5G test with Huawei combines LTE bands with 5G carriers
Working with Huawei to test pre-standard 5G NR network technologies, Deutsche Telekom this week announced it had passed a 2 Gbps data transmission on a live commercial network in Berlin.
The 3GPP standards-setting body has split 5G NR into standalone and non-standalone variants, the latter of which is the subject of the showcase in Germany. The test used a 3.7 gigahertz channel and, in addition to the multi-gigabit throughput, the test yielded latency metrics of three milliseconds, according to DT.
“5G new radio will be critical for meeting our customers’ ever-increasing connectivity requirements that are steadily growing with more and more network connections,” Claudia Nemat, Deutsche Telekom board member for Technology and Innovation, said in a statement. “Our achievement demonstrates the feasibility of our plans to deliver a superior, new customer experience.”
The R&D work used Huawei network equipment, software and user equipment. Huawei VP of 5G Huimin Zhu said, “These achievements highlight the capabilities of the 5G NR equipment to meet operators’ requirements for addressing new business opportunities for end users. Huawei is confident that the partnership with Deutsche Telekom can fully prepare the commercial launch of 5G NR services in Europe by 2020 thanks to 3GPP standardization efforts.”
DT stressed the role of sub-6 GHz spectrum in delivering 5G as the mid-band supports mobility, wide-area coverage and enhanced mobile broadband, one of the three primary 5G use cases–the other two are massive internet of things and mission critical communications.
“With this real-world achievement, Deutsche Telekom is making its first important step towards a 5G network launch,” DT CTO Bruno Jacobfeuerborn said. “When the standard is defined, we will trial it in 2018 to prepare the ground for a wider deployment of commercial sites and the offering of devices for the mass market as they become available.”
