Key global 5G players are discussing future standards and spectrum for 5G today in Lisbon. The meeting, held during the ICT-2015 conference, gathers the main 5G regional initiatives (industrial associations representing the EU, the US, South Korea, China, and Japan),
as well as representatives of governments and regulatory bodies.
Following a series of landmark agreements between the EU and
international partners in 5G research, Günther H. Oettinger, European
Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, has brought the 5G
community together to explore how different regions can work together to
accelerate the definition of 5G standards and to better co-operate on
spectrum allocation for 5G.
The workshop comes only a few weeks after the start of discussion in the the 3GPP
(a key international standards body) on the timeframe and scope for 5G
standards. The race is on to agree a global vision for 5G and to
identify the services (for example Internet of Things, connected cars,
very high-definition video streaming, or health related services) which
should be the first delivered by 5G and by when this should happen.
The issue of spectrum allocation is also being discussed in the light of crucial negotiations at the upcoming World Radio Conference 2015,
that should culminate during the World Radio Conference 2019. The
respective industrial associations have also seized the opportunity to
sign a Memorandum of Understanding to hold a twice-yearly "Global 5G
Event". The first event will take place in Asia in the first half of
2016 under the responsibility of IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group; and the second in the second half of 2016 in Europe, under the responsibility of the 5G Infrastructure Association.This will be the place to move forward on strategic discussions.
