White Papers are a perfect resource for improving understanding on any subject.
For 5G there are many White Papers, from diverse and excellent sources - but many times we end up not reading them because we simply don’t know they exist. To help you out, we’ve created a curated list here where you can quickly find all the White Papers worth reading.
The list (like all of our curated lists) is constantly updated. And if you know of any 5G White Papers that you think are worth listing here, please let us know by commenting.
Important: All PDF are public and you can download by following each link.
2016 Oct - GSMA - Next-generation Interconnection and Roaming Analysis for Mobile ServicesWith the mobile device having moved to the centre of communications, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are just one possible player to provide network access and services to smartphone users, both consumers and corporates. Services today are largely provided via the internet.
2019 Oct - GSMA - 5G mmWave Success Sets the Stage for Big BenefitsCommercial 5G services are already here and the coming years will see more launches all over the world. Access to mmWaves is a must for the future potential of 5G, and the ability for innovative services to improve the lives of billions.
2019 May - GSMA - GSMA Online Document: Cloud AR/VR Whitepaper *Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies have proven themselves to be valuable additions to the fields of digital entertainment, information and workspace, but solutions leveraging these technologies have required processing platforms that, in single-use scenarios, often negatively affected the cost-benefit equation. *
2019 Mar - GSMA - Cloud AR/VR Streaming BookletCloud AR/VR Streaming: Accelerate mass adoption and improve quality of experience of AR/VR using 5G and Edge Cloud.
2020 Dec - SAMSUNG - Massive MIMO for New Radiodescribe the general principles of transmitting through a large number of antennas in a cellular system. Secondly, we look into massive MIMO radio structures that are fitted to the various deployment environments. Next, we introduce several DL MIMO schemes of 5G system and compare their pros and cons according to channel environment, traffic condition and device capability. Lastly, we present Samsung’s massive MIMO radio hardware and software plans for the best 5G MIMO performance. Samsung provides optimized algorithms for a mixture of various UE capabilities, SRS resource limitation, or enhanced antenna configurations.Other SAMSUNG White Papers
2020 Apr - SAMSUNG - Network SlicingThe true power of a 5G network lies in the possibility of providing innovative network services such as enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC), massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), and Vehicle to Everything (V2X). These services are enabled through a key technology called network slicing and managed by an End-to-End (E2E) service orchestration.Other SAMSUNG White Papers
2020 Jan - GSMA - An Introduction to Network Slicingprovide an introduction to network slicing functionality, showing how it can be utilised by business customers to help digitise and mobilise their operations, to expand their current business, or to improve their current business processes.
2020 Jan - GSMA - Network Slicing Use Cases RequirementsThe flexibility offered by Network Slicing is unprecedented: operators will be able to deploy a single network slice type that satisfies the needs of multiple verticals, where the business case allows a bespoke network slice for a single customer, as well as multiple network slices of different types that are packaged as a single product.
2021 Dec - Credits 5G Americas - Security for 5Gaddresses emerging challenges and opportunities, making recommendations for securing 5G networks in the context of the evolution to cloud-based and distributed networks.
2021 Nov - Credits 5G Americas - Mobile Communications Towards 2030details how the industry will continue to build and evolve wireless communications networks for consumers and enterprises beyond what we know as 5G today.
2021 Nov - Credits 5G Americas - Fixed Wireless Access with 5G Networksdetails how FWA might impact the broadband market with attractive opportunities for 5G based residential and service in both urban and rural geographies.
2021 Oct - Credits 5G Americas - 5G Edge Automation and Intelligencedetails the convergence of 5G, edge computing, and artificial intelligence (AI), allowing 5G networks to deliver new services and capabilities more efficiently.
2021 Oct - Credits 5G Americas - 5G Vertical Use Casesidentifies how 5G offers numerous innovations, which make it very different from 4G LTE. These innovations include higher speed and enhanced connectivity through new spectrum, dedicated resource management with network slicing, highly reliable communication for latencies less than 10 milliseconds, improved security, a distributed packet core that spreads core network functions to the network edge, and flexible service creation and deployment with Service-Based Architecture (SBA).
