With the progress of mobile connectivity, the fifth generation of cellular networks is about to evolve with the introduction of 5G Advanced. This technology is seen as an intermediate step between the current 5G and the future 6G, promising higher speed, deeper integration with artificial intelligence, and lower energy consumption.
5G Advanced, also referred to as 5G+, 5.5G, or 5GA, represents an improvement on traditional 5G technology and was formally detailed in 3GPP Release 18. It establishes itself as a link between 5G and 6G.
One of the central points of this technology is carrier aggregation, a functionality similar to that found in LTE Advanced (4G+), which allows 5G Advanced to use multiple frequencies to increase connection capacity.
There are several benefits to 5G Advanced when compared to standard 5G. It is important to note that 5G Advanced depends on the existence of conventional 5G, as it is based on the aggregation of multiple frequencies within the fifth generation. The expectation is that 5G Advanced will consolidate as the standard in the coming years, following the path of 4G+.
Conventional 5G will continue to coexist with 5G+. To start using 5G Advanced, the user needs a compatible smartphone, must be in an adequate coverage area, and possess a chip compatible with 5G Standalone.
On iPhone devices, 5G+ is accessible starting from the iPhone 14 line, provided the user is within the coverage area and has a compatible plan and chip. For Android smartphones, it is necessary to check the advanced technical specifications of the device to confirm compatibility with 5G Advanced.
The possibility of use depends on the operator, the age of the chip, and the device itself. To use 5G Advanced, the chip must be able to connect to 5G Standalone networks; this also applies to eSIMs, which may require an update to a version compatible with the new standard.
On iPhone 14 or later models, checking chip compatibility is simple: one must go to Settings, then Cellular and Data. If the 5G Standalone option cannot be activated, it indicates that the chip or eSIM does not support 5G Advanced. On the iPhone, the 5G+ indicator appears for connections to 5G Advanced, while on Android, there is still no specific indicator for this type of network, even when connected to 5G Advanced.
Despite being a modern technology, 5G Advanced has certain limitations. It is an intermediate evolution of conventional 5G, offering better network performance, new service functionalities, greater energy efficiency, and AI-mediated access network automations, being classified at most as 5.5G.
In contrast, 6G presents a completely different architecture from 5G or 5G Advanced, promising significantly higher speeds and even lower latency, with an expected arrival only around mid-2030.