LIVE FROM GSMA MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 2014: The Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) announced the launch of its 5G initiative.

Europe is still rolling out LTE – with full coverage expected by the end of 2014/2015, according to Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, CTO, Deutsche Telekom AG. But in technology development terms “5G is around the corner”, according to the NGMN – even if “there is no doubt that LTE will dominate for the coming decade after 2020.”

The first stage of the NGMN’s 5G initiative is being driven by its twenty-one operator members, which together cover more than 60 per cent of the world’s mobile customers.

The alliance initially will define use cases for 5G networks “and determine what technology maps onto that,” said Kris Rinne, SVP, Network Technologies, AT&T. “It’s not 100 per cent about air interfaces. It’s about the evolution required for new use cases,” said Rinne.

The alliance will consider several requirements including APIs, latency, and resiliency. “We are focusing on what will enable apps rather than defining the apps of 2021,” said Rinne. Once operators have specified their needs, they will start in 2015 defining the architectures that can implement and deliver them.

Operators have to facilitate real-time multimedia services and faster access, and will be seeking more efficiency in the network as they “bring control together across wireless and wireline networks,” said Jae Byun, Chairman, NGMN, CTO, SK Telecom. “Lower network access cost and new technology is the only way it makes it possible,” said Byun.

NGMN will co-operate with standardisation bodies, research institutes; fellow operators and regulators, and vendors. OTT players, however, are missing from the line-up. That may change.

Today, “the transport, the APIs – we’re hearing them from the developer community. We’re working in phases – most is happening at layer 7,” said Rinne.

However, “what the services will be is anybody’s guess. We need to reach out to OTT players … and orchestrate more harmonious ideas,” said Byun.