Verizon claims to be the first network provider to conduct an over-the-air call on a 3GPP-compliant 5G New Radio (NR) system using licensed spectrum.
This successful test on Verizon’s millimeter wave spectrum – using Nokia 5G network technology on a 5G NR prototype device provided by Qualcomm Technologies was an important milestone on the road to preparing Verizon’s network for widespread implementation of commercial 5G mobile services for consumers and enterprises.
The test was conducted this month at Nokia’s facility in Murray Hill, NJ and follows prior interoperability testing between Nokia and Qualcomm Technologies. The 5G NR standard was approved by the 3GPP in December 2017.
The test was completed over Nokia’s CloudRAN solution, which is comprised of the Nokia AirScale baseband and radio, AirFrame server, and AirScale Cloud RAN running 5G NR 3GPP-compliant software.
The test utilized Qualcomm Technologies’ cutting-edge 5G NR millimeter wave prototype device, which includes an optimized millimeter wave RF front-end design in a smartphone form factor.
Verizon’s deployment of 5G technology over millimeter wave spectrum – beginning in 2018 – will provide massive bandwidth, ultra-high speed and single digit latency for emerging fixed and mobile use cases, said the Operator.
Ed Chan, SVP and Chief Technology Architect
With this first 3GPP NR standards-based connection, Verizon continues to lead the development of 5G technology.
Marc Rouanne, President of Mobile Networks, Nokia
Using the successful interoperability testing we conducted with Qualcomm as a basis, we’re now applying our standard-compliant 5G technology in this trial with Verizon to push the commercialization of 5G.
