Initially deployed in 2019 in the U.S. and South Korea, 5G technology, still being rolled out globally, introduced broader spectrum usage, massive multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) functionality, and multiple operations in the sub-6-GHz and millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands, improving performance at the expense of greater design complexity.
The roadmap for the release of 5G technology, summarized in Figure 1, shows that we are currently in the phase known as 5G-Advanced (often referred to as 5.5G), defined in Release 18 of the specification produced by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) organization.
5G-Advanced, which will continue with the implementation of Release 19 and Release 20, improves the performance of existing 5G features and introduces new ones, such as the use of artificial intelligence and machine-learning techniques, precision positioning, and greater energy efficiency, which place heavy demands on component design.
Let’s take a closer look at the key features introduced in 5G-Advanced and the second wave of 5G innovations until the arrival of 6G, whose commercial launch is expected around 2030.
Figure 1: 5G technology release roadmap planned by the 3GPP. Releases 18, 19, and 20 will continue to exist even after the introduction of 6G, expected to begin with Release 21. (Source: Stefano Lovati)
The era of 5G-Advanced
Current 5G networks operate in two distinct modes: non-standalone (NSA) 5G, which relies on existing 4G LTE infrastructure for core network functions, and standalone (SA) 5G, which uses a completely independent native 5G network. Most early 5G deployments have focused on NSA configurations to accelerate time to market. However, these deployments have limitations in realizing the full potential of 5G.
With regard to the three main capabilities introduced by 5G, we can say that the first deployments of this 5G technology have focused mainly on enhanced mobile broadband, providing peak speeds higher than those achievable with 4G/LTE technology. 5G-Advanced goes further, supporting massive internet of things and ultra-reliable low-latency communications capabilities.
There are two main innovations introduced by 5G-Advanced: AI/ML integration and support for immersive applications.
AI integration
One of the most significant advances in Release 18 is the native integration of AI/ML capabilities across the entire network stack. 5G-Advanced introduces standardized AI/ML frameworks for network automation, including predictive analytics for network optimization, automatic fault detection and resolution, and intelligent resource management. Algorithms for predicting changes in network traffic will also enable energy consumption optimization, increasing the efficiency of the entire network.
Current 5G networks require significant manual configuration and optimization. 5G-Advanced networks, on the other hand, are designed to operate autonomously, using AI-based optimization to continuously adapt network behavior based on predicted rather than observed conditions.
Extended reality and immersive applications
5G-Advanced includes specific optimizations for extended-reality (XR) applications, which include virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. The standard defines new quality-of-service parameters specifically tailored to immersive applications.
These improvements enable applications that require ultra-low latency and precise synchronization between multiple sensory inputs, opening new possibilities for truly immersive remote experiences, industrial training simulations, and collaborative virtual environments.
The use of the cloud will also help shift the XR processing load from the device to the network, reducing the cost, size, and power requirements of user equipment.
Support for vertical use cases
The evolution of mobile broadband extends the use of 5G to specialized vertical use cases in sectors such as industry, transportation, and manufacturing. Improvements in positioning (capable of providing centimeter-level accuracy) and time synchronization (which will reduce dependence on the GNSS satellite network by introducing a terrestrial timing solution using cellular networks) will enable applications in which time measurement is critical, such as financial transactions, industrial automation, and smart grids.
Supporting 5G-Advanced and beyond
5G-Advanced involves some major challenges for designing new RF systems, including operating across wider frequency ranges, managing higher power consumption and heat generated from large antenna arrays, and maintaining signal quality with advanced modulation schemes.
These demands require more complex and expensive RF chips and modules that must integrate multiple functions while meeting strict performance requirements. Designers must fit more antennas, power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, and filters into shrinking form factors.
At the same time, integrating multiple RF chains, digital signal processing, and baseband functions on single chips (SoCs) while maintaining performance becomes increasingly challenging at higher frequencies.
At MWC Barcelona 2025, Qualcomm Technologies Inc. unveiled the X85 5G modem-RF, featuring an integrated 5G AI processor (Figure 2). This RF modem meets the requirements for the next generation of connected and AI-enabled apps, offering faster speeds for smooth streaming, downloading, and uploading. It also delivers improved network reliability in busy areas, longer battery life, and more accurate location data for a better overall user experience.
