Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) is one of the key use cases for 5G technology, aiming to provide extremely low latency and high reliability for mission-critical applications. Latency refers to the time delay between the transmission of data from the source (sender) to the reception of that data by the destination (receiver). In the context of 5G with URLLC, achieving low latency is essential for applications where real-time communication is critical, such as autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and remote surgery.
The latency in 5G with URLLC is targeted to be significantly lower than what was achievable with previous generations of wireless technology. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the organization responsible for developing global telecommunications standards, has set ambitious targets for latency in URLLC scenarios within the 5G specifications.
The latency requirements for URLLC in 5G are often categorized into two components:
- Transmission Latency: This is the time taken for a packet of data to travel from the sender to the receiver. In URLLC scenarios, 5G aims to achieve extremely low transmission latency, typically in the order of a few milliseconds.
- Processing Latency: This refers to the time taken by the network elements, including the base station and the core network, to process and relay the data. The goal is to minimize processing latency to ensure that the overall end-to-end latency meets the stringent requirements of URLLC applications.
Several factors contribute to achieving low latency in 5G with URLLC:
- Edge Computing: By deploying computing resources closer to the edge of the network, near the user devices, processing latency can be minimized.
- Advanced Air Interface: 5G NR (New Radio) introduces advanced air interface technologies, such as shorter transmission time intervals and numerology options, which contribute to lower latency.
- Network Slicing: The concept of network slicing allows operators to create dedicated slices of the network with specific characteristics, including low latency, to meet the requirements of URLLC applications.
- Optimized Protocols: The use of optimized communication protocols in 5G contributes to reducing signaling overhead and, consequently, latency.
It’s important to note that the actual latency experienced in a 5G URLLC scenario can depend on various factors, including network deployment, environmental conditions, and the specific requirements of the application. However, the overall goal is to achieve latency levels that make 5G suitable for applications demanding ultra-reliable and low-latency communication.