Qualcomm Technologies, Ericsson, and SK Telecom on Tuesday announced plans to conduct inter-operability testing and over-the-air field trials based on 5G New Radio (NR) standards
These trials will showcase new 5G technologies that utilize wide bandwidths available at higher frequency bands to increase network capacity and achieve multi-gigabit per second data rates (Gbps).
They are intended to drive the mobile ecosystem toward rapid validation and commercialization of 5G NR technologies, and enable timely commercial network launches based on 3GPP Rel-15 standard compliant 5G NR infrastructure and devices.
These technologies will be critical to meet the increasing consumer connectivity requirements for emerging consumer mobile broadband experiences such as virtual reality, augmented reality and connected cloud services.
Additionally, the proliferation of 5G NR technology can make it more cost-effective and easier for multi-gigabit Internet service to reach more homes and businesses.
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The trials will employ 3GPP 5G NR Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna technology to deliver robust and sustained mobile broadband communications at higher frequency bands.
The trials are expected to yield valuable insight into the unique challenges of integrating 5G NR technologies into mobile networks and devices.
Matt Grob, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Qualcomm Technologies said that they are excited to accelerate the path to 5G and collaborate with industry stakeholders.
He said that the road map of 5G technologies is incredibly complex, and these trials based are critical to ensure timely deployment of 5G networks.
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Alex Jinsung Choi, EVP, Chief Technology Officer, SK Telecom, said that as 5G rapidly gains momentum, it is imperative to have a globally agreed and unified standard to achieve early commercialization of 5G.
Ulf Ewaldsson, SVP Ericsson said that 5G is the greatest opportunity the industry has ever experienced, and will enable operators to move into new markets and build new revenue streams with new business models.
The interoperability testing and trials will launch in South Korea in the second half of 2017, and are intended to track and accelerate the first 3GPP 5G NR specification that will be part of Release 15 – the global standard for 5G.
It is important to track the 3GPP specification because it promotes adherence and validation with the global 5G standard, and accelerate the time to standard-compliant devices and infrastructure.
