5G URLLC
Analysis of Airspan Networks & Atika Alliance: Resilient, Multi-Domain 5G Mission Critical Connectivity for the Defense Industry
Airspan Networks Holdings LLC (“Airspan”) and ATIKA Venture, S.L. (“Atika”) have entered into a strategic collaboration to advance resilient, multi-domain 5G communications for defense and security operations. The initiative focuses on developing interoperable, deployable network systems optimized for mission-critical connectivity across terrestrial and airborne domains.
The cooperation framework covers both commercial and technical engagements, with initial activities centered in Spain and expansion potential across Europe. The partnership unites Airspan’s portfolio in Open RAN (O-RAN), 5G, and commercial Air-to-Ground (ATG) communications with Atika’s capabilities in tactical 5G deployments, AI-driven network analytics, and secure 5G core integration for defense-grade environments.
Joint programs will address the convergence of deployable 5G infrastructure and mobile ad hoc network (MANET) systems under a unified network orchestration and control layer. The combined architecture aims to provide secure, high-throughput connectivity in dynamic and contested electromagnetic environments. Technical priorities include rapid network deployment, automated resilience management, AI-assisted spectrum optimization, and end-to-end encryption aligned with defense mission profiles.
Image Credit: Aviat Networks
“Airspan has a strong history of solving advanced connectivity challenges, including low-latency, high-mobility communications through our Air-to-Ground In-Motion 5G platform,” stated Glenn Laxdal, CEO of Airspan. “Through this collaboration with Atika, we aim to adapt our commercial-grade 5G and O-RAN technologies to defense use cases that demand operational resilience and interoperability across domains. Atika’s deep experience in defense communications, combined with their expertise in AI-enabled network intelligence and secure 5G core technologies, represents a substantial complement to our portfolio.”
“The operational landscape increasingly depends on adaptable, intelligent, and sovereign networks,” said Ana Rodríguez Quirós, Managing Director of Atika. “Our partnership with Airspan strengthens our ability to support multi-domain 5G for defense users, extending connectivity beyond satellite and traditional radio systems. Building on our collaboration with the Spanish Army, this alliance demonstrates how advanced 5G network architectures can directly enhance mission readiness, mobility, and overall operational effectiveness.”
About Airspan:
Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Airspan Networks Holdings LLC is an innovative U.S.-based provider of wireless network solutions with a global presence, focused on delivering carrier-grade 5G and advanced wireless connectivity. Airspan’s portfolio spans three core solution areas – in-building, outdoor, and air-to-ground – and includes market-leading products for DAS, Open RAN, and small cells across both public and private network settings. Airspan supports mobile network operators, neutral-host providers, enterprises, public-sector organizations, and other service providers in building reliable, scalable wireless networks that enhance coverage and capacity while enabling fast, efficient deployment.
Visit our website at https://airspan.com/
About Atika:
Atika is a Spanish technology company specializing in advanced tactical communications and deployable 5G networks for defense and security. Its technology focuses on federated architectures, multi-domain connectivity, and network intelligence capabilities designed for real operational environments.
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Requirements and Analysis:
1.] Resilient, mission-critical 5G connectivity (URLCC that meets ITU-R M.2410 Technical Performance Requirements for IMT 2020) recommendation with a
2.] Unified network orchestration and control layer (5G Services Based Architecture depends on implementation of 3GPP Release 17 and 18 specifications.
1. Enhancements to the 5G NR Physical Layer (PHY) to support Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) in the Radio Access Network (RAN). While basic URLLC support was established in Release 15. When 3GPP Release 16 was frozen in July 2020, URLLC in the RAN enhancements had not been completed or performance tested. Hence, the ITU-R M.2150 standard for IMT 2020 RIT/SRIT initially did not meet the ITU-R M.2410 Technical Performance Requirements for IMT 2020 recommendation
The most significant PHY-layer optimizations were finalized in Release 16 (Phase 2) an Release 17 (Phase 3) with more to come in Release 18 as described below.
a] Release 16 (The “IIoT and URLLC” Phase):
This release introduced foundational PHY improvements to reach “six nines” (99.9999%) reliability. Key features included:
- New DCI Formats: Compact Downlink Control Information (DCI) formats (e.g., Format 0_2 and 1_2) were added to reduce signaling overhead and improve robustness.