2021 Out - SAMSUNG - Private Networks Vol.2 : Architectures and Features for Industrial ScenariosIndustries and businesses are undergoing an unprecedented digital transformation driven by the adoption of cloud-native applications and services, internet of things (IoT), analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality and blockchain. While the degree of implementation of these technologies varies across each industry or business, one common factor stands true across the board -the need of mobility while providing a fast and stable network.Other SAMSUNG White Papers
2021 Out - SAMSUNG - Private Networks Vol.1 : Transforming Private Networks with Samsung 5GA private network is a dedicated network designed for enterprises such as manufacturing, energy utilities, logistics, and transportation, to support their services. Enterprises have used the private network to improved productivity, efficiency, flexibility, quality, security, and competitiveness.Other SAMSUNG White Papers
2021 Sep - Credits 5G Americas - Vehicular Connectivity: C-V2X and 5G covers the impacts of 5G-based cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technologies on vehicles, embedded infrastructure, and intelligent transportation networks.
2021 Aug - Credits 5G Americas - Private and Enterprise NetworksAs digital transformation sweeps across entire industries, enterprises and verticals are increasingly demanding dependable, predictable communications across potentially widely distributed centers of operation. Enterprise applications are becoming both more rigorous and precise in their requirements for spectrum, bandwidth, and fine-grained control of applications and containers – regardless of access technology or operating model.
2021 Jul - Credits 5G Americas - Mid-Band Spectrum and the Co-Existence with Radio Altimetersexplains the studies submitted by the aviation industry. These studies raise interference concerns, but as the 5G Americas white paper explains there are significant shortcomings in the studies. For instance, these studies are overly conservative in evaluating real-world conditions while ignoring the lack of interference events in Japan, South Korea, Europe, as well as with existing federal systems in the US.
2021 Mar - Credits GSMA - 5G Spectrum GuideTo help navigate spectrum needs for next-generation mobile networks, this 5G spectrum guide collects reports, infographics and positions from the GSMA.
2021 Feb - Credits 5G Americas - The Future of Voice in Mobile Wireless Communicationsprovides an update on radio access network evolution and cloud infrastructure evolution for voice services in the 5G ecosystem.
2021 Feb - Credits GSMA - Operator Platform Evolution: Use Cases and Conceptshighlights the ongoing work from the operator platform group in key areas such as roaming, container support and use cases that rely on key operator platform capabilities.
2021 Feb - Credits GSMA - The Economics of 5G mmWaveWith 5G rollouts and adoption progressing quickly, and with the millimetre wave (mmWave) ecosystem showing signs of readiness, the question that the mobile industry faces today is whether and where mmWave solutions can be cost effective.
2021 Jan - Credits 5G Americas - 3GPP Releases 16, 17 & Beyondprovide an update on the newest 3GPP releases launching the next chapter of 5G standardization and beyond.
2021 Jan - Credits GSMA - Open Networking & the Security of Open Source Software Deploymentoffers a review of the security factors identified when deciding on deployment scenarios for open networking and deployment of open source software solutions within mobile networks.
2021 Jan - SAMSUNG - Dynamic Spectrum SharingThe primary advantage of DSS is that a smooth migration from LTE to NR is possible, along with the following key aspects: Rapid deployment of 5G services using existing based deployment, Co-existence of LTE devices and standalone (SA) NR devices and Effective utilization of valuable low/mid band spectrum.Other SAMSUNG White Papers
2022 Dec - Credits 5G Americas - Becoming 5G-Advanced: the 3GPP Roadmapprovides a detailed background on 3GPP’s work leading into 2025, focusing on the organization’s processes, a review of major enhancements and new vertical applications, an assessment of global market trends and use cases, and a developmental timeline for currently active 3GPP releases. It also covers radio access technologies, highlighting 22 new and enhanced RAN features and capabilities.
2022 Dec - Credits GSMA - 5G mmWave Coverage Extension Solutions WhitepaperThis is the fourth document in GSMA 5G mmWave Accelerator series. Download it to take a look at mmWave coverage solutions to improve the performance of 5G mmWave networks in both indoor and outdoor scenarios.
