The 5G is a breakthrough transformation for fixed and mobile networks. It enables high performances more than the current networks. For this reason, 5G is one of the next cornerstones of digitalization, from the industries' competitiveness and improvement in communication and standards of living point of view. This paper provides a technical analysis of 5G technology, characterizing it as the technological boost to innovate all communication networks. 5G technology is a research, innovation and standardization product that interests the entire industrial world and communities. The network is evolving to manage both broadband connection and very low latency, critical communications. We will assist to an increasing number of hyper-connected devices. Therefore, the approach chosen to build this infrastructure for Gigabit Society is to create new industrial partnerships, signing agreements between technology and academic leaders.
re and more innovative. They led to a very disruptive technological change in the society. The data transfer from users has been characterized by a rapid growth and considerable increase, beyond any prediction. In fact, in 1995 the GSM reached 10 kbit/s per channel.
Today, with 4G we can reach 100 Mbit/s per
channel [
From the managing point of view, the presence of
many digital devices implies powerful and eficient
communication networks. They have to enable high
capacity in order to guarantee low latency during the
data transfer, limited energy consumption and stable Figure 1: 5G use cases envisaged by ETSI [
In fact, Qualcomm pushes on the introduction of
new smartphones supporting Android operating
system and each equipped by 2 chipsets. The new SoC is
characterized by a powerful processor and the
Snapdragon X55 modem. It allows to manage 2 platforms,
Figure 2: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. one for the 4G and the other for the 5G. Moreover, it
updates the diferent components. In a specific article
by Digital Day, the main processor’s features are
defrom 5G system deployment. On the other side, in gen- scribed: "The block diagram shows how the processor is
eral they can increase the growth of telecommunica- divided: the CPU now occupies a relatively small portion,
tion sector in terms of eficiency, business and user ex- comparing it to the three true processors that handle all
perience. In fact, by the end of 2025, the 5G is expected the usual operations: the DSP hexagon 698 designed to
to reach 2.6 billion subscriptions and then to cover up speed up machine learning calculations, the GPU Adreno
to 65% of the world’s population. It means that 5G will 650 and the Image signal Processor Spectra 480. Together
be able to generate the 45% of total mobile data trafic with the sensing Hub, that is to say with the “safe zone”,
worldwide. Thus makes faster the adoption of 5G on which stores sensitive data in temporary memory, and
a global scale [
technology foresees diferent steps.
One of the most important regards the assessment of radio interface technologies, proposed by independent evaluation groups. Qualcomm, an American research and development company in the wireless telecommunications field founded in 1985, in the first half of 2018 proposed several 5G trials with some American operators, AT&T and Verizon. The Qualcomm President, Cristiano Amon, announced the availability of Snapdragon 855 (the dedicated 5G chipset for high-end smartphones) in the first half of 2019. The products with Snapdragon 855 are able to connect to the 5G network (see fig. 2).
The new applications supported by the 5G require high level of computation capabilities supported by the
ternet
2. The increase of computational power of digital
circuits that allowed the possibility to eficiently
implement neural networks and more in general
ML systems [
to models’ acceleration, is called Hexagon 689. The NPU analog component from Huawei is a module that gets to 15 trillion operations per second. It reached with an eficiency that is 35% higher than that of the Snapdragon 855 Hexagon.
The Hexagon, however, works in a diferent way compared to NPU. Thus because it can ask for help from GPU or CPU based on the diferent kind of neural network or model that it has to handle. The new CPU is 25% faster and more eficient than the previous one. it consists of 8 cores divided into 3 clusters. One of them from a single core Cortex a77 at 2.85 GHz and with a 512 KB second level cache. The other three which work at 2.4 GHz. All the cores have a 256 KB cache. The remaining 4 cores are deputed for background tasks and for applications that do not require an intensive use of CPU work at 1.8 GHz, Cortex A55 4. Each of them have a 128KB cache.
Each core shares a 4 MB cache. The self-organizing networks (SON) should take to fewer drops of signal, higher data speed and lower costs for operators, adapting dynamically to diferent environments. Regression techniques are evaluated. In fact estimating route loss has been analyzed by researchers when they adopted the machine learning techniques in order to obtain more eficient and accurate route loss models. It has been demonstrated that the machine learning use provides adaptability to network designers that rely on signal propagation models.
Diferent vendor companies launched new devices compatible with the 5G. Among the first ones, Oppo Reno 5G, talked about Snapdragon X50, joined by SoC Qualcomm. The chipset characteristics are the same of the previous version. A second device has been launched by Samsung, the Galaxy S10 5G. It represents a special variant, with a design similar to the other models except for the 5G support sided by modem SoC Exynos 9820. A bigger display comes thanks to a Dynamic Amoled panel of 6,7”. The real revolution comes with Nokia. It started with 5G network adopting a dedicated device, a mid-rage smartphone. The new Nokia 8.2 5G, in addiction to a reduced price, is equipped by a waterfall display, a selfie retractable camera and a Snapdragon 735 5G processor.
the last years. In particular, TIM and Ericsson developed a 5G antenna with millimeter waves (mmW) and performed several preliminary test in Turin (see fig. 3).
In 2017 the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) launched the first 5G experimentation to be held in 5 italian cities and in collaboration with the operators (TIM, Vodafone, Wind Tre) and vendors (Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei and ZTE).
