NEC, Thursday announced the successful completion of a prove of concept trial with KT Corporation (KT) for a 5G wireless backhaul solution that utilizes E-Band spectrum (70-80GHz). The PoC which was using KT's commercial mobile network infrastructure will be a key milestone for KT to launch 5G trial services in 2018.
KT aims to introduce radio transmission using E-Band spectrum in order to establish mobile backhaul networks for 5G services, especially in mountainous areas, where it is difficult to lay optical fibers. E-band spectrum's characteristics, such as wider communications channels, higher linearity and lower atmospheric attenuation compared with other spectrum bands, make it ideal for large-capacity wireless transmission. In this PoC, the iPASOLINK EX, NEC's ultra-compact microwave communications system that operates with E-Band spectrum was used to interconnect KT's LTE base stations with high-speed and high-capacity wireless links.
Hideyuki Muto, Deputy General Manager, Mobile Wireless Solution Division, NEC Corporation
NEC's iPASOLINK EX can operate in harsh environments, and is easy to install at various outdoor locations without large scale installation works because it is compact and light weight. This joint PoC took advantage of these features in order to implement a high-capacity mobile backhaul network in snowy, mountainous areas very quickly.