2022 Nov - Credits 5G Americas - Extended Reality and 3GPP Evolutiondescribes potential use cases with service delivery requirements. It also details how 5G can enable an end-to-end XR system, including how split computation architecture across various system components provides benefits for lower latency, higher reliability, higher rates, and less device computation. Rel-15/Rel-16 offers a decent foundation for XR but has not been specifically designed or optimized for XR support. The paper examines the evolution of 5G systems from Rel-15 and 16 that can be leveraged for XR, before describing potential enhancements recognized by 3GPP in Rel-17 through Rel-18 that are expected to optimize XR support including XR awareness, power optimizations, and capacity enhancements. The paper concludes by describing anticipated studies of localized mobile metaverse services in Rel-19.
2022 Nov - Credits 5G Americas - Mobile Communications Towards 2030focuses particularly on North American technical leadership, examining new applications, services and emerging technologies under discussion and planning stages. It reviews activities by the US Department of Defense, recent US CHIPS Act, standards activities, and North American leadership in the ITU significant to research and future development of 6G.
2022 Nov - Credits 5G Americas - Distributed Compute and Communications in 5Gexamines the road toward the Distributed Compute and Communications Fabric (DCC-Fabric) by reviewing the cloud computing and mobile communications landscape (and evolutions within) as a technology. Some fundamentals and preliminaries on existing solutions and related technological trends are provided to introduce the definition of the DCC-Fabric with its key anticipated features.
2022 Nov - GSMA - 5G mmWave Deployment Best Practices Whitepaperdiscover best practices in order to optimise the performance of 5G millimetre wave (5G mmWave) mobile networks in both indoor and outdoor scenarios.
2022 Sep - Credits 5G Americas - Evolving 5G Security for the CloudAs 5G networks and cloud computing become increasingly intertwined, 5G security continues to progress with new technical features to face the expanded attack surfaces from both internal and external threats. 5G security continues to improve as security controls, tools, and standards evolve over an extended 5G ecosystem.
2022 Sep - GSMA - Advancing the 5G Era – Benefits and Opportunity of 5G-Advanced Whitepaperfocuses primarily on 3GPP Rel-18 – the inaugural release of 5G-Advanced. Initial work on Rel-18 in 3GPP started in 2022 (just before the finalisation of Rel-17), targeting commercialisation from 2024 onwards. As it evolves, 5G-Advanced will play an important role bridging from 5G to 6G with new features previously not standardised in 3GPP.
2022 Aug - Credits 5G Americas - Understanding 5G & Time Critical ServicesStarting with 3GPP Release 16, 5G is enhanced to address many new verticals including industrial, mission critical use cases, and precise time delivery. 5G introduced technologies such as Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) and Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) support to address these verticals. This report highlights how these technologies operate and come together to address the diverse use cases and new applications required by these verticals.
2022 Jul - Credits 5G Americas - Commercializing 5G Network Slicingexplores how end to end network slicing can enable communication service providers to meet all the needs from their enterprise and business customers. It provides a deep dive into the main technical concept of Network Slicing and explains the technical concepts and standards that support them. It covers network slicing-based services with future improvements and insights into architecture models while providing clarity into the complexity of initial commercialization possibilities.
2022 Mar - GSMA - Improving Energy Efficiency for Mobile IoTprovides insight into the energy efficiency capabilities of the 5G Mobile IoT technologies LTE-M and NB-IoT.
2022 Mar - SAMSUNG - vRAN makes future upgrades easyMobile operators are very rational creatures. They rarely introduce new technologies unless the new idea can either save money or make money. In the case of virtualization, both aspects are true. Mobile operators such as Verizon, KDDI, and Vodafone are now implementing virtual DU and virtual CU in commercial deployments, because they expect both cost savings and new flexibility that should enable new revenue streams in the future.Other SAMSUNG White Papers
2022 Feb - Credits 5G Americas - 5G And Non-Terrestrial Networkscovers satellite-based communication in detail that can potentially play an important role in leveraging communication infrastructure to deliver 5G services in the future and bridge the digital divide.
2022 Feb - Credits GSMA - GSMA 5G mmWave FactsheetThe quickly growing number of 5G use cases demands a fully coordinated, multi-layer network where 5G mmWave spectrum provides the massive capacity and low latency needed for a full 5G experience.