In Turin, the project sees the realization of a Smart
cations supported by 5G, as smart trafic, smart parking and smart lighting. A download datarate of 20 GBbps was reached. The value is 20 times faster than the 4G. According to Tim CEO’s expectations, the 5G network is going to involve more and more users over the years, changing radically the habits, perspectives and potential. One of the most promising aspect is represented by virtual reality. It allows to live senses and emotions from hundreds of kilometers away. Not only calls and safe navigation, fast and stable, but also the best use of artistic and cultural heritage, through designed applications and created for valorize stripes of territory unknown by tourists, improvement of the education condition, healthcare more connected with the possibility to do also small remote surgeries.
The project, in the south of Italy between Bari and Matera, is branded Tim, Fastweb and Huawei, with 52 partners involved.
With the first experiments, in 2018, the 75% of network coverage of cities has been reached. The high radio performances have been reached through the use of “Massive MIMO” antenna, characterized by active project is experimented in some cities in Tuscany. The project aim is to digitalize the harbour operations and to make them more eficient and sustainable using the 5G network.
Figure 4: 5G antenna installed in Turin by Tim/Ericsson America. As confirmed by Nokia Bells Labs President, Marcus Weldon: "It is to allow new geographical areas to experiment for the first time the possibilities of the elements that enable the coordinated use of an inde- 5G, to push on the technology and redefine the limpendent number of radiant elements. the resulting ef- its and to ofer excellent performances reaching new fect allows to increase antenna directivity and to dy- records in the field, highlighting the first transmission namically orient the transmission of the radio signal data end-to-end on a commercial network 5G New Rain the direction of the various customers. In this way, dio 3GPP. Nokia has managed to reach 23 records reeveryone could use the best performance that the an- lated to 5G in multiple technological areas”. tenna is able to ofer thanks to techniques for spatial The inventors of patents, launched by Nokia, work distribution of radio resources. Vodafone carried out at Near Bell Labs in Aalborg, in Denmark: “In Nokia the 5G experimentation in Milan, in collaboration with it has been long understood the importance of open Nokia. They defined 41 Use Cases and 28 partners. standardization, aimed at enabling others to create, baAt the end of 2019, the network coverage has reached sed on our innovation, new products for people around 100% of the Lombard metropolitan area. With a total the world. Through licensing, other sectors and acof 90 Million euros for total investment, several impor- tivities can benefit from Nokia’s innovation, while we tant applications were tested, as healthcare and well- seek to develop an even more connected world”, said ness, security and surveillance, mobility and transports, Jenni Lukander, Nokia Technologies President. Nokia manufacture and industry 4.0. The healthcare sector is the only end-to-end products supplier, that covers all can benefit a lot from 5G. Thanks to a broadband con- 5G network elements. Nokia 5G products were connection and high speed data rates ofered by 5G, it tracted by all US national operators, all South Korea can be possible to guarantee high reliability for new operators and all the three Japanese national operaambulance intervention protocols avoiding delays and tors. That is to say two-thirds of the global business of the repetition of examinations. The real time manage- access networks in a typical year. ment of critical situations during transport can also be China is the most powerful mobile market with 1 enable, together with the remote consultation. The Billion connections from smartphones reached at the possibility to exchange the trafic information com- end of 2018. 5G will represent a real turning point: it ing from widespread sensors deployed along the road is the reference point for Asian Countries of this new infrastructure and vehicles can both enable the smart technology in the world. China worked on 5G in colmobility and enrich the driving assistance system. Fast- laboration with his three national operators. In July, web and Ericsson carried out the 5G experimentation despite the USA persistence, Huawei has claimed to in Rome in order to create a digital laboratory useful have signed 91 more commercial agreements for 5G for the touristic sector. They developed new applica- network supply all over the world, of which at least tions in the urban mobility and security, in terms of 28 of them being in Europe. While the USA accuse innovative high-definition surveillance solutions. The Huawei of telecommunications espionage, the Chinese development for a new experimentation has been taken giant signed the agreement for the 5G network’s dein agreement from Fastweb and Samsung for 5G Fixed velopment in Russia. The agreement has been signed Wireless Access Network (FWA) on commercial fre- close to a meeting between the Russian leader Vladimir quencies, always on the Italian territory. Putin and the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping.
This project shows that the 5G FWA networks are able to replace the FTTH network (filbert-to-the-home) to realize Gbps-based connections. In this way, the 5G FWA technical and commercial feasibility on millimetre bands has been proved. The European Corealis Virtual reality FWA e-health Sensors networks Smart city Connected automotive Cloud robotics Cloud virtual e augmented reality Smart manufacturing
Connected drones
TIM, connected vehicles experimentation A powerful management of the people and goods mobility needs to assure firstly their safety, secondly, the reduction of wasted time, money losses, and the environmental impact. It can ofer various points of evolution for the telephone operator’s business.
Transport systems are evolving towards connected, cooperating and automated mobility paradigms CCAM (Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility). In this scenario the vehicle becomes an integral part of a connected system that includes intelligent road infrastructures, distributed sensors, private and public controls. The network is able to exchange data and • Network level. The system intelligence should be moved On this level. The MEC functionalities can be deployed in order to reduce the round trip time of the request/response of the connected
have demonstrated their interest on the 5G development, not only from a new network standard point of view. 5G is an important enabler of new applications and services to ofer to the end users. In the whole ICT sector, the companies have been forced to change in order to catch the right opportunities coming from more challenging the user requirements. In order to do this, we need an more decentralized network infrastructure, able to support the elaboration and storage closer to the end user. It also implies the compliance with regulations and the necessity to guarantee the network resilience and scalability. In this paper, the authors provides an overview of the telecommunication sector considering the last and the future trends regarding the 5G. After the analysis of hardware supporting the 5G, the paper presents the main important 5G experimentation carried out in Italy, together with the 5G applications for the smart mobility. As the next steps, the authors will focus on the performance analysis and comparative analysis with the previous communication standards.