[MWC On-site] Huawei Launches 5.5G... "Carrier Revenue and User Satisfaction Up"

"5.5G Essential Before the 6G Era"
Applied to Chinese Unmanned Delivery Vehicles
Advantageous for High-Capacity Data Usage

Chinese telecommunications equipment company Huawei, which showcased the largest exhibition hall at MWC, has designated this year as the inaugural year for the commercialization of 5.5-generation (5G Advanced) mobile communications.

Through 5.5G, which is more advanced than 5G, the strategy is to provide telecom operators with monetization models and enhance user-perceived satisfaction.

Overview of the Huawei booth at MWC 2024
[Photo by Huawei]

On the 28th of last month (local time), during the MWC 2024 mobile fair held in Barcelona, Spain, Yoon Hong-ju, Director of Korea Huawei, introduced the company's exhibition hall to domestic reporters.

Huawei, the largest sponsor of MWC, built a large-scale exhibition hall of 9,000㎡ in the first hall welcoming visitors inside the venue, demonstrating its grandeur.

Director Yoon stated, "Before moving to the 6G era, we must go through 5.5G," adding, "This year is set as the inaugural year for the commercialization of 5.5G." He further explained, "5.5G can transmit 10 gigabits (10Gb) per second, which is overwhelmingly faster than the 1 to 2 Gbps of 5G."

In particular, the plan is not only to guarantee technical speed but also to enhance telecom services by finding the most efficient methods through intelligent networks and to improve the quality of user experience.

Unmanned delivery vehicle of China's food delivery platform 'Meituan' exhibited at Huawei booth.
Photo by Kim Bokyung

At Huawei's booth, an unmanned delivery vehicle from China's food delivery platform 'Meituan' attracted visitors' attention. This small vehicle, integrated with Huawei's communication technology, reportedly achieved over 4 million deliveries in major Chinese cities such as Shanghai.

It is explained that 5.5G communication technology is essential for the commercialization of new technologies like unmanned delivery, which require stable transmission of large volumes of data.

Thai telecom operator AIS operates a '5G Boost Mode' using Huawei's communication equipment, which can be utilized at venues such as concert halls, sports stadiums, and festival sites.

When a large number of users gather in one space, 5G speed and quality deteriorate. At this time, the telecom operator displays a pop-up introducing the '5G Boost Mode' on subscribers' phones. By selecting this mode, users can pay an additional fee to use high-speed internet for three hours.

Additionally, the operator has increased profitability by launching a specialized plan that boosts upload speeds in line with the growing trend of one-person broadcasting and live streaming.

Furthermore, Huawei introduced Internet of Things (IoT) devices capable of logistics management without separate batteries, and solutions that discover user usage patterns through digital twins to recommend customized plans.

The company is also committed to sustainable management, such as using renewable energy for telecommunications equipment operation.

Director Yoon stated, "We are promoting green energy solutions that operate network equipment using renewable energy such as solar power," adding, "By 2030, we plan to cover more than 20% of the electricity used for network operations with solar power."