eMBB

Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) is a category of use cases defined for 5G networks by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to deliver markedly higher data rates and capacity than previous mobile technologies. The primary aim of eMBB is to enable rich multimedia experiences and ubiquitous connectivity across urban, suburban, and rural environments, including high-definition video streaming, cloud gaming, augmented and virtual reality, and mobile broadband in dense user areas.

Technologies that support eMBB include the use of wider channel bandwidths, access to higher frequency bands such as sub-6 GHz and millimeter wave (mmWave), advanced antenna systems (massive MIMO and beamforming), carrier aggregation, and higher-order modulation schemes. Network design emphasizes increased spectral efficiency, network densification, and edge computing to reduce latency and improve responsiveness.

eMBB can be deployed in non-standalone (NSA) configurations that anchor 5G New Radio (NR) to existing 4G cores, or standalone (SA) networks that use a dedicated 5G core. It also underpins fixed wireless access (FWA) services, providing broadband-like connectivity to homes and businesses without fiber.

Common use cases include 4K/8K video streaming, immersive AR/VR, cloud gaming, high-quality video conferencing, and broadband services for remote locations or large venues. While 5G promises peak data rates of tens of gigabits per second under eMBB, real-world speeds depend on spectrum, deployment, and conditions.

In the 3GPP ecosystem, eMBB is one of the three foundational 5G use case families, alongside ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) and massive machine type communications (mMTC). Standards advances from Release 15 onward have expanded eMBB capabilities, with ongoing enhancements in later releases.