5G Advanced For UK Business

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5G Advanced What Is It And Why Should UK Businesses Care?

In the UK, we are waiting for 5G SA (Standalone) to be fully rolled out, and most networks are behind schedule on that 5G SA rollout. So how can it be time to discuss a successor already? 

Lets start by defining some of the terminology in the 5G networking space. 

5G NSA, 5G SA, and 5G Advanced

I have simplified these 5G terms, so you can make sense of where 5G Advanced sits,

5G NSA – "Non-Standalone"

Refers to the addition of 5G cells to existing 4G cell towers, enabling a hybrid 5G (This makes the current experience of 5G one that's akin to using a new phone on old wires)
It's faster than 4G, but not what 5G can be, because it still uses 4G infrastructure in the background
NSA is fast to deploy because it only means adding additional 5G cells to existing 4G masts

5G SA – "Standalone"

Refers to the true 5G network, as it was envisioned at the outset. 5G cells and towers, a pure 5G network throughout. 
Designed to provide all the 5G features that 4G cannot achieve. 
Massive speed and throughput that opens the door to supporting smart factories, autonomous trains and real time sensors.

5G Advanced – "The Big Upgrade"

Think of it as 5.5G , as it builds on the capabilities of 5G SA
Designed to be smarter, faster and more energy saving
Uses AI to tune and improve performance, and predict network issues. 
Supports satellites, virtual reality, smart cities, and IoT at a far greater scale than 5G SA
Its a stepping stone revision on the road to 6G

Understanding The Road To 5G Advanced

If we start by looking at the origins of mobile networking, 2G was simple calls and texts, 3G was multimedia messages MMS, 4G was basic internet, and 5G has so far been connected devices, ultrafast streaming, gaming and full spectrum internet. 

4G started the push towards a wider world of connected devices, and those advances were continued and increased in scope with 5G. Trains, factories, cars, and even hospitals could leverage the advances in 5G to work smarter, faster, safer, while always staying connected.

Now looking at 5G, it has been continually evolving for almost 5 years, with each country making plans to upgrade and rollout new 5G capable architectures. The global 5G rollout has taken different forms around the world. Some countries like China have led the charge, and others have trailed behind. The 5G evolution is quite different from previous ones, in that its leaps and bounds ahead of what was previously possible.

The economics of 5G has meant that countries and companies have tried to upgrade at the lowest cost possible, hence ending up with 5G NSA infrastructures as the first stepping stone and with the least capital outlay. The next stage has been investment and growth by upgrading to dedicated standalone hardware leading to a true 5G implementation. The next stage to this is the 5G Advanced which will further capitalize on newer hardware, firmware and advanced coding algorithms. The implementation of 5G SA and 5G Advanced has also correlated with the greatest capital infrastructure outlays, leading to the increased need to justify spend and also find mechanisms to build products and solutions to recoup the capital investment outlays.

5G Advanced Is The Smartest 5G

5G Advanced is proving to be the smartest and most powerful version of 5G so far, it’s built on 5G Standalone (SA), but adds faster uploads with ultra low latency, offers better coverage (even in rural areas), and smarter features powered by AI. 

5G Advanced offers super reliable connectivity, accurate positioning (up to 10 cm), and lower energy use, making it perfect for industries like manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, farming, and more. 

It also supports cheaper, battery free IoT devices, helping businesses scale cost effectively. In short, if your business needs real time control, smart automation, or better remote access, 5G Advanced is not just an upgrade; it could be the business enabler and competitive edge your business has been waiting for. 

Where in the World Is 5G Advanced Already Being Used?

Going back to the different rollout schedules of different countries, some countries have started testing and rolling out 5G Advanced already. Countries like China, South Korea, Finland, and parts of Europe are leading the way by future-proofing their national infrastructures with 5G Advanced.

China is specifically testing it to improve driverless transport, smart logistics, city wide surveillance, precision farming, and high speed rail networks.

These regions aren’t just getting better signals; they’re building smarter infrastructure, where machines, cameras, and sensors talk to each other.

5G Advanced in Real World Action

550 Mbps Upload Speed: A live demo showed ultra fast uploads, great for content networks,  live streamers, and remote video work.

3D Audio Calls: In 2024, Nokia conducted their first real spatial audio call using a newly developed codec which melts audio and video conferencing into an immersive experience, allowing the party making the call to feel surrounded by the other people on the call, taking us from 1D video calls to calls in virtual metaverse spaces. 

RedCap and eRedCap Devices: 5G Advanced will create a market for a new category of cheap, low energy 5G devices, that will take the form of sensors, meters, and smart labels.

Satellite + Drone Connectivity: 5G Advanced will play a crucial role in upcoming advances in Satellite technology and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). 

5G Advanced Is Critical For The UK

The UK has started rolling out 5G, but most of it is still 5G NSA. To truly unlock the smart industry, we need to invest and develop the infrastructure and stay in line with other leading nations in the world. Vodafone and Three have made commitments to 5G SA and eventually to 5G Advanced. 

Here’s why businesses should care about the rollout of 5G SA and eventually 5G Advanced, and push governments to keep investing and deploying these new technologies, as they will make UK businesses more competitive globally.

5G Advanced Is Important Because

It's a Growing Market- The government and niche parts of the private sector have committed to investing millions in upgrading transport, healthcare, and manufacturing systems. These upgrades will make 5G Advanced a fantastic upgrade, opening opportunities for products, solutions and applications to make use of the increased speed and decreased latency. 

Its Future-Proof- 5G Advanced is designed to support smart cities, autonomous vehicles, energy efficient networks, and AI driven automation. Thinking ahead will mean that businesses can spot opportunities in new markets. 

It Improves Efficiency- 5G Advanced will be the most sensor dense 5G infrastructure and hence open the market for opportunities in adjacent markets with solutions such as live monitoring of trains, vehicles, or even supply chains. Lower energy consumption with smart AI auto tuning of networks will give rise to larger more sophisticated networks, following more of a neural principle. 

It Enhances Customer Experiences- The customer experience will be vastly improved, with sensors collecting data and providing real time information back to customers.  Imagine the fastest Wi-Fi, seamless touchless entry, and entertainment / AR (augmented reality) experiences. that boggle the mind. 

Ready to Take the Next Step?

We help UK companies like yours, understand new technology, adopt, and build around 5G, and eventually 5G Advanced. Whether you're planning, testing, or deploying smart tech, we’ll guide you every step of the way. If you want to integrate smart devices, serve industries that will benefit, or just need fast, reliable connectivity, let's have a conversation.

5G is evolving fast, and each day it heads towards 5G Advanced. The businesses that understand its opportunity early will lead the next wave of innovation. You don’t have to be a tech giant. You just need to be curious, prepared, and ready to build. Let’s build a smart future together. 

Let’s talk about how 5G Advanced can make your business smarter, stronger, and ready for the future.