Abstract
This paper presents the evaluation of Enhanced Ultra High Throughput 5G (EUHT-5G) technology as a candidate radio interface for the IMT-2020 framework. EUHT-5G introduces advanced features including hybrid multiple access, flexible carrier aggregation, and support for both sub-6 GHz and millimetre-wave frequency bands. The study evaluates spectral efficiency and reliability across Indoor Hotspot, Dense Urban, and Urban-Macro URLLC scenarios. Simulation results show that EUHT-5G does not meet the IMT-2020 thresholds for either average or 5th percentile spectral efficiency in eMBB configurations. Similarly, in URLLC reliability evaluations, the system fails to achieve the target packet success probability of 99.999%, particularly after accounting for reference signal interference effects. Beyond reporting evaluation outcomes, this paper identifies the principal architectural and implementation factors limiting compliance, including the absence of multi-user MIMO in low-error mode, limited beamforming gain for control channels, Common Reference Signal (CRS) pollution, and degraded performance under low-SINR conditions. The analysis further highlights standardisation lessons related to centralised scheduling, reliability-oriented design, and candidate technology evaluation methodologies. EUHT-5G demonstrates several innovative design concepts, but further refinement in interference mitigation, adaptive modulation, and antenna coordination is required to achieve IMT-2020 compliance. The findings provide useful insights for future radio interface technologies and ongoing IMT-2030 standardisation activities.