First global 5G event held in China to promote standardization

A consortium of 5G associations from around the world got together in Beijing, China in the first of a series of events designed to facilitate the 5G standardization process.

China-based IMT 2020 (5G) Promotion Group, European 5G PPP, the 5GMF from Japan, the 5G Forum from Korea and 5G Americas congregated for the first time at an event that seemed designed as much to establish the precedent as actually get anything done. Getting 5G right and globally harmonizing the effort to do so is obviously a major undertaking and this group will now meet every six months until 5G is sorted.

“A globally unified 5G standard in the framework of ITU and 3GPP has been a global consensus,” said CAO Shumin, Chair of IMT-2020. “Both enhanced Mobile Broadband and Internet of Things are the essential application fields of 5G and should be studied with the same priority. To make 5G vision into reality, 5G standard requires innovative technologies, especially in system design, key technologies, and network architecture. 5G trial plays an important role in the R&D of 5G. It is very important to build 5G trial in an open and collaborative way.”

“International cooperation and collaboration on 5G field trials is very important, and we understood that the Global 5G Event could be a good opportunity to discuss it further,” said Susumu Yoshida, Chair of 5GMF.

“The first multilateral 5G fora event organized by IMT-2020 PG will expedite and harmonize the standardization process under very healthy exchange of information on the activities in each country,” said Youngnam Han, Chair of 5G Forum. “We really want to take this opportunities to collaborate and cooperate together with any vertical industry for ICT convergence through 5G technology development.”

“The multi-lateral association 5G event hosted in Beijing was a great success as it emphasized the importance of leading 5G wireless organizations working together to progress the next generation of wireless technology,” said Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas. “Cooperation on pre-standard 5G development will benefit wireless stakeholders and future 5G subscribers.”

“Gathering the leading 5G visionary organizations for the first time in Beijing enabled a fruitful collaboration and reinforces the links between our organizations,” said Werner Mohr, Chair of 5G PPP. “We look forward to welcoming our counterparts in Rome on November 9-10, 2016 for the second round of Global 5G Events.”

Apart from agreeing to meet again in Rome later this year the 500 attending government representatives, association leaders and industry experts shared views and research on things like air interface, networks, terminals, industry convergence and the standardization roadmap. These things take time but it will be nice to see some more concrete outcomes from future gatherings.