With the arrival of 5G, maintaining legacy networks like 4G, 3G, and even 4G again will become a major challenge for telecom operators. The question is how to help them transition smoothly into the 5G era while preserving existing network capabilities and making things more efficient and user-friendly. This is where 4.5G comes in—it acts as a bridge between 4G and 5G. Let’s explore what this means for the future of mobile networks.
According to Xiong Wei, President of Huawei's LTE Product Line and Wireless Vehicle Networking Product Line, the real challenges before full-scale 5G commercialization involve not just technology, but also ecosystem support and operator capability transformation. From a technical perspective, 4G will remain the foundation for operators. To lead in 5G, operators must start building new business capabilities on 4.5G now.
“4.5G is a key step toward building full-service capabilities and seizing the first-mover advantage in the 5G era,†Xiong said. Today, traditional services have reached high penetration levels, offering little growth potential. Operators need to focus on emerging sectors like vertical industries—this is the next big opportunity. By enabling industrial upgrades, operators can drive new revenue streams and create long-term value.
However, current networks are not ready to support these new applications. That’s why 4.5G is so important. Xiong explained that 5G commercialization will take at least 3-5 years. During this time, 4G alone isn’t enough, and 5G hasn’t arrived yet. The best solution is to deploy 4.5G, which can support advanced use cases like 4K video, VR, AR, autonomous driving, and IoT. This helps operators build the necessary capabilities to stay ahead when 5G becomes mainstream.
Additionally, 4.5G helps operators optimize their network structure, preparing for future 5G upgrades. Xiong noted that there are significant technical differences between 4G and 5G. Deploying 4.5G allows for a smoother transition, helping operators adapt to 5G and cultivate user habits for 5G services.
Looking ahead, Xiong believes 4.5G and 5G will coexist for a long time. Despite the widespread use of 4G, only about 30% of global base stations are 4G. Many countries still have unused frequency bands, and a large number of users are on 2G or 3G devices. There is still huge room for growth in 4G, especially in emerging markets. In fact, 4G is expected to be the golden decade for the next ten years, with most operators worldwide agreeing on its continued importance.
At the same time, managing multiple networks simultaneously is costly and inefficient. Xiong emphasized that the future basic network should be built on 4G, with 5G added gradually based on demand. This approach ensures a more sustainable and scalable path forward.
As a pioneer in 4.5G, Huawei introduced the concept in 2015, and it was later recognized by 3GPP as LTE-Advanced Pro. Today, 4.5G has been deployed globally. By July 2017, 68 4T4R commercial networks had been launched, and several flagship 4R terminals were available. Huawei alone has deployed over 100 4.5G networks and enabled VoLTE in 109 operators across 57 countries.
The results speak for themselves. Operators who adopted 4.5G saw significant improvements in network performance and user experience, leading to increased market share and customer satisfaction. Recently, Huawei and UK operator EE tested 4.5G LTE-Advanced Pro technologies, achieving a downlink speed of 970 Mbps—six times faster than standard 4G. This demonstrates the power of 4.5G in supporting cutting-edge applications.
At the 2017 Global Mobile Broadband Forum, attendees witnessed a drone demonstration using a 4.5G network. The UAV’s remote control and data transmission capabilities were impressive, showcasing the potential of 4.5G in enabling low-altitude digital ecosystems. This is part of Huawei’s “Digital Sky Plan,†aimed at transforming drone applications through enhanced network coverage.
In conclusion, Xiong emphasized that 4.5G and 5G will coexist for a long time. He stressed that deploying 4.5G now allows operators to prepare for 5G, develop new services, and shape user behavior. This ensures they are well-positioned to lead when 5G finally arrives.
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