Telefónica and IMDEA Networks have announced the creation of the first 5G lab in Spain, 5TONIC to spur the development of 5G technologies. The laboratory which will be located at the central office of IMDEA Networks on the outskirts of Madrid is expected to open its doors next November. It will operate at least until the first 5G products are commercially viable, which is expected to happen sometime in 2020.
Telefónica is also a founding partner of the 5G Innovation Centre of the University of Surrey and now through its involvement in the development of 5TONIC aims to re-double its commitment to 5G excellence.
5TONIC will comprise two main areas. Firstly a unit dealing with virtualization software for 5G networks (5G Virtual Software Network), that will be centered on the virtualization of network functions (NFV); software defined networking (SDN); security services, network control and management planes; cloud services and signaling services. The second unit will look at the 5G wireless systems area (5G Wireless Systems) focused on the air interface, radio aspects, duplexing, multiplexing, media access control, spectrum, interference, mobility tracking, all based on a multi-RAT approach.
Enrique Blanco, Telefónica Global CTO
The center of 5G excellence in Madrid will allow us to test, choose, and prioritize the functionalities of the candidate networks and services that will be part of future 5G networks, in order for the resulting system to be consistent and coherent. We don’t want the 5G networks start-up to be a specific single event, but rather a process which we want to begin right now.
Arturo Azcorra, Director of IMDEA Networks
5TONIC is essential for the development of scientific and technological solutions so that Spain does not get left behind the 5G networks train.
