Design & verify 5G systems, Part 2

Designing 5G systems is a daunting task because the technology required to support their powerful capabilities makes them much more complex than their predecessors. This is further aggravated by the need for backwards compatibility/interoperability with equipment based on earlier 4G, 3G, and 2G standards. And, unlike older standards, 5G specifications must support a variety of algorithms and service models used by smartphones, self-driving cars, and IoT devices. Adding to the complexity is that many of these devices have varying degrees of their functionality implemented in cloud-based applications and AI/ML algorithms.

Complexity is not the only challenge posed by 5G systems. System flexibility adds another dimension to the design challenges. The 5G standard is still evolving with new releases issued periodically and no end in sight. This is forcing the companies developing radio-heads, baseband stations, and other 5G core technologies, to only focus on the elements of of the standard that apply to the functionality required for their product, and ignore more global issues that may become a problem later.