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There are three major use cases for 5G:
To serve a variety of use cases, often with diametrically opposing requirements, 5G systems dynamically allocate network resources depending on the use case.
- Massive IoT (improved network coverage, long device operational lifetime and a high density of connections as massive MTC).
- Critical communications (high performance, ultra-reliable, low latency industrial IoT and mission-critical applications critical IoT or URLLC (ultra reliable low latency communications)
- Enhanced mobile broadband (improved performance and a more seamless user experience accessing multimedia content for human-centric communications)
To serve a variety of use cases, often with diametrically opposing requirements, 5G systems dynamically allocate network resources depending on the use case.
Mobile IoT is refers to the 3GPP standardised low power wide area (LPWA) technologies using licensed spectrum bands, such as NB-IoT and LTE-M.
- LTE-M is the industry term for the LTE machine-type communications (MTC) LPWA technology standard introduced by 3GPP in Release 13. LTE-M supports lower device complexity, massive connection density, low device power consumption, low latency and provides extended coverage, while allowing the reuse of the LTE installed base. LTE-M can be deployed “in-band” within a normal LTE carrier, or “standalone” in dedicated spectrum. LTE-M can support VoLTE and VoIP applications, but operators need to activate VoLTE over LTE-M and this service is currently not widely supported by operators.
- Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is a 3GPP radio technology standard introduced in Release 13 that addresses the LPWA requirements of the IoT. NB-IoT is characterised by improved indoor coverage, support for a massive number of low throughput devices, low delay sensitivity, ultra-low device cost, low device power consumption and optimised network architecture. Like LTE-M, NB-IoT can be deployed “in-band” within a normal LTE carrier, or “standalone” for deployments in dedicated spectrum. NB-IoT can also be deployed in an LTE carrier’s guard-band.
- In 2017, 3GPP examined the potential for integrating non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) into 5G. Whilst NTNs include high altitude platforms and drones, most of the interest is around satellite-based communication. Release 17 of the 3GPP standards, finalised in 2022, includes two relevant elements: NR over NTN and IoT over NTN. NR over NTN addressed regular 5G ‘New Radio’ for communications and broadband access via satellite, whereas IoT over NTN focused on the LPWA technologies, NB-IoT and LTE-M.
- Further NTN enhancements in Release 18 consider additional frequency bands and techniques to optimise satellite-based access. As part of Release 19, a new work item has been approved defining further improvements for: optimising terminal performance, increasing capacity performance on uplink, notification of the service area of a broadcast service, support for a non-terrestrial network architecture with 5G system functions on board the NTN vehicle (i.e. regenerative payloads), use of RedCap devices within FR1 NTN, support of store and forward operation based on regenerative payload, including the support of feeder link switchover.
Both NB-IoT and LTE-M fulfil the 5G IMT 2020 requirements for massive machine type communications. Furthermore, 3GPP has agreed that LPWA use cases will continue to be addressed by evolving NB-IoT and LTE-M from Release 16 or 17, as part of the 5G specifications.To address IoT use cases with higher performance requirements than NB-IoT / LTE-M, but with a lower complexity and cost than a standard NR Modem, 3GPP Release 17 specifies a new category named RedCap (reduced capabilities). Note, that RedCap devices are only supported by 5G standalone (SA) deployments.
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