The landscape of 5G devices is evolving to meet the diverse needs of various use cases, ranging from smartphones to specialised IoT devices and emerging battery-less ambient IoT devices. 5G Americas has introduced a briefing paper titled ‘Evolving Devices for 5G Adoption’ which examines the evolution of 5G devices, shedding light on optimisation and adaptation of 5G technologies that cater to a wide array of use cases.
“The evolution of 5G devices signifies a dynamic shift in connectivity, transforming industries and empowering individuals. From the power of smartphones to the promise of Ambient IoT, this 5G Americas’ briefing paper unveils the future diversity of 5G devices,” said Chris Pearson, a president of 5G Americas.
Key topics covered in this latest 5G Americas briefing paper include:
- Device Characteristics: As 5G reshapes global communications, device features remain crucial. Characteristics like mobility, bandwidth, size, accessibility, cost, security, coverage, battery life and radio access technology influence the design and functionality of 5G devices for various applications.
- Device Landscape: Beyond smartphones, the device ecosystem is rapidly growing to include AR glasses, voice-enabled devices and specialised IoT technologies. These developments are transforming industries, improving communication and enabling remote healthcare monitoring.
- Reduced Capability Devices: Initially, 5G New Radio technology focused on enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) applications. 3GPP later introduced reduced capability (RedCap) specifications in Release 17 to cater to low-throughput, cost-effective and energy-efficient use cases. These devices offer a balanced formula for data rate, latency and battery life.
- Ambient IoT: Ambient IoT devices operate solely on energy harvested from their environment, eliminating the need for batteries. Characterised by their small form, low cost, and ultra-low power consumption, they find uses in various sectors, such as inventory management and environmental sensing.
“This paper encompassed a wide variety of current and future 5G devices, ranging from smartphones to the innovative RedCap and battery-less ambient IoT devices,” said Brian Daly, an assistant VP at AT&T and co-leader of the briefing paper. “We categorised these devices based on various factors, emphasising optimisation for IoT applications in terms of complexity, performance, and efficiency.” He further added, “Overall, the evolving landscape of 5G devices presents exciting opportunities across IoT, XR, and beyond.”
“This 5G Americas paper provides a holistic view of how 5G devices are evolving to address the diverse needs of today’s interconnected world and serves as a testament to the continuing innovation driving toward new services offered by the 5G industry,” said Yuchul Kim, a principal engineer, at Qualcomm Technologies and working group co-leader of this 5G Americas project.
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