The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has set up a new group to focus on policy, regulatory and technology issues related to the next generation of mobile technology, 5G.

AMTA CEO Chris Althaus said the 5G Group would also aim to be a reference point for industry to agree on consolidated Australian perspectives and to explore solutions to key issues thrown by the introduction of 5G.

He said that although the 5G standard was still being developed, demonstrations were expected in 2018 for events such as the Commonwealth Games in Australia, followed by commercial deployments by 2020.

In the latest edition of its Mobility Report, Ericsson is forecasting 5G uptake to be faster than that of 4G, reaching 150 million subscriptions by 2021. – Stuart Corner