1162  5G Advanced and 6G for IoT

1163 5G Advanced: The Next Evolution in Cellular IoT

NoteLearning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Understand 5G-Advanced (Release 17-18) features for IoT
  • Compare RedCap, NB-IoT, LTE-M, and full 5G for different use cases
  • Design network slicing architectures for diverse IoT requirements
  • Evaluate private 5G networks for enterprise IoT deployments
  • Understand URLLC capabilities for mission-critical applications
  • Prepare for 6G and its implications for IoT (2030+)

1163.1 Prerequisites

Before diving into this chapter, you should be familiar with:

Cellular IoT: - Cellular IoT Fundamentals - Basic concepts - NB-IoT Fundamentals - Narrowband IoT - Cellular IoT Applications - Use cases

Comparisons: - LPWAN Introduction - LPWAN landscape - LoRaWAN Overview - Unlicensed alternative

NoteKey Takeaway

In one sentence: 5G-Advanced introduces RedCap devices that bridge the cost-capability gap between NB-IoT ($5) and full 5G ($100), while network slicing enables dedicated virtual networks for different IoT requirements on shared infrastructure.

Remember this: Match device category to requirements: NB-IoT for 10+ year battery sensors, LTE-M for mobile tracking, RedCap for wearables and cameras, and URLLC slice for sub-millisecond industrial control.

1163.2 Chapter Overview

This topic is covered in three focused chapters:

1163.2.1 5G Device Categories for IoT

Deep dive into selecting the right 5G device category:

  • NB-IoT, LTE-M, RedCap, Full 5G NR comparison
  • RedCap specifications and use cases (Release 17-18)
  • Cost-performance trade-offs ($3-5 to $50-100 per module)
  • Device category selection decision tree

1163.2.2 5G Network Slicing for IoT

Understanding virtual networks on shared infrastructure:

  • Network slicing architecture (eMBB, URLLC, mMTC)
  • Private 5G deployment models (standalone, hybrid, carrier slice)
  • Spectrum options (CBRS, n78, mmWave)
  • Cost analysis: private vs carrier slicing

1163.2.3 5G URLLC and 6G Vision

Mission-critical IoT and future technologies:

  • URLLC requirements (<1ms latency, 99.9999% reliability)
  • Power saving features (PSM, eDRX for 10+ year battery)
  • 6G timeline and capabilities (2030+, 100x improvements)
  • LTE-M handover optimization for mobile fleet tracking

1163.3 For Beginners: Understanding 5G Evolution

The 5G Evolution: - 5G (Release 15-16): The initial 5G we have today - 5G-Advanced (Release 17-18): Enhanced 5G, arriving 2024-2025 - 6G (Release 21+): Next generation, expected 2030+

Why 5G-Advanced Matters for IoT:

  1. RedCap (Reduced Capability): New device class between full 5G and NB-IoT
    • Cheaper than full 5G (simpler chips)
    • More capable than NB-IoT (higher data rates)
    • Perfect for: Wearables, industrial sensors, cameras
  2. Better Positioning: Centimeter-level location accuracy
    • Critical for: Autonomous vehicles, drones, warehouses
  3. Improved Power Efficiency: Extended battery life
    • Important for: All battery-powered IoT
  4. Network Slicing: Virtual private networks within 5G
    • Use case: Dedicated capacity for critical IoT

Analogy: Think of it like airline tickets: - NB-IoT = Economy (cheap, basic, gets you there) - RedCap = Premium Economy (better comfort, reasonable price) - Full 5G = Business Class (all features, higher cost) - URLLC = Emergency lane (guaranteed priority, highest cost)

1163.4 5G Evolution Timeline

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timeline
    title 3GPP Release Timeline for IoT
    2016 : Release 13
         : NB-IoT, LTE-M introduced
    2018 : Release 15
         : 5G NR Phase 1
         : eMBB focus
    2020 : Release 16
         : 5G NR Phase 2
         : URLLC, V2X
    2022 : Release 17
         : 5G-Advanced begins
         : RedCap introduced
         : NTN (satellite)
    2024 : Release 18
         : Enhanced RedCap
         : AI/ML integration
         : XR support
    2025 : Release 19
         : Further 5G-A enhancements
    2030 : Release 21+
         : 6G begins

Figure 1163.1: 3GPP release timeline showing 5G evolution from Release 13 to 6G

{fig-alt=“3GPP release timeline from 2016 to 2030 showing IoT evolution: Release 13 (2016) introduced NB-IoT/LTE-M, Release 15-16 (2018-2020) brought 5G NR with eMBB and URLLC, Release 17-18 (2022-2024) is 5G-Advanced with RedCap and NTN, Release 21+ (2030) begins 6G era.”}

1163.5 5G Device Categories Quick Reference

Feature NB-IoT LTE-M RedCap Full 5G NR
Peak DL 250 kbps 1 Mbps 150 Mbps 10+ Gbps
Peak UL 250 kbps 1 Mbps 50 Mbps 1+ Gbps
Latency 1-10 s 10-15 ms 5-10 ms <1 ms (URLLC)
Bandwidth 200 kHz 1.4 MHz 20 MHz 100+ MHz
Modem Cost $3-5 $5-10 $15-25 $50-100
Battery 10+ years 5-10 years 1-5 years Days-weeks
Use Case Sensors, meters Asset tracking Wearables, cameras Phones, FWA

For detailed device category selection guidance, see 5G Device Categories for IoT.

1163.6 Network Slice Types for IoT

Slice Type SLA Guarantee IoT Use Case
eMBB Throughput (100+ Mbps) Video surveillance, AR/VR
URLLC Latency (<1 ms), Reliability (99.999%) Factory automation, autonomous vehicles
mMTC Density (1M devices/km²) Smart meters, agriculture sensors
Custom Application-specific Private IoT networks

For network slicing architecture and private 5G deployment, see 5G Network Slicing for IoT.

1163.7 6G Performance Targets

Parameter 5G 6G Target Improvement
Peak Rate 20 Gbps 1 Tbps 50x
User Rate 100 Mbps 1 Gbps 10x
Latency 1 ms 100 μs 10x
Reliability 99.999% 99.99999% 100x
Density 1M/km² 10M/km² 10x
Energy Efficiency Baseline 100x better 100x

For URLLC details and 6G vision, see 5G URLLC and 6G Vision.

1163.9 Summary

TipKey Takeaways

  1. 5G-Advanced (Release 17-18) introduces RedCap for mid-tier IoT devices

  2. RedCap fills the gap between NB-IoT ($5) and full 5G ($100) with ~$20 modems

  3. Network slicing enables custom virtual networks for different IoT requirements

  4. Private 5G offers dedicated capacity, low latency, and data sovereignty

  5. URLLC achieves 1ms latency and 99.999% reliability for critical IoT

  6. Power saving (PSM, eDRX) enables multi-year battery life for NB-IoT/LTE-M

  7. 6G (2030+) will bring sensing, AI-native networks, and 100x improvements

1163.10 What’s Next

Explore 5G for IoT in depth: