IEEE Future Directions 5G Initiative [From the Guest Editors]

The articles in this special section examine the IEEE 5G Initiative. Presents recent fifth generation mobile communications (5G) research and development projects. 5G is the next generation wireless network that is expected to significantly increase capacity, improve data speeds, produce ultralow latency times, support multi-connectivity over multiple bands, and increase energy efficiency of network elements. Both research and industry communities are racing to develop the enabling technologies for 5G, considering the predicted date for real deployment by 2020. Similarly, standard bodies and government licensing institutions are working to solve the challenges associated with 5G, focusing on spectrum assignment and any other implications to current network legalizations.