Leading 5G Visionary Organizations in Europe, USA, Japan, South Korea and China Sign Multi-Lateral Memorandum of Understanding for "Global 5G Events"

LISBON, PORTUGAL--(Marketwired - October 29, 2015) - Today, many of the world’s leading national and regional associations for the development of future 5G mobile technology, announced their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the organization of a series of “Global 5G Events” in the interest of efficiency and building global consensus on 5G.

The Parties of the Memorandum include, 4G Americas, (Americas), The Fifth Generation Mobile Communications Promotion Forum (5GMF) (Japan), 5G Forum (Republic of Korea), IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group (non-profit organization, China) and The 5G Infrastructure Association - Public Private Partnership (5G PPP) (Europe), and entered into this MoU in order to promote 5G globally as it approaches 2020.

Due to the growing number of regional 5G events currently occurring, the parties have agreed to jointly organize two “Global 5G Events” per year in the coming years to focus their efforts and leadership. The “Global 5G Events” will be hosted on a rotating basis between the signing associations during each half of the year on a different continent between the Americas, Asia and Europe.

The first two “Global 5G Events” will respectively be in the first half of 2016 in Asia under the responsibility of IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group and in the second half of 2016 in Europe under the responsibility of The 5G Infrastructure Association.

The “Global 5G Events” intend to support multilateral collaboration on 5G systems across continents and countries. Basic areas of interest for the “Global 5G Events” include, but are not limited to:

• Vision and requirements of 5G systems and networks
• Basic system concepts
• Spectrum bands to support the global regulatory process
• Future 5G global standards
• Promotion of 5G ecosystem growth

Werner Mohr, Chair of the Board, 5G PPP, commented, “Our mutual goal with 4G Americas, 5GMF, 5G Forum and IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group is to support multilateral collaboration on 5G systems. This is an agreement that will help the mobile industry make the most of the valuable work at our leading 5G visionary organizations.”

Chris Pearson, President of 4G Americas, stated, “Innovation for a broad 5G wireless ecosystem can be helped by cooperation and collaboration. 4G Americas is pleased to join other leading wireless associations for 5G development as we engage on the critical first steps to plan for IMT-2020 and share our knowledge through the organized ‘Global 5G Events’."

Hyung Hee Lee, Chair of 5G Forum, stated "Global harmonization and unified understanding of 5G across different countries and industries are indispensable for successful commercialization of 5G. This multilateral cooperation on global 5G events will surely add extra momentum on the on-going 5G R&D activities and further accelerate the formation of 5G ecosystem."

Kohei Satoh, Secretary General of 5GMF, commented “As I stated in the panel discussion of 5G workshop between regional initiatives in Lisbon on 20 October 2015, 5G Integrated Verification Trial would be a big step in realizing a commercial 5G system and service. So, we should work together to cooperate and collaborate an open environment for the trial on the basis of the spirit of the multi-lateral MoU.”

Ms. CAO Shumin, Chair of IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group, stated, “The multi-lateral MoU can strengthen the cooperation between 5G industry organizations. We should work together to make the 5G vision into reality. IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group is very honored to host the first ‘Global 5G Event’in China, and we hope it will be a good platform for building global consensus on 5G.”

About 4G Americas: Unifying the Americas Through Mobile Broadband Technology

4G Americas is an industry trade organization composed of leading telecommunications service providers and manufacturers. The organization's mission is to advocate for and foster the advancement and full capabilities of the LTE mobile broadband technology and its evolution beyond to 5G, throughout the ecosystem's networks, services, applications and wirelessly connected devices in the Americas. 4G Americas, the voice of 5G for the Americas, is invested in leading 5G development for the Americas; 4G Americas is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington USA.

More information is available at www.4gamericas.org. Follow our news on Twitter at @4GAmericas and Facebook at www.facebook.com/4gamericas.

About IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group: the major platform to promote 5G technology research in China

IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group has been jointly established by three ministries in China (the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology) in February 2013, based on the original IMT-Advanced Promotion Group. The platform’s mission is to promote the development of 5G technologies in China and to facilitate cooperation with foreign companies and organisations. IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group members include the main operators, vendors, universities, and research institutes in China. The Promotion Group is the major platform to promote 5G technology research in China and to facilitate international communication and cooperation.

More information is available at www.imt-2020.cn or imt2020@catr.cn.

About The 5G Mobile Communications Promotion Forum Japan

The Fifth Generation Mobile Communications Promotion Forum (5GMF) was created to conduct research & development concerning the fifth Generation Mobile Communications Systems and research and study pertaining to standardization thereof, along with liaison and coordination with related organizations, the collection of information, and dissemination and enlightenment activities aimed at the early realization of the Fifth Generation Mobile Communications Systems, all with the aim of thereby contributing to the sound development of the use of telecommunications.

More information is available at http://5gmf.jp/en/

About the 5G Forum

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning founded the 5G Forum in Seoul on May 30. 5G Forum members consists of public and private sectors, including mobile telecommunication carriers, manufacturers and academic professionals.

The goal of the 5G Forum is to assist in the development of the standard and contribute to its globalization. By 2020 the South Korean government intends to commercially deploy 5G mobile telecommunication technology for the first time in the world featuring five core 5G services during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics. This would include social networking services; mobile 3D imaging; artificial intelligence; high-speed services; and ultra- and high-definition resolution capabilities; and holographic technologies.

Insik Park, business division head of SK Telecom, South Korea's largest Telecom Company, was selected as the first chairperson of the forum. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI); three major telecom companies; and several major electronics companies, including Samsung Electronics, LG electronics, KMW and Dio Interactive, were appointed to the Board as co-chairs.

More information is available at www.5gforum.org.

About The 5G Infrastructure Association -- Public Private Partnership

5G PPP is a collaborative research program that is organized as part of the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program -- The European Union Program for Research and Innovation. It is aimed at fostering industry-driven research, which is controlled by business-related, performance and societal KPIs. The 5G PPP has a lifetime from 2014 to 2020 and is open for international cooperation and participation. Within this research and innovation framework, the European Commission, with the approval of the European Parliament, has committed 700MEUR of public funds to supporting 5G PPP activities. Complementary private investment in the order of five times this amount is expected to be provided by Industry, SME, and Research Institutes to realize the 5G-PPP vision. The private side in 5G PPP is represented by the 5G Infrastructure Association.

More information is available at http://5g-ppp.eu/ Twitter: @5GPPP

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