The Asian carrier used the 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz spectrum bands for the recent trials
Telecom operator 3 Hong Kong has completed 5G outdoor network trials in the 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz spectrum bands.
The carrier said the 5G test was conducted at a trial cell site in Causeway Bay.
3 Hong Kong had obtained an indoor 5G test permit from Hong Kong government for the 3.5 GHz band in August 2017 and completed a number of initial trials by the end of that year. In May, the telco secured a temporary permit to conduct 5G trials in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz millimeter wave bands.
3 Hong Kong had also secured a permit for outdoor and indoor trials in the 3.5 GHz band in June, and the company achieved 2 Gbps network speeds during an earlier trial using 100MHz of spectrum in that band.
3 Hong Kong highlighted the test results showed that 3.5 GHz band coverage, when used in conjunction with massive MIMO technology, can be comparable to the coverage provided by LTE at 1800 MHz.
“3 Hong Kong took the initiative to carry out end-to-end trials in various 5G bands in preparation for a new era of mobile communications,” said Kenny Koo, CEO of 3 Hong Kong’s parent company Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings.
“We welcome the government’s decision to allow various of its premises to accommodate 5G base stations, and we hope the application and approval processes can be simplified and accelerated to help Hong Kong’s 5G development.”
The Hong Kong government had previously proposed to allocate 5G spectrum to local operators at no charge. Government authorities said that allocating free spectrum would reduce the cost and shorten the time required for operators to launch 5G networks in the territory, according to Hong Kong’s secretary for commerce and economic development Edward Yau Tang-wah.
Ensuring a timely 5G rollout would also facilitate the introduction of more IoT, smart city and other technology applications, which would support Hong Kong’s initiatives in the smart city field.
Under the proposal, operators receiving 5G spectrum would need to install at least 5,000 base stations across Hong Kong.
The local government also plans to hold a consultation on allocating an additional 200 MHz of 3.3 GHz and 4.9 GHz spectrum to support 5G rollouts in the market.
