3GPP: Unlocking 5G-A: standalone networks and mmWaves on the horizon

With over five years since the inception of 5G commercialization, the global mobile communications standard organization, 3GPP, has propelled the technology into the realm of Release 18. This heralds the arrival of the 5G-Advanced era, yet two critical features outlined in earlier standards, standalone networks (SA) and millimeter waves, have yet to realize their full potential. Their adoption remains sluggish, prompting speculation about the timeline for their widespread implementation.