2022 Feb - Credits GSMA - The 5G FWA Opportunity5G fixed wireless access (FWA) is a commercial reality around the world. While FWA solutions have been around for more than two decades, the massive performance improvements enabled by 5G and the use of mmWave spectrum make 5G FWA a competitive solution.
2022 Jan - Credits 5G Americas - Cellular Communications in a 5G Erais an annual update to previous versions, which provides a complete overview and reference source for 5G and 4G LTE networks to date.
2023 Jan - Credits 5G Americas - Enterprise Evolution with 5G Adoptionfocuses on developing deployment models, progressing RAN technologies, emerging mobility requirements, as well as security and management needs that are being required by enterprises. It addresses the challenges of the complexity of the cellular Radio Access Network (RAN) in initial enterprise adoption. For enterprise IT departments used to the ease of Wi-Fi deployment, the 5G RAN raises considerations involving additional spectrum requirements, coverage, device-centric use cases, performance per device, enterprise-owned and operated radios, virtualization, and transport considerations.
2023 Feb - Credits GSMA Global Mobile Trends 2023 Global Mobile Trends 2023 The GSMA Intelligence Global Mobile Trends report is back, examining all the biggest developments to expect in telecoms and the broader TMT space in 2023. Covering themes including 5G monetisation, the metaverse, next-generation entertainment, private networks and sustainability, this comprehensive report draws on GSMA Intelligence data, survey findings and industry conversations to focus on the trends that matter most and what they mean for those in telecoms and beyond.
2023 Feb - Credits Analysys Mason - Rethink the approach to 5G indoor coverageWith continuing adoption of 5G services, customers are increasingly demanding in their expectations for the speed and availability of connections in all locations, not least in indoor environments.
2023 Feb - Credits 5G Americas - The Evolution of Open RANprovides a comprehensive update on work from leading Open RAN standards bodies with an emphasis on application and microservices development in modern wireless cellular networks. The paper also examines how cloudification of Open RAN is providing opportunities in scalability of network functions for operators.
2023 Feb - Credits 5G Americas - Radio Frequency Receiver Performanceprovides a timely technical analysis of receiver performance along with providing specific recommendations, contributions toward positive outcomes so industries can co-exist while making progress and aid government administrators in formulating policy.
2023 Feb - GSMA - 5G Network Co-Construction and Sharing Guidedescribes the technology development, operations, management, business models, and future evolution of 5G network co-construction and sharing the technologies and solutions which have been proven effective by the Chinese operators.
2023 Mar - Credits Ericsson Ericsson Technology Review Ericsson Technology Review 2023 issue 1Fixed wireless access, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), enhanced network automation, digital twins and API exposure all have key roles to play in the transition.
2023 Mar - Credits MIT Technology Review The emergent industrial metaverse The emergent industrial metaverse | MIT Technology ReviewAn interface between the real and digital worlds will transform how we work, live, and interact.
2023 Mar - Credits 5G Americas - Mid-Band Spectrum Updateprovides an overview of current and potential new mid-band and extended mid-band spectrum availability in the United States over the next several years, including technical characteristics and challenges, as well as policy and regulatory landscape.
2023 May - Credits RimedolabsTowards Autonomous Open Radio Access NetworksGives an overview of an open disaggregated network architecture based on an Open Radio Access Network (O‑RAN), including the current work from standards bodies and industry bodies in this area.
2023 May - Credits Radtonics Practical differences between Wi-Fi and private wireless 5G networksLook at ten practical differences between Wi-Fi and private 5G networks. The objective is not to shoot down Wi-Fi but to sort out misconceptions and help organizations and enterprises to make better business decisions.
2023 May - Credits MediaTekNTN Satellite and Terrestrial Network ConvergenceWith 5G NTN specified in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 17 for NR/IoT, and further specification in Release 18, together with trials and deployment of these standardized solutions, this publication aims at providing a timely outline for the next generation, global 6G NTN standard.
2023 Jun - Credits GSMAPrivate 5G Industrial Networks - An analysis of Use Cases and DeploymentThis document takes a close look at the role of private networks in the context of the industrial and manufacturing sectors. It discusses the business ownership models and deployment options available to enterprises. The section on ownership models covers standalone non public networks (SNPN), public network integrated non-public networks (PNI-NPN) and neutral host networks (NHN).
