At the 4G/5G Summit 2018 event held in Hong Kong, Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon once again elaborated on the changes and imagination that 5G will bring in the future. He also demonstrated live video streaming using a 5G mobile phone prototype with a design that was virtually identical to current mobile phones. He emphasized that Qualcomm is already using 5G technology to achieve clear calls and network transmission, and that terminal devices can be used in a form factor that closely matches existing product designs. He expects that more 2019G network technology applications will emerge and develop starting in 5, and that this will also lead to greater growth opportunities in various markets.
從今年9月宣布與Ericsson完成以行動尺寸裝置完成符合3GPP規範的5G NR毫米波OTA通話，Qualcomm再次宣布在6GHz以下網路頻段也同樣與Ericsson完成符合3GPP規範的OTA通話操作，同時在此次4G/5G Summit 2018活動中，更實際展示在上方狀態列顯示5G網路訊號連接圖示，同時幾乎等同現行手機外觀設計的5G連網手機原型進行現場影片串流播放。
Provide complete 5G network solutions
This demonstration highlighted Qualcomm's ability to conduct over-the-air (OTA) calls on millimeter wave (mmWave) and sub-6GHz networks, respectively. This digital communication approach delivers crystal-clear call quality while also enabling smooth network transmission. All of this is accomplished on a device roughly the size of an existing mobile phone. This means that in addition to collaborating with Ericsson and other industry partners on 5G network transmission technology on the server side, Qualcomm is also enabling ordinary users to seamlessly transition from 4G networks to the future 5G network experience.
Although Qualcomm has not yet completed the integration of 5G connectivity chip functionality directly into its processor computing platform designs, the currently proposed 5G mobile phone reference design is already very close to the 5.5-inch to 6-inch screen model, and the experience is actually not much different from currently available mobile phones. Unlike the previously proposed reference design, which was still bulky, the 5G mobile phone reference design on display can be operated with just one hand and can be put into a pocket.
In addition to Qualcomm, manufacturers including MediaTek, Samsung, Huawei, and Intel are also actively deploying 5G network applications. Samsung and Huawei maintain a market relationship with Qualcomm that is both competitive and cooperative. However, Qualcomm emphasizes that it has already achieved network calls in the critical millimeter wave and sub-5GHz frequency bands for 6G networks. It also points out that it has accumulated experience in communication transmission technology from the 2G, 3G, and 4G network eras, and can even currently provide complete terminal-to-server application solutions. It is expected to work with more partners to promote the growth of 5G network applications.
Accelerate existing development and catalyze innovative growth
Qualcomm believes that 5G network features include not only high transmission efficiency and greater transmission bandwidth, but also flexible deployment of network connection resources and programmability. However, it also faces the challenge of integrating existing and new spectrum, as well as existing technologies before 4G LTE and connection resources such as Wi-Fi, to meet the needs of a larger number of connected applications.
Just as the transition from 3G to 4G LTE in the past did not immediately phase out 3G network technology, but rather served as a supplement to 4G LTE. Similarly, Ericsson believes that in the 5G era, existing 4G LTE network technology will continue to form the underlying infrastructure for 5G network applications. Even before 5G network base stations become widely deployed, enabling existing 4G LTE to achieve 5G-equivalent connection speeds through methods such as carrier aggregation will become the mainstream market approach. The transition to full 5G network development will be gradual, not immediately leading to significant market changes.
As 5G network applications become more diverse, the design of small cellular base stations to fill network coverage gaps has become increasingly important, especially in cities with higher Internet density and automated application locations. This will prevent 5G network connections from being interrupted or paused, and can even connect more connected devices, allowing devices to communicate directly, rather than just interacting with people.
With the widespread adoption of 5G networks, Qualcomm expects to drive the development of more always-connected devices and accelerate the growth of connected vehicles, smart industry, smart cities, unmanned stores, and even more automated applications. For example, at the 4G/5G Summit 2018, partners such as Microsoft, Geely Auto, Honeywell, and Amazon were invited to share the changes that 5G network technology will bring. They also explained that 5G networks provide a user experience equivalent to "wireless fiber optics," breaking the limitations of traditional high-speed networks that require wired connections.
For the general consumer population, the biggest difference will likely be a gradual shift in how they use their phones. For example, through environmental sensing, deep learning, and artificial intelligence technologies, phones will be able to better understand users' current needs and more quickly assist in completing specific operations. Content usage patterns are also expected to shift from being stored on the device itself to being synchronized in the cloud, with high-speed 5G connectivity providing the same access experience as on-device, allowing phones to become more than just a medium for accessing content.
In fact, when all data can be transmitted and used in real time via 5G networks, it is expected to drive further changes in mobile phone design. In the future, it may be possible to easily access all kinds of content through glasses-like devices, combined with network streaming and real-time transmission. At the same time, without being restricted by a single device, users only need to log in through the Internet to access personal content at any time and place through any device. Just as NEXTVR interprets the future usage model of virtual visual content, it will be able to integrate calls and network transmission to allow users to experience the interactive experience of virtual and real integration with simple glasses.
The development opportunities of 5G networks depend crucially on the perspectives of local governments and industry players.
However, previous views believed that the development of 5G network technology, built from scratch, would allow many competitors to start from the same starting point and would also bring new opportunities for growth in many markets. However, the initial wave of 5G network development, which is about to be widely used in the market, will still focus on the United States, Europe, Australia, China, South Korea, Japan and other regions where 4G LTE network services are already highly used. This raises the question of whether this will cause a larger growth gap in other developing countries and Southeast Asian markets, leading to an imbalance in market competition.
Jim Cathey, senior vice president of Qualcomm and president of Asia Pacific and India, believes that the key lies in how local governments and operators view the development of 5G networks.
In fact, the growth of 5G network technology can drive enormous development opportunities. Therefore, the Indian government currently attaches great importance to future 5G network applications. In addition, the local demand for network usage continues to grow, which makes local telecom operators in India also hope to meet more usage needs through the development of 5G networks. At the same time, 5G network applications can also accelerate the growth of existing content industries, the Internet of Things, the Internet of Vehicles, smart cities, smart manufacturing and other fields, thereby driving more innovative development. Jim Cathey believes that 5G network technology can indeed bring various development catalytic effects to different markets.
Therefore, Jim Cathey also believes that investing in 5G network applications will also bring greater growth opportunities to Taiwan, but the key still depends on whether the government and local businesses are willing to join this development trend.
