T-Mobile Announces “World’s 1st Nationwide Standalone 5G Network” (without a standard)
T-Mobile USA claims they are the first wireless network operator in the world to launch a commercial nationwide standalone 5G network (5G SA). The “Un-carrier” is also expanding 5G coverage by 30 percent, now covering nearly 250 million people in more than 7,500 cities and towns across 1.3 million square miles.
“Since Sprint became part of T-Mobile, we’ve been rapidly combining networks for a supercharged Un-carrier while expanding our nationwide 5G footprint, and today we take a massive step into the future with standalone 5G architecture,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “This is where it gets interesting, opening the door for massive innovation in this country — and while the other guys continue to play catch up, we’ll keep growing the world’s most advanced 5G network.”
IEEE Techblog readers know that all previously deployed (pre-standard) “5G” networks focused on delivering new 5G radio (3GPP Rel 15 5G NR) in the data plane while leveraging existing LTE core networks, management and signaling in the control plane. With a new 5G Core network, T-Mobile engineers have already seen up to a 40% improvement in latency during testing. T-Mo claims:
“This is just the beginning of what can be done with Standalone 5G. When coupled with core network slicing in the future, 5G SA will lead to an environment where transformative applications are made possible — things like connected self-driving vehicles, supercharged IoT, real-time translation … and things we haven’t even dreamed of yet.”
In the near-term, 5G SA enables T-Mobile US to unleash its entire 600 MHz footprint for 5G. With non-standalone network architecture (NSA), 600 MHz 5G is combined with mid-band LTE to access the core network, but without SA the 5G signal only goes as far as mid-band LTE. With today’s launch, 600 MHz 5G can go beyond the mid-band signal, covering hundreds of square miles from a single tower and going deeper into buildings than before.
To make the world’s first nationwide commercial SA 5G network a reality, T-Mobile partnered closely with Cisco and Nokia to build its 5G core, and Ericsson and Nokia for state-of-the-art 5G radio infrastructure.
OnePlus, Qualcomm Technologies and Samsung have helped the Un-carrier ensure existing 5G endpoint devices can access 5G SA with a software update, based on compatibility. The 5G SA software update is required to activate the 5G SA functionality. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G requires a software download (available August 4, 2020) to enable 5G SA operation.
For more information about T-Mobile’s 5G vision, visit: www.t-mobile.com/5g. To see all the places you’ll get T-Mobile’s current 5G down to a neighborhood level, check out the map here: www.t-mobile.com/coverage/5g-coverage-map.
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Comment and Analysis: Specs for 5G Core (there is no standard)
T-Mo’s launch of standalone 5G is noteworthy considering there are no standards for 5G Core from any SDO! ITU-T IMT 2020 non radio aspects SG’s aren’t even working on it!
Yeah, we know about 3GPP Rel 16 5G Core/Architecture specs:
- TS 23.501 5G Systems Architecture, with annexes which describe 5G core deployment scenarios
- TS 23.502 [3] contains the stage 2 procedures and flows for 5G System
- TS 23.503 [45] contains the stage 2 Policy Control and Charging architecture for 5G System
Collectively, all three of the above referenced 3GPP Rel 16 5G Systems Architecture documents do not specify the detailed mechanisms, protocols and procedures to implement a 5G core network.
For example, there are many software choices for implementing a “cloud native” 5G Core: containers, virtualized network functions, kubernetes, micro-services. Each Network Function (NF) offers one or more services to other NFs via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). And there is no standard for the APIs associated with a given NF!
The only 5G Core implementation spec we know of is from GSMA. It’s titled: “5G Implementation Guidelines: SA Option 2.” That document provides a checklist for operators that are planning to launch 5G networks in SA (Standalone) Option 2 configuration, technological, spectrum and regulatory considerations in the deployment. The current version of the document currently provides detailed guidelines for implementation of 5G using Option 2, reflecting the initial launch strategy being adopted by multiple operators. There is an implementation guideline for NSA Option 3 already available.
However, as described in “GSMA Operator Requirements for 5G Core Connectivity Options” there is a need for the industry ecosystem to support all of the 5G core connectivity options (namely Option 4, Option 5 and Option 7). As a result, further guidelines for all 5G deployment options will be provided in the future.
GSMA says “5G Stand Alone to Become Reality“:
“The deployment of fully virtualized networks using 5G Stand Alone Cores, thereby facilitating Edge Computing and Network Slicing, will enable enterprises and governments to reap the many benefits from high throughput, ultra-low latency and IoT to improve productivity and enhance services to their customers,” said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA.
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Other Voices on 5G Core Deployments:
1. From Rakuten CTO Tareq Amin via email to this author:
– Containerization/Cloud native 5G Core from Rakuten-NEC:
3GPP specification requires cloud native architecture as the general concept like distributed, stateless, and scalable. However, an explicit reference model is out of scope for 3GPP specification (TS 23.501). Therefore NEC 5GC cloud native architecture is based on 3GPP “openness” concept as well as ETSI NFV treats “container” and “cloud native,” which NEC is also actively investigating to apply its product.
