DSS used on live 5G call between Switzerland, Australia

• Dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) allows for LTE and 5G NR transmission in the same band at the same time.

• Ericsson Spectrum Sharing product being tested by Swisscom, Telstra, Verizon. 

• DSS is key to scaling 5G coverage and easing transition to standalone 5G. 

• Qualcomm X55 modem-to-antenna solution used in pre-commercial Oppo smartphone

Dynamic spectrum sharing is poised for a big year in 2020. Major operators in the U.S. like AT&T and Verizon have made clear their intent to use DSS to avoid a costly, long-term spectrum re-farming process as they work to scale out 5G coverage.

Across the pond in Switzerland, operator Swisscom plans to use DSS to offer up 5G coverage to 90% of the population by the end of this year. Across several other ponds, Australian service provider Telstra is also looking to tap DSS for its 5G strategy.

Right now Ericsson is the only network infrastructure vendor with a commercial DSS product; their flavor is called Ericsson Spectrum Sharing. As such, Ericsson has been instrumental in all of this DSS testing and, on Nov. 29, marked another milestone by supporting a 5G data call between Swisscom and Telstra’s networks.

Qualcomm is also ever-present in the DSS discussion, having helped drive the standards work through the 3GPP and also including support for the technology in chipsets destined for consumer 5G handsets. The San Diego-based company provided its Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System to device OEM Oppo, which lent “pre-commercial” 5G smartphones to support the call between Bern and Gold Coast.

Ericsson’s Fredrik Jejdling, EVP and head of networks, discussed DSS in terms of de-costing the otherwise hugely expensive generational upgrade to 5G. “It is the most economically feasible way to launch 5G on existing bands, enabling nationwide 5G coverage and helping make 5G accessible around the world,” he said in a statement.

For more from Ericsson on DSS, check out this video filmed in October during Mobile World Congress Los Angeles:

For more information on DSS, explore this material:

DSS lets operators side-step need to re-farm spectrum for 5G

Ahead of large scale 5G deployment, Verizon trials dynamic spectrum sharing 

What’s the state of dynamic spectrum sharing development?