3GPP ratifies first 5G specifications at meeting in Portugal

3GPP, the working group that is developing the 5G standard for next-gen wireless communication, has ratified the first 5G specifications at a meeting in Portugal.

The ratification means the final design of the first tranche of 5G, Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G New Radio (NR), would be now available to networks and manufacturers.

The development will help the global mobile industry to initiate full-scale development of 5G NR for large-scale trials and commercial deployment as early as in 2019, according to telecom bodies and smartphone makers.

The ratification comes a trifle ahead of the long-term schedule, which only had 5G NR scheduled for completion next year.

Although there have been plenty of 5G trials and plans for commercial deployment already, finalising the specification is a big and very concrete step towards making 5G widely available.

''This is really the step that enables vendors to start building equipment,'' Qualcomm director of Technical Marketing Matt Branda told Fierce Wireless. ''This is an important moment and a crucial development toward making 5G NR happen,'' said Neville Ray, chief technology officer for T-Mobile US. ''At T-Mobile, we're committed to drive a 5G rollout across the US in 2020, and the efforts of 3GPP will help us to realise this great win for our customers.''

''Reaching this milestone enables the next phase of equipment availability and movement to interoperability testing and early 5G availability,'' said AT&T, one of T-Mobile's big rivals in introducing 5G to the US market.

The announcement to accelerate the development of 5G NR has been welcomed by a number of leading industry players including AT&T, BT, China Mobile, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, LG Electronics, MediaTek, Nokia, Qualcomm Technologies, Samsung, Sony Mobile, Vodafone, and ZTE.

''As one of the key players, Huawei has committed to develop a single global 5G standard. With the a successful cooperation and join efforts with global organizations including governments, regulatory agencies, research organizations, academia, industries, and many more sectors, 3GPP 5G NR standardisation Phase 1 has been completed with great progress. Huawei will keep working with global partners to bring 5G into the period of large-scale global commercial deployment from 2018,'' said Yang Chaobin, president of Huawei 5G product line, www.digit.in reported.