5G features from operation perspective and fundamental performance validation by field trial

The fast deployment and penetration of 4G has cultivated human behaviors on mobile data consumption, leading to explosive growth in mobile traffic and stimulating new requirements on the capabilities of mobile networks. To meet the requirements of mobile networks toward year 2020, the next generation of mobile networks (termed as IMT-2020, or 5G) is designed to support 100 Mbps-1 Gbps user-experienced data rate, 1 ms radio transmission latency, and 1 million connections per square kilometer. Recalling the vision and requirements of 5G targeting for commercial launch in 2020, this article overviews the key features of 5G and compares with those of 4G, and reports the world first field trials conducted to validate the key performance of 5G radio interface in 3.5 GHz band. The trial results show that a 1 ms transmission latency and 1 Gbps data rate are achievable.