NGMN 5G Devices SA Migration Scenarios

To ensure the coexistence of 5G and 4G Devices, enabling the use of the new 5G Core Network, operators need to manage a transition period in which both 5G deployment architectures are present.

Taking a devices perspective, this white paper looks specifically at how Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) who currently operate 4G and 5G Non Standalone (NSA) networks can evolve to support 5G Standalone (SA) networks.

This paper presents a way to handle and optimize this transition. The goal is not only to guarantee an effective usage of the most valuable FDD and TDD Sub-6 bands (< 6GHz) but also effective usage of all frequency assets.

The re-farming strategies that can be implemented by Operators will inevitably be influenced by the speed of penetration of 5G Devices and the frequency bands that they support. Accordingly, a potential migration timeline has been defined.