itu 5g standards
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) does not specify or define the 5G standards in the same way as other standardization bodies like the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) does. Instead, the ITU provides a framework and sets the overall requirements for what constitutes a 5G network. The detailed technical standards for 5G are primarily developed by the 3GPP.
- Data Rate: The ITU set a minimum requirement for peak data rates in 5G. For example, for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), which focuses on high data rate, the ITU has specified a peak data rate of up to 20 Gbps for download and 10 Gbps for upload.
- Latency: One of the major objectives of 5G is to achieve ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC). The ITU targets a latency as low as 1 ms for certain applications that require real-time responses, like industrial automation and autonomous vehicles.
- Connection Density: The ITU emphasizes the need for a significant increase in the number of connected devices per unit area (e.g., per square kilometer). This is crucial for supporting massive machine-type communications (mMTC), such as in smart cities with numerous IoT devices.
- Energy Efficiency: To address environmental concerns and improve sustainability, the ITU has set targets for increased energy efficiency in 5G networks, aiming to reduce the energy consumption per traffic unit compared to previous generations.
- Spectrum: The ITU has identified several frequency bands suitable for 5G deployment globally, including both sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequencies. These frequency ranges provide different trade-offs in terms of coverage, capacity, and propagation characteristics.
- Network Slicing: The concept of network slicing, which allows the creation of multiple virtual networks on top of a single physical infrastructure, is supported by the ITU's vision for 5G. This enables tailored connectivity services with specific performance requirements for different use cases.