San Marino May Lead 5G Movement

5G cellular networks promise to deliver bandwidth rates equal to what wireline connections can. They will have the added benefit of supporting mobility, and enabling important Internet of Things applications like connected car and remote surgery with their ultra-reliable low latency communications capabilities.

Whenever and wherever faster and high-performance broadband networks become available, we are frequently reminded, economic benefits can follow. That may include attracting new business. New broadband networks also hold the potential for improving property values by enhancing quality of life.

That’s why the race is on to deliver higher bandwidths and more targeted IoT connectivity solutions via the availability of 5G networks.

You might think that the world’s biggest cities and countries would be first to the table with 5G. And, in some cases, you would probably be correct.

For example, China has big 5G ambitions. According to reports, the Chinese plan to make a $411 billion investment in 5G between 2020 and 2030. That is expected to generate 79 trillion yuan in revenues for the country’s big three network operators – China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom (News - Alert). And it would make Mainland China the world’s largest 5G market by the next decade, with an estimated 588.3 million 5G subscribers by 2022 and an expected 31.9 million 5G subscribers in 2019.

But 5G connectivity is expected to make an early and widespread appearance in some lesser known and smaller parts of the world as well. For example, the Republic of San Marino says it will be the first state in Europe, and among the first areas in the world, to have a 5G mobile network.

San Marino officials and Telecom Italia (News - Alert), which will build and operate the network, this week announced their plans on this front. The carrier will begin upgrading the network to 4.5G technology and introducing some 5G features such as carrier aggregation, MIMO4x4 technology, small cells, and more.

Plans call for nationwide 5G network tests to take place within the next year. And commercial services based on 5G are expected to be available in San Marino well ahead of the 2020 European Union deadline.