- Sub-slot HARQ-ACK Feedback: Enabled faster feedback by allowing multiple HARQ-ACK transmissions within a single slot.
- PUSCH Repetition Type B: Introduced to allow even finer-grained (mini-slot based) repetitions for low-latency uplink, enabling transmissions to cross slot boundaries.
- Intra-UE Prioritization: Standardized the ability for a device to prioritize a high-priority (URLLC) transmission over a lower-priority (eMBB) one if they overlap in time.
- Multi-TRP (CoMP): Enhanced support for Transmission and Reception Points (TRPs) to provide spatial diversity, ensuring communication continues if one path is blocked.
Ericsson +6
b] Release 17 (The “Further Enhanced URLLC” Phase):
Completed in 2022, this release focused on consolidating these features and extending them to more complex scenarios:
- URLLC in Unlicensed Spectrum (NR-U): Adapted URLLC PHY procedures for unlicensed bands, addressing regulatory constraints like Listen-Before-Talk (LBT).
- Improved HARQ-ACK and CSI Reporting: Introduced more efficient and robust feedback mechanisms for better link adaptation.
- Enhanced Multi-TRP for UL: Further optimized uplink transmissions using multiple TRPs for increased reliability.
- Feedback Reliability: Improved HARQ-ACK and Channel State Information (CSI) reporting to ensure the network can adapt to rapid channel changes.
- Traffic Prioritization: Intra-UE prioritization allows URLLC data to “pre-empt” or take priority over standard mobile broadband (eMBB) data within the same device.
- Power Savings: New mechanisms like Paging Early Indication (PEI) allow URLLC-capable sensors to remain in low-power states longer without sacrificing the ability to wake up instantly for critical data.
| Company | Modem Model(s) | Rel-17 URLLC Features |
|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm | World’s first 5G Advanced-ready modem. Supports enhanced HARQ-ACK and CSI feedback for reliability, and AI-based beam management to maintain stable URLLC links. | |
| MediaTek |
MediaTek M90
|
Conforms to Rel-17 standards and aligns with Rel-18 5G-Advanced. Implements Rel-17 Paging Early Indication (PEI) to reduce power while maintaining low-latency readiness. |
| Samsung |
Exynos Modem 5300
|
While primary documentation emphasizes Rel-16, Samsung achieved 1024 QAM (defined in Rel-17) in partnership with Qualcomm. Supports ultra-low latency via FR2 and EN-DC. |
- Ericsson: Enabled “Time-Critical Communication” as a software upgrade on its RAN. Its Rel-17 implementation focuses on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ-ACK) enhancements, intra-UE multiplexing, and time-synchronization for Industrial IoT (IIoT).
- Nokia: Updated its AirScale portfolio to support Rel-17 features, specifically targeting Time-Sensitive Communications (TSC) and deterministic networking for private factory environments.
- Huawei: Has integrated Rel-17 URLLC enhancements as part of its “5.5G” (5G-Advanced) marketing, focusing on achieving sub-10ms latency for wide-area industrial control and 1ms for local-area automation.
2. 3GPP has specified a unified management and orchestration framework for 5G systems, primarily developed by working group SA5 (Management, Orchestration, and Charging). Starting from Release 15, 3GPP introduced a Service-Based Management Architecture (SBMA), which acts as a unified layer to manage and orchestrate 5G networks, including the Core, RAN, and end-to-end network slices.
- Service-Based Management Architecture (SBMA): Instead of legacy, vendor-specific interfaces, 3GPP adopted a service-oriented approach. This architecture uses Management Services (MnS), which provide standardized interfaces for both management and orchestration, facilitating multi-vendor interoperability.
