The range of optional additional features in 5G has expanded massively since previous generations. This report covers the technology, use cases and timelines for six of the less-discussed domains of 5G evolution – RedCap, sidelink, URLLC and time-sensitive networking, drone connectivity, precise positioning and real-time communication.

5G-Advanced brings many new features

The next phase of 5G – also called 5G-Advanced or 5G-A – features a huge number of new features and capabilities, many of them designed to customise networks for specific applications, user scenarios or industry verticals. This offers new service and revenue opportunities for telcos, vendors, and alternative service providers and enterprises.

This trend builds on a concept that has been around since 3G and 4G eras when the industry and its standards body 3GPP introduced a range of optional add-ons to the basic mobile broadband system. Vendors and operators could decide if they wished to create and deploy products based on these, if they saw value and growth potential.

For 5G, the range of optional additional features has expanded massively, especially in 3GPP Release 17 and onwards, which is starting to be deployed now. Each revision of the standard typically enhances the existing add-on features, as well as introducing further new ones. (Officially, 5G-A begins from Release 18 onwards, but as the various features are ‘pick-and-choose’ and evolve in each release, it seems reasonable to use the term slightly more broadly.)

4G introduced some extra ‘G’ features – 5G expands on the concept widely

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The first step to exploiting and monetising new 5G capabilities is understanding the technologies, use cases and timelines. This report covers six of the less-discussed domains for evolution of 5G:

• RedCap (reduced capability) 5G for IoT devices;
• Sidelink and device-to-device (D2D) communication;
• Ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) and time-sensitive networking (TSN);
• Drone connectivity;
• Precise positioning;
• Real-time communications services and 5G New Calling.

For each of these features, we explore the likely use cases, technology standards and evolution, champions and stakeholders, opportunities for mobile network operators (MNOs), opportunities for non-MNOs and challenges for commercialisation.

A number of the other emerging 5G and 5G-Advanced capabilities are covered in depth by other STL Partners research and are omitted here, to avoid creating an over-long document. These include:

• Network slicing;
• Vehicle-to-vehicle/infrastructure communication (V2V/V2X);
• Extended reality (XR);
• API exposure and platforms;
• Satellite connectivity (non-terrestrial networks, or NTNs);
• Private networks (called non-public networks, or NPNs, in 3GPP language).

All of these are now reaching the stage of maturity in which they are familiar to most readers and where the main drivers and obstacles are ecosystem-related or regulatory rather than relating to technology evolution.

There are also numerous further features and offers being created in 5G-Advanced that might also provide potential opportunities and which could be covered by a subsequent report. These include:

• Integration of Wi-Fi and other network types (this has been a repeated theme in 3GPP, albeit with limited success with past versions of the standards);
• Multicast and broadcast for TV or similar applications;
• Use of unlicensed spectrum for 5G radios;
• Multi-SIM support;
• Specific 5G enhancements for edge computing;
• Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) for railway communication;
• 5G energy efficiency and ultra-low-power (non-battery) devices.

Table of contents

• Executive summary
  • Overview
  • Key success factors for 5G-Advanced features
  • Key challenges for 5G-Advanced features
• Introduction
• RedCap/IoT
• NTN: Drones
• Sidelink and D2D
• URLLC and time-sensitive networking
• Precise positioning
• Real-time communication services
• Summary and recommendations

Related research

• Telecom traffic: Heading for the fast lane?
• Network API monetisation forecast 2023-2030
• NTNs and telcos: Is it fight or flight?
• Connected car: From mobile broadband to genuine V2X
• Flavours of private networks: Key delivery models

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Dean Bubley

Dean Bubley

Associate Director

Dean is the founder of analyst and futurist firm, Disruptive Analysis and leader of the STL Partners Network Futures stream.