5G to facilitate mobile innovation, says GSMA

NEW DELHI: UK-based GSM lobby group GSMA said that the fifth-generation ( 5G) technology will lead to a fresh wave of mobile innovation and would further transform individuals and businesses.

"The arrival of 5G will help deliver a fresh wave of mobile innovation that will further transform the lives of individuals, businesses and societies around the world," Anne Bouverot, Director General, GSMA in a statement said.

The new report by GSMA's research arm outlines the industry’s evolutionary path towards 5G and technical requirements of future 5G networks as well as business potential for ecosystem players.

"5G is still to be standardised by the industry and it has not been fully agreed what 5G will look like or what it will enable,” Bouverot said and added, “GSMA is already collaborating with operators, vendors, governments and other industry organisations in ensuring that the future 5G standard is both technically and economically viable."

Meanwhile, the lobby group said that there is considerable opportunity for growth in 4G, which still only accounts for 5 per cent of the world's mobile connections and 2 per cent in developing countries.

Mobile operators will invest $1.7 trillion globally in network infrastructure over the period 2014-2020, much of which would be spent on 4G networks, the study suggested.