5G Enters Its Next Chapter: 3GPP Release 18 Officially Branded as “5G-Advanced”
Just as 4G evolved into LTE-Advanced, the 5G standard is now stepping into its enhanced phase. With the upcoming 3GPP Release 18 (R18), the industry has formally adopted the new branding: “5G-Advanced.”
First introduced in 3GPP Release 15 (2017), 5G laid the foundation for ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and massive connectivity. Now, R18—scheduled for initial approval by the end of this year and final freeze by late 2023—marks the beginning of 5G’s second evolutionary phase.
Industry Leaders Confirm the Shift to 5G-Advanced
“With Release 18, we enter the second phase of 5G,” said Wanshi Chen, Senior Director of Technology at Qualcomm and newly appointed Chairman of the 3GPP RAN Technical Specification Group (TSG). “We have already approved the term ‘5G-Advanced’ starting with Release 18.”
The 3GPP organizes its standardization work through three key TSGs:
- RAN TSG – Radio Access Network (Chen’s group)
- SA TSG – Service and System Aspects
- CT TSG – Core Network and Terminals (which includes core network standards)
“TSG-RAN is probably the biggest in terms of size, scope, and number of activities,” noted Prakash Sangam, Founder of Tantra Analyst and a 3GPP participant. “The RAN chair’s primary role is to ensure all members collaborate effectively under 3GPP’s consensus-driven, vendor-neutral process to develop next-generation standards.”
5G’s Real-World Impact Paves the Way for 5G-Advanced
5G has already surpassed early expectations:
- Over 160 commercial 5G networks deployed globally
- Nearly 300 million 5G device connections
- More than 5,000 industrial digital transformation projects leveraging 5G
Looking ahead, 5G-Advanced will drive innovation beyond 2025, delivering greater social and economic value through comprehensive enhancements across performance, efficiency, and use cases.
What Will 5G-Advanced Enable?
Over the past six months, the Global Research & Industry Alliance (GLORIA) has held in-depth discussions on 5G evolution, defining the vision, requirements, and technologies for 5G-Advanced. Key focus areas include:
- Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) performance – higher throughput, lower latency, better spectral efficiency
- Immersive experiences – mainstream adoption of XR (AR/VR/MR), holograms, and real-time interactive media
- Industrial-scale digitization – ultra-reliable connectivity for smart factories, logistics, and energy grids
- Intelligent IoT ecosystems – massive, AI-driven device coordination with integrated sensing and communication (ISAC)
To shape Release 18, 3GPP will host a dedicated workshop from June 28 to July 2, which aims to finalize the scope and set the stage for formal topic endorsements via email consensus.
About IPLOOK
As a leading innovator in 3G/4G/5G core network solutions, IPLOOK Technologies actively follows 3GPP developments—especially in the CT TSG domain governing core network evolution. We are committed to delivering future-ready, cloud-native platforms that support smooth transitions from 5G to 5G-Advanced and beyond.
Stay tuned with IPLOOK for timely insights and cutting-edge solutions as the telecommunications industry enters the era of 5G-Advanced.
