As the world moves towards fifth generation (5G) Internet, systems  engineers and standards developers have been called upon to ensure full  engagement with key stakeholders around the world for the success of 5G  development and avoid the shortcomings of other technologies such as the WiMAX and third generation (3G)

Bashir Gwandu, former acting  CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Chairman ITU  group made this call in London during his analysis of the 5G development
efforts as part of his presentation on “Delivering a sustainable and  long-term 5G future” at the recently concluded second International  Conference on 5G Hurdle 2016 organised in London by Wireless World  Research Forum –a group of leading experts and researchers on 5G  networks in association with Forum Europe.

Speaking on a number  of strategies that the experts need to adopt for 5G to have a  sustainable future, Gwandu said ensuring sustained research effort,  global stakeholder engagement and collaboration, Innovative regulation  and policy development, technical standards harmonisation and spectrum  availability and early release, infrastucture design and harmonisation,
co-existence and network interference minimisation are some of the key  things needed for this development.

On research effort, Gwandu suggested more focus on latency reduction, resilience, availability for  confidence building, Spectral efficiency and speed, mobility, and  antenna versatility.

He spoke on timely spectrum release and  adequate planning and harmonised slots/channel arrangements, saying  there is a need to carry all key stakeholders and major end-users along
in requirement capture for standards development –mentioning some  stakeholders such as governments, regulators, verticals such as  auto-manufacturers, transport and logistics industries, retail and  general fast-moving consumers goods sellers, health and social care  institutions, business and financial services, and experts from various  user groups.

On innovative policies, he spoke on technology  neutrality, infrastructure deployment and coverage, accurate digital and regular update of high-resolution maps and accurate positioning,
weather and ecological consideration in antenna deployments, etc.

Gwandu said for technology that is expected to be relied on by driver-less  cars and independents robots in everyday life from roads, car parks,  utility control centers, shops and homes as well as surveillance systems with sub-millisecond signal delay, much is expected for confidence  building if it is to be sustainable.

On the technical sides he  spoke strongly on making sure that all efforts be made harmonised for  Radio Access Technologies (RATS) as well as harmonised spectrum bands  between Europe and Americas for 5G usage citing amongst many other bands the 24GHz, the 28GHz, the 31GHz and 66GHz bands.

 

Jumoke Akiyode

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