LIVE FROM GSMA MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS SHANGHAI: The wireless industry is on the verge of a major transformation as it moves into the 5G era, with both huge potential as well as many uncertainties for mobile operators. But key to success will be cross-industry partnerships, said Zhu Peiying, a Huawei fellow and head of its 5G wireless system research.

She told Mobile World Live that to make the grand vision of 5G a reality, collaboration among multiple industry segments is essential. “That is why we need many partners and plenty of discussions and debates. We are pleased to see all these 5G partnerships are converging towards a common vision.”

Huawei believes, she said, that 5G must bring a step-change instead of “incremental” evolution. To make this happen, she suggests the industry should take a holistic approach, redesigning the system from scratch with built-in flexibility and expandability.

“The new system architecture should consider forward compatibility, enabling fast-to-market feature releases. In this way, operators can introduce new services with reduced complexity and cost. The new system should have one network and unified air interface to support multiple services and industries.”

A better mobile broadband experience will be essential for operators to develop a sustainable business, while support for vertical markets will open up new opportunities, she said. “Using the same infrastructure and one network to support multiple market segments is a cost-effective solution. That will be key for mass commercialisation of the Internet of Things.”

She expects 4G to continue to evolve in parallel with 5G R&D. “It will not stand-still and wait for 5G. However, 5G is trying to expand the traditional operator market, which requires early research, planning and collaboration.”