Telenor partnered with Huawei for 5G demos.
Nordic telecom group Telenor and vendor partner Huawei announced the first “5G” based E-band multi-user “MIMO2” demonstration in Norway. The demo is said to have achieved maximum network speeds of 70 gigabits per second.
Both companies said a joint study will provide insights and learnings to identify necessary update steps from 4G to 5G technology in Telenor’s network, and will be produced through the Telenor and Huawei Joint Innovation Center.
E-band multi-user multiple-input/multiple-output antenna technology is said to provide more than a 20 Gbps speed rate for a single user. Working as a supplementary low frequency band, the E-band is said to enhance the mobile broadband experience.
“So far, 5G is nowhere near standardized – we are only in the early stages,” said Berit Svendsen, EVP of Telenor’s Scandinavia Cluster, in a statement. “The fact that we are already able to demonstrate 5G is therefore absolutely fantastic. The entire mobile world is pushing ahead to get standards in place under the auspices of the [Third Generation Partnership Project] organization and Telenor.”
O2 UK launches Wi-Fi Calling, 4G Calling services
U.K. mobile operator O2 announced the commercial launch of its “Wi-Fi Calling” and “4G Calling” services.
The telco said its Wi-Fi-based calling solution will enable subscribers to send and receive calls using the wireless technology, while O2 U.K.’s 4G Calling service – which uses voice-over-LTE technology – will allow customers to make clearer calls and have better indoor coverage over the company’s 4G network.
O2 said the 4G Calling service will be initially available in London, Leeds and Slough, with more cities to be added over the coming months.
