In a new video clip, AT&T’s AVP Dave Wolter told Light Reading’s Carol Wilson that 5G represents a fundamental change.  Not just more and faster data, but massive IoT based deployment for a variety of industries.  Many new frequency bands are being considered for 5G.  However, there is still a lot of work to be done to bring 5G to market. Wolter said that work is well underway, starting with test bed activity this summer.  

The core network must be upgraded to support the diverse IoT requirements, Wolter added.  SDN and NFV will be key to create “network slices” to particular applications and serves their needs.

Meanwhile,  Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said that the huge wireless network operator sees 5G as a potential cable/DSL replacement for delivering high-speed data to the home. That implies 5G might initially be used for wireless fixed line triple play services.  

McAdam said Verizon has now tested its initial 28GHz “5G testbed” at 1.8 Gbit/s in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  Verizon plans a fixed wireless pilot in 2017 but McAdam envisages a broader deployment in the US over time. “I don’t know why there would be any limitation on where we would take it,” McAdam says. (See Verizon Will Pilot 5G Fixed Wireless in 2017.)

Verizon needs is enough fiber close enough to the 5G radios to make it viable, McAdam noted. “Close is to be defined,” he added.  “That’s why we bought XO Communications,” McAdam said. “Because they have 45 of the top 50 markets they have metro fiber rings that gives you the ability to be out into those markets and then you just run your extensions off of them.” 

“5G as a mobile network standard is probably more of a 2020 proposition,” McAdam acknowledged (what every reader of this blog knows already).

Finally, Ericsson has cooperated with academia to produce a comprehensive book about 5G titled, 

“5G Mobile and Wireless Communications”