This year’s Mobile World Congress is all about 5G and IoT, with some handset and wearable launches. Wireless carriers and infrastructure vendors are starting to launch Gigabit broadband pilots to bring 5G class connectivity to residential users.
Since 5G smartphones are not expected to be commercially available before 2019, fixed broadband is likely to be the first service rolled out, followed by vehicle communications, especially car-to-infrastructure (V2X), which is critical for the development of autonomous vehicles.
Many carriers argue that the cost of laying out fiber to small towns and remote areas is prohibitive, since they can’t recoup the investment from consumer subscriptions.
That’s why infrastructure companies and cellular carriers are starting wireless pilots, using a combination of 4.5G LTE-A and 5G mmWave, to deliver fixed broadband to residential customers in several countries.
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