Nokia said it has successfully completed an end-to-end 5G New Radio (NR) data call with 4G and 5G dual connectivity in a recent trial in China.
The 3GPP-compliant dual connectivity call was conducted using a 5G NR system over-the-air on the 3.5GHz frequency band and LTE in the 2.1 GHz frequency band, supported by a 5G user equipment simulator provided by PRISMA Telecom Testing
For existing 4G operators, dual connectivity will allow them to more rapidly create 5G coverage and services by connecting 5G NR to a 4G radio that is connected to an existing Cloud Packet Core, said Nokia.
The successful 5G NR data call is an important step toward the verification of 5G in the sub-6 GHz frequency bands, which is required for wide-area coverage and massive IoT connectivity, in preparation for commercial deployment in China in 2020.
The end-to-end data call used the Nokia AirScale Cloud RAN, Nokia AirScale baseband unit, Nokia 5G Massive MIMO Active Antenna, Nokia Cloud Packet Core and Nokia home subscriber service together with a 5G end user equipment simulator provided by PRISMA Telecom Testing. The Nokia AirFrame data center solution was used to control the Cloud RAN.
Nokia said it will continue to work with Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) through 2018 trialing 5G in the 4.9 GHz frequency bands.
Marc Rouanne, President of Mobile Networks, Nokia
Nokia is ready to support dual connectivity with the AirScale radio access portfolio as it is upgradeable via software to 5G and provides single RAN support for 4G, 4.5G Pro and 4.9G as well as legacy technologies.
Enrico Bendinelli President of PRISMA Telecom Testing
PRISMA Telecom Testing is a key global player in the Radio Access Network testing arena, capable of supporting all 3GPP mobile technologies. With our activities currently spanning from R&D to technology integration and field trials we support our customers through all development stages of the new 5G standard.
