5G – Boundary Object or Battlefield?

The aim of the paper is to better understand of the processes of standardization relating to 5G. This includes an understanding of how 5G can be conceptualized. It also includes knowledge on where the processes of standardization take place. The paper introduces two different analytical approaches to the analysis of telecom standardization processes: boundary objects and standards wars. The boundary objects approach, new in the field of analyses of telecom standardization processes, focuses on the fact that cooperation between various stakeholders can take place without full consensus on the directions and perspectives of the cooperative work. The standards wars approach puts emphasis on the conflictual relationships between different "camps" regarding the promotion of standards and products or systems. Concerning the upstarting processes of standardization of 5G, it seems that 5G standardization resembles a boundary object more than standards war. However, in order to better understand standardization processes, we propose a combination of, or the use of, both of the two frameworks. The boundary objects framework will contribute with an understanding of the non-conflictual aspects of the standardization processes, while theories that are part of the concept of standards wars will be applicable for conceptualizing the more confrontational aspects.