What is 5G Advanced?
5G Advanced (also known as 5G-A or 3GPP Release 18) represents the next major evolution of 5G wireless technology. While standard 5G focused on establishing the foundation, 5G Advanced builds on it with dramatic improvements in speed, latency, reliability, and energy efficiency.
Speed Improvements
Users can expect peak download speeds of up to 100 Gbps — roughly 10x faster than current 5G networks. More importantly, average real-world speeds should reach 1-2 Gbps in urban areas, making buffering and download waits truly a thing of the past.
New Use Cases
The ultra-low latency of 5G Advanced (as low as 1ms) enables applications that were previously impossible over mobile networks. These include real-time holographic video calls, cloud gaming with zero perceptible lag, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication for autonomous driving.
When Can You Get It?
Major carriers in the US, South Korea, Japan, and China have begun rolling out 5G Advanced networks in select cities. Full nationwide coverage in developed markets is expected by late 2027. You'll need a compatible device — most flagship phones released in 2026 already support 5G Advanced.