- End-to-End Slice Management: The 3GPP standards (notably TS 28.530/531/532/533) define a common approach to manage the entire lifecycle of a 5G network slice (creation, activation, supervision, and termination) across RAN, Core, and Transport domains.
- Network Automation (NWDAF): The Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF), introduced in Release 15, is a key component for automated control. It collects network data, analyzes it, and feeds back insights to assist in policy management (PCF) and slice selection (NSSF).
- Intent-Driven Management: 3GPP is enhancing its standards to support intent-driven management, enabling operators to manage network resources based on high-level desired outcomes rather than low-level configuration, which is crucial for autonomous networks.
- AI/ML Management: Recent releases (18/19) focus on a unified, domain-independent AI/ML management and orchestration framework that supports the full lifecycle of AI/ML models within the 5G system.
The latest 3GPP release with finalized specifications for Service-Based Management Architecture (SBMA) is Release 18 (Rel-18), which was functionally frozen in early 2024. Rel-18 includes enhanced study items (FS_eSBMA) focused on supporting management for 5G standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) scenarios and management of Management Functions.
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References:
SNS Telecom & IT: Mission-Critical Networks a $9.2 Billion Market
3GPP Release 16 5G NR Enhancements for URLLC in the RAN & URLLC in the 5G Core network
3GPP Release 16 Update: 5G Phase 2 (including URLLC) to be completed in June 2020; Mission Critical apps extended
Huawei, Qualcomm, Samsung, and Ericsson Leading Patent Race in $15 Billion 5G Licensing Market
https://www.3gpp.org/news-events/3gpp-news/sa5-5g
Revolutionizing 5G Mission Critical Transport Networks (Part 2)
Ericsson on 5G use cases: remote surgery, augmented and virtual reality with AI agent all depend on 3GPP URLLC specs
5G for Remote Surgery:
This year, surgeons in Florida working with Ericsson, were able to operate on remote patients in Dubai and Shanghai, using 5G technology, according to Mischa Dohler, Ericsson vice president-emerging technologies.
A hospital in China used a 5G-enabled robot to perform spinal surgery on patients, and doctors used VR headsets to livestream the operation. The robot implanted over 62 pedicle screws in the patients’ spinal cord. Here’s a pic of that:
Photo by Wang Fei/For China Daily
Dohler said he’s working with the White House, FCC, NTIA, Food and Drug Administration and others to make remote surgery “a reality.” More widespread use of the technology won’t happen unless smaller carriers also get involved. We will have not only humans using your networks, but also machines more and more,” Dohler added.
Gartner’s market research underscores the importance of 5G SA, predicting that by 2025, it will be the foundation for the majority of applications demanding sub-10 millisecond latency. This transition is not merely a technical upgrade but a strategic enabler for industries poised to benefit from real-time data processing and decision-making. However, the ultra low latency depends on two 3GPP Release 16 specs – 1.] 5GNR enhancements for URLLC in the RAN and 2.]URLLC in the 5G SA core network– being completed, performance tested and implemented. That has not happened yet and without it there can’t be any 5G URLLC use cases like remote surgery!
Real-time remote surgeries, once a concept of futuristic medicine, are becoming a reality. The ability to perform surgical procedures from thousands of miles away, with real-time response and precision, could revolutionize healthcare accessibility and outcomes. For example, a pilot project involving 5G SA-enabled remote surgery successfully demonstrated how surgeons could operate with millisecond-level precision, mitigating geographical barriers to specialized medical care.
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Ericsson’s Dohler predicted growing use of augmented and virtual reality and AI “agents,” computer programs capable of performing tasks autonomously, which people will use as part of their daily lives. New technology will require networks that can handle increased traffic, he said. New data traffic patterns “will hit you at some point this decade,” he said. “You will need to do some bold moves.”
