What the 5G mmWave Trials Mean for UK Network Connectivity

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“We are excited to collaborate with Vodafone and Ericsson to showcase the transformative potential of mmWave technology,” says Dino Flore, Vice President, Technology at Qualcomm Europe, Inc.
Vodafone, Qualcomm and Ericsson complete 5G mmWave trials in the UK, transforming mobile networks to offer fibre-like speeds for Fixed Wireless Access

More devices than ever before are connecting to the network, causing data centre consumption to increase by more than 30% each year.

With consumers using more data rich applications on their smartphones, there is a risk of network congestion and therefore slower speeds. With these issues in mind, leading telco Vodafone is exploring how 5G high-band frequency spectrums can help to improve overall customer network experiences.

The company has just demonstrated the benefits of 5G millimetre wave (mmWave) through two trials in the UK, in partnership with Ericsson and global technology company Qualcomm.

“We are excited to collaborate with Vodafone and Ericsson to showcase the transformative potential of mmWave technology,” says Dino Flore, Vice President, Technology at Qualcomm Europe, Inc. “The trials in the UK demonstrate the significant capacity and speed improvements that mmWave offers, enabling ultra-fast and reliable connectivity experiences, whether at home or in a stadium.”

Dino Flore, Vice President, Technology at Qualcomm Europe, Inc. (Image Credit: MWC)

mmWave: Bolstering 5G connectivity

Each company states that the successful trials could pave the way for high-speed and high-capacity connectivity services in complex scenarios, including Fixed Wireless Access for home broadband.

Key facts
  • Telecommunications companies often use a wide range of spectrum frequencies to connect devices to the wider network.
  • The characteristics of each frequency vary, therefore the benefits and considerations also do.
  • The higher the frequency of the spectrum in use, the more data it can carry (both volume and speed), but there is a compromise on coverage distance.
  • Lower frequency spectrum carries less data, but it offers greater coverage and is better able to penetrate obstacles.

Such a feat could work to ease network congestion in busy locations such as crowded public venues like stadiums, concerts and transport hubs. The trio also achieved 2.8 Gbps downlink peak speed at a London football ground with a capacity of 20,000.

5G mmWave technology uses a higher frequency than the airwaves that connect our devices. It is able to offer faster data speeds, increased capacity and reduced latency, which all contribute to an enhanced network performance. 

This type of frequency can also enable more devices to be connected simultaneously without users experiencing a delay in service (consider when you’re in a busy area and your phone network can’t load properly because everyone is trying to use the network at the same time). Such an offering leaves room for future innovative applications and services.

In this context, mmWave technology is typically used to provide fibre-over-the-air experience for Vodafone customers. The company states that it can deliver home broadband connectivity peak speeds of up to 4 Gbps.

“While mmWave is a niche technology for mobile network operators in the UK, the uplift to customer experience will be incredible. With installations on a small number of sites, millions of people could benefit multiple times per week. This trial demonstrates how we can significantly improve customer experience by strategically targeting today’s challenges.”

Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone UK
Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone UK

Trial successes: Transforming the UK mobile network

Each trial made use of Ericsson’s AIR (antenna-integrated radio) 5322 and Baseband 6651 technology, in addition to various devices powered by the Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System.

The first focused on how higher download and upload speeds of mmWave spectrum can help deliver fibre-like speeds and home broadband services over the airwaves without the need for extensive underground infrastructure deployment. 

Some of the findings from the first trial include:
  • Within 100 metres of the mast, devices were able to achieve peak download speeds up to 4 Gbps and 500 Mbps in upload.
  • At 400 metre range, the peak download speeds were 2.3 Gbps and 200 Mbps in upload.
  • At the edge of the coverage zone (up to 700m), the peak download speed was 500 Mbps. Latency was found to be 4-5 times lower than existing 5G capabilities.

The trial also demonstrated a higher level of data upload to the network. With this in mind, higher upload speeds could be used to wirelessly connect cameras and broadcasting equipment to provide a more cost effective and flexible solution for media companies to cover events more seamlessly.

The second trial took place in a London football stadium to confront network congestion. Using a commercial Snapdragon powered smartphone, the trial registered peak download speeds up to 2.8 Gbps for unobstructed views to the mast at various points, in addition to 500 Mbps for locations that didn’t have a direct line-of-sight.

Reducing network congestion

The higher capacity of mmWave spectrum can help connect more people simultaneously, to improve customer experience.

This is a high priority for the UK at the moment, particularly in the wake of the £88m (US$114m) research and development boost the country received from its government for innovative connectivity and to future-proof its national mobile network.

The country is also eager to continue its 5G rollout, bringing improved connectivity to new locations across the country, including the London Underground Network.

With this in mind, mmWave technology is ideal for low latency use cases for business customers. The trio of companies involved in this trial believes mmWave frequency spectrum can be utilised in a small number of locations which would have a significant impact on customer experience. 

It can work to alleviate network congestion in busy areas and also connect high-volume data use cases to reduce the impact of obstacles on the airwaves and connect a significant number of people simultaneously.

“Our successful trials with Vodafone and Qualcomm demonstrate the potential of mmWave technology to revolutionise connectivity experiences,” explains Evangelia Tzifa, Chief Technology Officer, Networks & Managed Services at Ericsson UK and Ireland. 

Evangelia Tzifa, Chief Technology Officer, Networks & Managed Services at Ericsson UK and Ireland

“With the ability to deliver fibre-like speeds, and support for massively dense traffic environments, such as stadiums, mmWave opens the door to transformative connectivity experiences for mobile users, as well as new advanced use cases across various sectors.”

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