5GNewRadio

5G New Radio (5G NR) is the global standard for the fifth generation of wireless communications’ radio access technology, defined by the 3GPP. It specifies the air interface between user equipment and the mobile network and is designed to be deployed with either a 5G Core (5GC) in standalone configurations or with existing core networks in non-standalone (NSA) deployments. NR was introduced in 3GPP Release 15 and has been expanded in subsequent releases to add features and spectrum options.

NR uses an OFDM-based waveform with flexible numerologies, enabling multiple subcarrier spacings (for example, 15, 30, 60 and 120 kHz) to accommodate different deployment scenarios and frequencies. It supports wide bandwidths across sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave bands, advanced antenna techniques such as massive MIMO and beamforming, and high-order modulation (up to 256-QAM in favorable conditions). It also provides features such as carrier aggregation, dynamic spectrum sharing with LTE, and optional operation in unlicensed bands (NR-U) in later releases.

In network architecture, NSA deployments reuse 4G cores coordinated with 5G radio access, while SA deployments rely on a full 5G Core with a service-based architecture, network slicing and edge computing capabilities. The aim is to deliver enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-low latency, and support for massive connectivity and flexible services.

Global adoption has grown rapidly since its introduction, with ongoing enhancements in new releases to expand frequency support, improve efficiency, and enable diverse use cases. NR remains the foundation of the 5G ecosystem, designed for interoperability across vendors and operators.