HUAWEI Technologies, the China-based digital telecommunications technology company, is following through on its bet to commercialise its intermediate 5.5 generation (5.5G) as well as its 6th generation (6G) network technology even as many nations are still at the nascent stage of implementing the 5th generation (5G) version of the technology while others are yet to start.

Jamaica’s two main telecoms firms, for example, offer, at best, 4G, 4G long-term evolution (4G LTE) and LTE-A technology to their customers, while 3G still exists in the market for mobile devices and data terminals. The upgraded connection technology improves speed, reduces delays and enhances performance of mobile devices and data terminals.

It was only in April of this year that Cable & Wireless (which trades in the consumer market as Flow) decided to yank its older 2G network used mostly on so-called “banger phones”, while Digicel said it will do the same at the end of August. Neither has embraced investing in 5G technology across the region at this time, citing various reasons.

But, a world away in China, Huawei is set on evolving the technology standard for mobile devices and data terminals to 6G, but sees 5.5G as a bridge between it and 5G. Huawei argues that this solution would protect operators’ previous investment in 5G, while also improving network performance by 10 times. Currently, some 1.5 billion people are already onboard 5G networks that began commercialisation five years ago in 2019. By comparison, it took nine years for 4G to achieve the same number of users.

Currently, 20 per cent of global mobile subscribers are using 5G, which Huawei believes will come to the end of its useful life by 2030 in favour of 5.5G and after that, 6G technology. For now, 5G users generate 30 per cent of all mobile traffic and contribute 40 per cent of mobile service revenue. Huawei is pushing to start commercial use of 5.5G this year, promising it will unlock the potential of new applications and capabilities from transport to health care.

The company is also exploring the possibilities of 6G after 2030, which promises to be even faster and more powerful than its predecessor. Huawei showcased its 5.5G technology at its Shenzhen headquarters to journalists recently, promising download speeds of 1–10 gigabits per second (Gbps) and uplink speeds ranging from 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 1 Gbps — speeds which are multiple times faster than available in the market right now, providing near-instantaneous response to users command with almost no delay. Huawei said its 5.5G technology is designed to support a staggering 100 billion connections.

Led by Winter Wright, a representative from Huawei’s Editorial Department, a group of media representatives got a first-hand look at how 5.5G could transform various industries through a 3D display model. Huawei hopes the technology will revolutionise warehousing and logistics, transportation, live production, oil and gas production, manufacturing, healthcare, mining, and power grid management by making work easier and more efficient.

“Instead of manually controlling the crane [to] grab containers from a ship, then transfer it to a truck…with the help of 5G, you can do the remote control in an air-conditioned room. And also, with the help of an AI model, one person or one worker in [a] remote control [room] can take care of two or three cranes. You can see how the 5G or AI-enabled remote control can greatly improve efficiency,” a technician told journalists during an exhibition tour of the Huawei Shanghai Institute.

Huawei added that it’s vision for 5.5G in collaboration with AI aims to transform industries by automating dangerous jobs, such as operating cranes and mining machines, from the safety of an office space. In further explaining 5G uses, the technician shared that the 5.5G technology boasts two standout capabilities; firstly, it revolutionises operating and maintenance processes; and secondly, it enhances network experience, significantly boosting user experience rates beyond current standards.

“We think the lifecycle of the 5.5G from the standardisation point of view will be in 2027, and the lifecycle of the 5.5G will be at least in 2030. After 2030, 5.5G would exist for sure in some of the spaces, but 6G technology would come to the fore,” he announced.

Huawei said it is also harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and 5.5G technology to create a new era of connectivity. AI, a technology that has gained widespread recognition, is being deployed across various scenarios and devices, connecting everything from road posts to homes, people, and industries. By combining AI with 5.5G, Huawei is hoping to unlock the full potential of wireless communications, enabling the widespread adoption of fixed wireless access (FWA), which eliminates the need for telecoms firms to run fibre infrastructure as is now done, but can be impractical in certain areas such as mountainous regions and where digging up roads to lay fibre is not feasible.

With FWA, Huawei is boasting 5G connectivity, paving the way for a new generation of wireless communications. During a tour of Huawei’s Shanghai Institute, the Jamaica Observer got a glimpse into the future of wireless communications. The new spectrum, dubbed ‘upper 6G’, boasts a significantly larger bandwidth than its sub-6G predecessors, and is expected, when combined with other technology Huawei is hoping to deploy, to deliver a even faster and more reliable connections and reduce carbon emissions and use 30 to 40 per cent less energy efficiency, through what it called its zero-bit, zero-watt technology.

“Huawei is committed to reducing carbon emissions. Our zero-bit, zero-watt technology is a significant step towards this goal. Zero-bit means that if there is no data transmitted, there is no power consumed,” a Huawei representative said.

A display model of several industries to be improved with 5G technology such as transportation, live production, oil and gas, manufacturing, health care, mining, and power grid management.

A display model of a mining field and how 5G can improve technology to eliminate dangerous jobs for people..

A technician explains how Huawei technology will improve mobile and data connectivity.

A look at one of Huawei’s wireless communications for outdoors (Photo: Codie-Ann Barrett)