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References:
https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2024/3/cutting-the-cord-lifesaving-telesurgery-in-the-age-of-5g
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201908/29/WS5d670e17a310cf3e355686fa.html
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dawn-new-era-navigating-shift-from-5g-nsa-sa-tayroni-fkvre/
3GPP Release 16 5G NR Enhancements for URLLC in the RAN & URLLC in the 5G Core network
Introduction:
3GPP Release 16 was “frozen” on July 3, 2020. However, two key work items were not completed: Enhancement of the 5G NR PHY for ultra-high reliability and low-latency communications (URLLC) in the RAN and in the 5G Core network.
The enhancements, especially in the RAN, are essential for 3GPP New Radio (NR) to meet the ITU-R M.2410 Minimum Performance Requirements for the URLLC use case. That was to enable a whole new set of mission critical applications that required either ultra high reliability or ultra low latency (< or =1 ms in the data plane and < or =10ms in the control plane) or both.
Yet URLLC in the RAN and the associated URLLC in the RAN Conformance Test specification still have not been completed (more below)!
Overview of URLCC Enhancements:
The main functionalities introduced were the support of redundant transmission, QoS monitoring, dynamic division of the Packet Delay Budget, and enhancements of the session continuity mechanism.
The 3GPP Rel 16 URLLC in the RAN spec, once complete and performance tested, is needed to meet the ITU-R M.2410 URLLC Performance Requirements.
The 5G NR Physical Layer is improved for the support of URLLC in the RAN in several ways: new DCI formats, Enhanced PDCCH monitoring capability, Sub-slot based HARQ-ACK feedback, Two HARQ-ACK codebooks constructed simultaneously, PUSCH enhancements, Enhanced inter UE Tx prioritization/multiplexing and Multiple active configured grant configurations for a BWP.
3GPP Rel-17 URLLC work is mostly contained in the feature “Enhanced Industrial IoT and URLLC support for NR.” This covers mostly some “Physical Layer feedback enhancements for HARQ-ACK and CSI reporting” and the “Intra-UE multiplexing and prioritization of traffic with different priority.”
Current Status:
The most recent URLLC in the RAN spec dated December 2022 is 96% complete as per:
| 830074 | NR_L1enh_URLLC | Physical Layer Enhancements for NR Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) | Rel-16 | R1 | 22/12/2022 | RP-191584 | history | 2019/03/26 | 26/06/2019 | 26/6/19: WID:RP-190726->RP-191584 |
The URLLC in the RAN Conformance Test spec is only 90% complete as per:
| 900054 | NR_L1enh_URLLC-UEConTest | … UE Conformance Test Aspects – Physical Layer Enhancements for NR URLLC | Rel-16 | R5 | 22/12/2022 | RP-202566 | history | 2021/01/06 | 20/06/2022 | 22/3/22: Compl:16 ; 20/6/22: Rapporteur: Huawei->Chunying GU, Huawei; Rap eMail: ->guchunying@huawei. |
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Here are the key 3GPP Rel16 URLLC work items from https://www.3gpp.org/dynareport?code=WI-List.htm
- 830074 NR_L1enh_URLLC Physical Layer Enhancements for NR Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC)
- 800095 FS_NR_L1enh_URLLC… Study on physical layer enhancements for NR UR Low Latency Cases
- 830174 NR_L1enh_URLLC-Core… Core part: Physical Layer Enhancements for NR URLLC
- 830274 NR_L1enh_URLLC-Perf… Perf. part: Physical Layer Enhancements for NR URLLC (R4)
- 900054 NR_L1enh_URLLC-UEConTest… UE Conformance Test Aspects – Physical Layer Enhancements for NR URLLC (R5)
References:
https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=3498
https://www.3gpp.org/dynareport?code=WI-List.htm
https://www.3gpp.org/dynareport?code=status-report.htm
https://www.3gpp.org/dynareport?code=FeatureOrStudyItemFile-830074.htm
https://www.3gpp.org/technologies/urlcc-2022
https://techblog.comsoc.org/category/3gpp-release-16
Executive Summary: IMT-2020.SPECS defined, submission status, and 3GPP’s RIT submissions
5G Specifications (3GPP), 5G Radio Standard (IMT 2020) and Standard Essential Patents
Another Opinion: 5G Fails to Deliver on Promises and Potential
