Driven by constantly-advancing AI technologies and the continuous unlocking of data value, the digital economy is gaining momentum. Information and communications infrastructure plays a fundamental role in implementing "AI+", "+AI", and "data element x". Now, F5G is moving towards F5G Advanced (or F5G-A), accelerating digital and intelligent transformation across various industries.
In 2020, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) ISG F5G working group defined the generations of fixed networks. For example, technologies represented by 10G PON, Wi-Fi 6, and 100G/200G OTN, and corresponding application scenarios, are defined as the Fifth-Generation Fixed Network (F5G). Through such definitions, the working group aims to drive industry prosperity.
Supported by service growth and technology advancement over the past four or more years, F5G is now evolving to F5G-A. Technologies such as 50G PON, Wi-Fi 7, ultra-long-haul 400G/800G, and fgOTN are all gradually entering commercial use. Recently, ETSI officially released the first standard version Release 3 of F5G-A, which defines the intergenerational characteristics, new network architecture and functions, and new application scenarios of F5G-A. This will allow F5G-A networks to provide higher performance and better experience regarding new services.
During the joint meeting of ETSI and the China Communications Standards Association (CCSA), Dr. Jin, Vice Chairman of ETSI ISG F5G and China Telecom expert, sat down for an interview with C114, during which he interpreted the progress of F5G-A standards and their benefit to social development. He also discussed China Telecom's latest progress and practices in F5G-A, and called upon more organizations to adopt F5G-A, further expanding its presence.
Continuously enriching standards: start of F5G-A commercial use
"The evolution from F5G to F5G-A is a huge leap forward in the fixed network field." Dr. Jin highlighted that F5G-A can create an innovative application environment that supports ultra-high bandwidth. The deployment and promotion of F5G-A can accelerate industry development, create jobs, and empower traditional industries while driving digital economy.
Specifically, F5G-A can provide higher bandwidth, lower latency, wider coverage, and a more energy-efficient network system. In addition, F5G-A offers intelligent operation and management methods that can support more applications with ultra-high bandwidth, delivering better network experience to both home and enterprise users.
F5G-A provides network connections that can propel industrial upgrade and digital transformation, covering industrial automation, smart manufacturing, and smart city. In addition, F5G-A can provide better network transmission in scenarios like telemedicine, distance education, and smart home, improving quality of life and making daily life more convenient.
Furthermore, the ETSI ISG F5G working group put forward the vision to move from "fiber to the home" to "fiber to everywhere". According to Dr. Jin, F5G and F5G-A have seen rapid growth in China in recent years. In some regions, F5G-A-based 10G optical networks have been piloted and deployed for small-scale scenarios including smart home, smart city, and industrial Internet.
Regarding the relationship between F5G-A and 10G optical networks, Dr. Jin added that current 10G optical networks, based on the new 50G PON access technology, can provide 10G access capabilities to meet the ultra-high network bandwidth requirements of diverse home, enterprise, and industry applications.
F5G-A is a broader concept, covering multiple possible technologies and application scenarios of future networks. 10G optical networks can be viewed as an important aspect and specific application of F5G-A, or as a service for users.
Standards and ecosystem: accelerating F5G-A use
The technical advantages brought by F5G-A can generate great social benefits and help China transform from a "cyber power" into a "cyber superpower". However, the wide use of F5G-A still faces numerous technical challenges. Dr. Jin noted that greater efforts are required in terms of developing high-performance core optical components and electrical chips to reduce device costs and achieve independent control. Furthermore, a more flexible, intelligent, and reliable network architecture is required.
In addition to technologies, F5G-A network construction requires investment in areas like optical fiber deployment, device upgrade, and network reconstruction. As such, we must consider how to unlock the value of F5G-A and optimize return on investment (ROI).
Market cultivation plays a fundamental role in promoting the wide use of F5G-A. Dr. Jin pointed out that we should further explore and cultivate the growth of various emerging ultra-high-bandwidth service applications, and look to better leverage F5G-A to explore more killer service applications.
Standards and ecosystems are both critical in addressing these challenges. ETSI has established extensive cooperation and collaboration relationships with well-known standards organizations inside and outside China, such as CCSA, ITU-T, BBF, and TM Forum, with a view to jointly promoting the standardization of F5G-A technologies. This has resulted in many consensuses being reached.
In addition, to further expand the presence of F5G-A, the ETSI ISG F5G working group continuously promotes the application of F5G-A. Dr. Jin said that enterprises in China are welcome to join ETSI in promoting the evolution of F5G-A standards and technologies.
ETSI ISG F5G now has 121 members, including global mainstream carriers (Telefonica, Orange, Deutsche Telekom, STC, China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, etc.), device vendors (Ericsson, Huawei, ZTE, FiberHome, etc.), and research institutes (HHI, CTTC, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, etc.).
In addition, the testing (certification) system for F5G-A network devices plays an important role in ensuring user-experience consistency and connectivity between devices. According to Dr. Jin, ETSI ISG F5G will vigorously carry out testing and certification in the future.
More importantly, a closed-loop process is required to promote industrial collaboration and cooperation, from standards formulation to technological innovation and to the establishment of industry alliances. "Through such a process, we can collaborate and reach industry consensus, boosting the entire F5G-A industry ecosystem and creating greater benefits for society."
China Telecom: promoting the advancement of F5G-A
China Telecom has always been a pioneer in technology research, standardization, and the implementation of fixed network technologies and intergenerational evolution. Dr. Jin explained that China Telecom is a founding member of the ETSI ISG F5G working group. It proactively engages in the formulation of F5G and F5G-A series standards. For example, it led the formulation of the F5G-A generation definition (GR0021) standard.
In addition, China Telecom has contributed greatly to F5G-A implementation. For example, the company promoted the construction and pilot deployment of 50G PON-based 10G networks in five provinces and six cities in 2023, and promoted pilot deployment in more regions in 2024. Based on the results of pilot deployment on the live network, 10G optical networks are deployed as needed in key industries to develop strategies fit for large-scale replication and promotion. This helps drive the implementation of F5G-A.
China Telecom has built the world's first 10G cloud broadband community in Shanghai and plans to build 26 10G showcase communities in the city by the end of this year. In addition, the all-optical 10G cloud broadband industrial cooperation and innovation showcase base in Shanghai demonstrates the significance the all-optical 10G home networking solution to smart home services. These include XR-based cloud fitness, cloud 8K home theaters, and cloud desktop conferencing. This showcases the high-speed and high-quality network features of all-optical 10G cloud broadband, and delivers a brand-new smart life experience to users.
Furthermore, China Telecom is committed to using F5G-A technologies to achieve fiber to all industries. In this way, it can accelerate the development of vertical industries and innovative Internet applications. For example, China Telecom has promoted the construction and deployment of 50G PON-based 10G networks at Jade live broadcast bases in Yunnan Province and on university campuses in Shaanxi and Hubei provinces, which has yielded fantastic results.
"Fixed networks function as the network base of carriers and cornerstone of network services." Dr. Jin added that China Telecom always attaches great importance to and actively promotes the intergenerational evolution and standardization of fixed networks. "We aim to provide faster, better, and smarter network infrastructure for customers in diverse industries across China. Through joint efforts, we believe F5G-A has the potential to become a major driving force behind China's digital transformation."