Government providing funds to operators to install new fiber optic infrastructure nationwide
The Japanese government is already working to develop better fiber optic and other technologies to meet the future data transmission demands of 5G networks, local press reported.
According to the report, these new fiber optic networks will reach speeds of up to 10 Gbps. Operators need to develop networks with higher bandwidth due to the spread of the internet of things (IoT) and the wider availability of high-resolution 4K videos.
Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology will conduct research on fiber optic technology to be in a position to develop these new networks which will pave the way for 5G. It will also work with domestic electronics makers and other private sector partners to bolster fiber-optic transmission capacity.
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (NTT) has been largely responsible for installing Japan’s communications networks until now, according to the reports. However, the cost of hardware nationwide could cost over $45.7 billion, according to a government source. The report also highlighted that some private companies are calling for public assistance to help cover the costs of the deployment of the new fiber optic networks.
5G trials are taking place in Tokyo as well as in rural areas of Japan. These trials are expected to continue for the next three years, in the run up to commercial launches in Japan in 2020.
Ericsson, SmarTone complete LAA trial in Hong Kong
In other news, Swedish vendor Ericsson and SmarTone, a mobile network operator in Hong Kong, have carried out a trial of Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) technology in a live over-the-air demonstration in Hong Kong.
Ericsson said LAA allows the use of unlicensed spectrum in the 5GHz band in combination with licensed spectrum.
SmarTone used one LTE 10 megahertz band aggregated with three 20 megahertz bands of unlicensed spectrum for the trial. Together with 4CC carrier aggregation, 4×4 MIMO and 256QAM technologies, the trial used a Qualcomm SnapdragonTM X16 LTE mobile test device and Ericsson’s micro Radio 2205 for LAA.
“LAA is a key evolution of mobile technology and we are pleased to be first in Hong Kong together with SmarTone to demonstrate the increased capacity, improved speeds and enhanced user experience through the combination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. Through the introduction of advanced technologies, such as LAA, we enable Gigabit Class LTE on the road to 5G,” Petra Schirren, president of Ericsson Hong Kong and Macau, said.