The 5G-Advanced features offered by the X85 will be available on premium Android smartphones and on many other devices, such as PCs, fixed wireless access (FWA) points, vehicles, XR, and more.
Figure 2: The Qualcomm X85 modem-to-antenna solution supports 5G-Advanced features and integrates an AI tensor accelerator. (Source: Qualcomm Technologies Inc.)
Among the several features provided by the X85 5G modem-RF is the 6Rx, the first AI-based antenna management that uses six receiving antennas to dynamically manage signal reception on mobile devices. This approach enables high throughput and low latency, especially in demanding conditions. With six receive antennas operating in the mid- and high-5G bands, users benefit from improved spectral efficiency, greater diversity gains, and stronger interference rejection compared with conventional 4Rx smartphones.
According to Qualcomm, tests conducted in the field have proven that AI-enhanced 6Rx antenna management can improve downlink throughput by up to 20% at the cell edge, a key factor for users operating in areas with poor signal strength.
Semtech Corporation has expanded its portfolio of 5G broadband modules with the introduction of the EM9492 device, the first 5G broadband module based on the Qualcomm X85 modem-RF.
Compliant with the 3GPP Release 18 standard, the EM9492 module supports 5G-Advanced and is designed for the implementation of advanced 5G applications for routers, gateways, and video surveillance systems, with dual-SIM dual active support, on-chip AI processing to enhance AI edge applications, and more efficient use of the sub-6-GHz band.
One of the vertical use cases that will benefit from 5G-Advanced is the railway sector. In Europe, it has been decided that the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) will use 5G NR SA technology to replace the current Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway, which is set to be retired by 2030.
Ericsson and Qualcomm have completed a successful interoperability test on a frequency band reserved for 5G railway communications in Europe. This milestone represents a step forward in developing the FRMCS.
The companies conducted the test using a mobile platform powered by the Qualcomm X85 5G modem-RF, operating on the n101 band with 10-MHz bandwidth, and paired with a custom-designed Ericsson radio prototype. The n101 time-division-duplex band, spanning 1,900 to 1,910 MHz, is reserved for 5G railway communications in Europe.
Adoption of gallium nitride (GaN) wide-bandgap semiconductors in discrete power devices and power modules will increase to meet the stringent requirements of high-frequency operation, efficiency, and thermal management of current 5G implementations and upcoming 6G networks.
As pointed out in research conducted by Yole Group, GaN power devices will gradually replace LDMOS in telecom applications, such as massive MIMO.
Imec, for example, developed aluminum nitride/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high-electron mobility transistors (MISHEMTs) on a 200-mm silicon (Si) substrate, which achieve high output power and energy efficiency while operating at 28 GHz. Imec’s GaN-on-Si MISHEMT technology outperforms other GaN MISHEMT solutions, while the use of a Si substrate offers a significant cost advantage for large-scale manufacturing.
GaN-based (MIS)HEMTs are crucial for 5G-Advanced wireless communication. Compared with CMOS devices and gallium arsenide HEMTs, GaN devices deliver higher output power and greater energy efficiency.
Massive MIMO is one of the core technologies in 5G networks. By employing multiple antenna arrays, it can support a greater number of simultaneous connections. The larger the number of antennas and the more effectively they communicate with each other, the more efficiently the system can manage the high volume of mobile phone users.
At present, this is among the most effective methods for increasing the bandwidth in cellular networks. With 5.5G, support for a greater number of antennas is being expanded, enabling lower-latency connections and improving overall reliability.
Qorvo Inc. has launched the QPA9862, a wideband, high-efficiency pre-driver amplifier designed for 5G massive MIMO radios. Supporting both 32T and 64T base station architectures, it offers outstanding power efficiency, wide instantaneous signal bandwidth, and a compact form factor, enabling equipment manufacturers to meet the evolving demands of 5G radio systems.
Qorvo also announced the QPQ3550, a compact, high-performance bulk-acoustic-wave filter operating in the 3.55- to 3.7-GHz CBRS band, suitable for customer premises equipment, FWA nodes, small cells, and multiband radios supporting next-generation broadband platforms. Combining industry-leading performance with a compact footprint, the QPQ3550 provides superior insertion loss, power handling, and enhanced thermal reliability.
Figure 3: Qorvo’s latest 5G solutions feature compact footprints and improved thermal management. (Source: Qorvo Inc.)
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