2. Alex Quach, VP of Intel’s Data Platforms Group, said most operators around the world are still leveraging a 4G core network. “The way different service providers implement their 5G core is going to vary,” said Quach. “Every service provider has unique circumstances. The transition to a new 5G core is going to be different for every operator.”
4. Asked if SK Telecom has now completed its 5G Standalone core network, the South Korean carrier was vague in an email reply to FierceWireless. “To commercialize standalone 5G service in Korea, we are currently making diverse R&D efforts including conducting tests in both lab and commercial environment. Our latest achievements include the world’s first standalone (SA) 5G data session on our multi-vendor commercial 5G network.
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Other References:
https://www.gsma.com/futurenetworks/resources/5g-implementation-guidelines-sa-option-2-2/
3GPP Rel 16 5G Core/Architecture specs:
- TS 23.501 5G Systems Architecture, with annexes which describe 5G core deployment scenarios:
https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/
- TS 23.502 [3] contains the stage 2 procedures and flows for 5G System
https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/
- TS 23.503 [45] contains the stage 2 Policy Control and Charging architecture for 5G System
https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/
8 thoughts on “T-Mobile Announces “World’s 1st Nationwide Standalone 5G Network” (without a standard)”
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Excellent expose of the true state of 5G SA/5G Core network deployment without a standard. You do note that existing 5G NSA endpoint devices on T-Mo’s network will need a software upgrade to work with 5G SA. Fine, but then they will ONLY work on T-Mo’s 5G SA network and NO OTHER CARRIER’S 5G SA NETWORK WHICH WILL SURELY BE DIFFERENT!
From: https://www.tmonews.com/2020/08/t-mobile-galaxy-s20-plus-ultra-oneplus-8-standalone-5g-update/
T-Mobile is now updating the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra as well as the OnePlus 8 to support standalone 5G. The Galaxy S20 update is version G981USQUATGL and is 543.73MB, while Galaxy S20+ owners can expect a 557.32MB update to version G986USQU1ATGL and Galaxy S20 Ultra owners are getting a 547.64MB update to version G988USQU1ATGL.
OnePlus 8 owners should begin seeing a new update on August 5th. T-Mobile says the update is version 10.5.17.IN55CB
T-Mo has confirmed that it will also update the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, Galaxy A71 5G, OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren, and LG V60 ThinQ to support standalone 5G.
Only the Galaxy S10 5G won’t get the update to enable standalone 5G, likely because it lacks support for the 600MHz spectrum that T-Mo’s standalone 5G is using.
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However, will ANY of the above 5G SA smartphones work on another carrier’s 5G SA network (assuming same frequencies are used)? If not, then there is no portability, true mobility for 5G SA without a standard to ensure consistent implementations.
Thanks for making the point about lack of interoperability/portability/true mobility of 5G SA endpoint devices without a standard. Further, all the shiny novel features of 5G, e.g. network slicing, virtualization, orchestration of services will also be different for most 5G SA networks (unless they implement the same 5G Core spec the same way).
Thanks for writing about T-Mobile’s 5G SA network (without a standard). If every 5G SA network provider has a different implementation of 5G core network and auxiliary functions (like network slicing) then there will be no portability or roaming of 5G endpoint devices/equipment. If that’s true, then if the 5G endpoint is NOT within the range of its subscribed 5G carrier’s network, it has to fall back to 4G and all the hyped 5G functions/features are muted.
Yes, that is correct Miriam. However, there are likely to be several de facto standards for 5G SA networks. Rakuten-NEC plans to sell their 5G SA/5G Core network to other network providers. Reliance Jio has made similar statements, but they have not revealed any details of their 5G SA network which is said to be made in India.
5G Core Network (aka 5G Standalone) is the next evolution of 5G network architecture. Current 5G networks are built on non-standalone network architecture, meaning 5G signals rely on underlying mid-band LTE and leverage the LTE core. This means 5G devices can connect to 5G and LTE simultaneously, delivering better mobile broadband speeds and performance than LTE, but the full promise of 5G can’t be unlocked. With standalone 5G, the LTE core is no longer required and the full power of the next generation SA core can be unleashed. This will enable 5G to reach its true future potential with low latency, higher speeds and massive connectivity, making a world of amazing new services and applications possible.
I thought T-Mobile US 5G Core Network vendor was LM Ericsson?
The 3 vendors providing T-Mobile US 5G Core Network are: Cisco, Nokia and Ericsson.
Reference: https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/how-t-mobile-weaved-cisco-ericsson-nokia-into-its-5g-sa-core/2020/09/
After going over a handful of your blog posts on the IEEE Techblog website, I am very impressed. This article on T-Mobile’s 5G SA network is a major accomplishment, especially with no official 5G stand alone/5G core network standard from ITU or ETSI.
I seriously appreciate your excellent blogging. I book-marked the IEEE Techblog home page and will be checking back regularly.
Keep this going please; great job on explaining 5G Standalone (SA) Network from T-Mobile.
If every 5G network operator has a different version of 5G SA, with different methods of providing advanced functions like “network slicing,” then there won’t be any 5G SA roaming. If you’re not within the 5G carrier serving area, 5G subscribers will fall back to 4G-LTE where the EPC is uniformly implemented by all wireless carriers and no special downloads are required.