2023 Aug - Credits 5G AmericasTransport Networks for 5GThis white paper examines characteristics shaping 5G transport networks that have been increasing with bandwidth demands, driving the need for continuous backhaul capacity and the necessity for flexible, scalable solutions. Current efforts focus on cloud-based RAN connectivity, network-based timing and synchronization, and end-to-end network slices. Future work will center on enhancing transport network security and addressing the influence of the metaverse and immersive applications.
2023 Sep - Credits GSMAThe next generation of operator sustainability: greener edge and open RANHow will rising enterprise data traffic and workloads affect overall energy usage and efficiency? How should we think about the differences between processing data at the edge versus the cloud? And what can operators, vendors and others in the infrastructure value chain do to mitigate energy consumption?
2023 Sep - Credits 5G AmericasState of Mobile Network Evolutiondelves into the evolution of Full Duplex communication, from static to dynamic TDD, to innovations in Sub-Band Full Duplex. It explores enhancements to efficiency and spectral use, detailing design goals, challenges, and pivotal technology catalysts. The paper also highlights the 3GPP’s role in this evolution within 5G-Advanced and its journey toward 6G.
2023 Oct - Credits 5G AmericasEvolving Devices for 5G AdoptionThis paper encompassed a wide variety of current and future 5G devices, ranging from smartphones to the innovative RedCap and battery-less ambient IoT devices. We categorized these devices based on various factors, emphasizing optimization for IoT applications in terms of complexity, performance, and efficiency.
2023 Oct - Credits Vodafone and NTT DOCOMOSMO Deployment Challenges in an Open RAN EnvironmentThe value of SMO comes from its capabilities to perform intelligent automation, making it possible for operators to improve network availability and performance, enhance customer experience (QoE) and net promoter score (NPS), while reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) and improving energy efficiency.
2023 Nov - Credits 5G Americas5G Use CasesThe paper’s 2×2 matrix framework categorizes 5G applications into four quadrants. Each quadrant represents a unique combination of market readiness and technological development, offering valuable insights into the current and future landscape of 5G. The quadrants clarify successful case studies, unmet pain points, uncertain future considerations, and latent potential of any 5G use case.
2023 Nov - Credits 5G AmericasOpen RAN UpdateKey topics covered in this paper include: Open RAN Standards and Specifications, O-RAN Architectures, Updates to Standards and Specifications, Securing Open RAN, RAN Intelligent Controller & Service Management and Orchestration, Market & Deployments Updates.
2023 Dec - Credits Nokia Resilient 5G-Advanced timing serviceThe global positioning system (GPS) is the preferred positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system for a vast number of sectors. Its vulnerabilities, however, haven’t reduced in the last years, exposing critical sectors that rely on timing for their operation. 5G-Advanced networks are well placed to provide wide area resilient time synchronization and positioning services and serve as a complement or, even, alternative to GPS for critical sectors. In this white paper, we describe the requirements for a resilient PNT system and the timing resiliency solution supported by future 5G-Advanced networks.
2024 Jan - Credits 5G Americas - 3GPP Technology TrendsRelease-17 and the journey toward 5G-Advanced, XR enhancements for Metaverse, RedCap evolution, Integrated Communications and Sensing, Ambient IoT, AI/ML for 3GPP-based wireless networks, Spectrum and Air Interface in 3GPP, Sustainable development.
2024 Fev - Credits Ericsson - Ericsson Mobility Report - Business Review 2024The first horizon of 5G growth emphasizes a superior and more efficient version of 4G, known as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB). The second horizon focuses on Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and wireless WAN (WWAN) opportunities. The third horizon is the differentiated connectivity solution opportunity. Finally, the fourth horizon comprises a strong device ecosystem and ubiquitous, reliable and high-performance networks. This report includes the latest insights and findings from different service providers covering activities across all four horizons.
2024 Fev - Credits Nokia - Radio Access Network energy efficiencyThis White Paper provides a comprehensive view of the innovative Nokia technologies and services that reduce the energy consumption of radio access networks.
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2023 Jun - Credits