Wen Tong: 5G will be the neural network of the physical world

Abstract

Smart phones, video, computer games, social platforms and mobile payments have dramatically changed our daily lives in the past 10 years. Behind the rise of the internet industry, fourth-generation (4G) network technology played an instrumental role. According to the plans of major communications companies and the global standardization organization 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), the next generation of wireless network technology (5G) will start to be commercially used before 2020. What will be the technological improvements in performance of 5G comparing with 4G? Would 5G be similarly transformative? In a recent interview with NSR, Huawei's Chief 5G scientist, Wen Tong, talked about these topics, as well as about the transformation of China's communications industry from a technology follower in the eras of 3G and 4G to one of the leading forces behind 5G.