Vendors and the GSMA are trying to drum up excitement over the impending 3GPP Release 18, the first of three that will deliver capabilities under the banner of 5G Advanced. This comes at a time when deployments of 5G Standalone (SA) are falling behind earlier hopes and expectations, even if they are not quite stagnating as some of our peers have contended. There are examples of major SA deployments, such as Reliance Jio’s in India, but it is true that many operators have been waiting for more decisive benefits, or evidence that the ROI will be achieved on the additional deployments within a reasonable time. Jio’s major rival Bharti Airtel is in this camp, contending that at this stage it…