5D, as well as to provide an opportunity for presentations by potential proponents for “IMT-2020” in an informal setting.

The whole process is planned to be completed in 2020 when a draft new ITU-R Recommendation with detailed specifications for the new radio interfaces will be submitted for approval within ITU-R.