NEC announced that it contributed to a high-definition video transmission test utilizing 5G to a high-speed train conducted by NTT Communications, NTT DOCOMO, and TOBU RAILWAY through the provision of a 5G base station.
This test was conducted in Kasukabe City, Saitama, Japan, using a train on the Tobu Skytree Line from December 17 to 21, 2018. 4K and 8K high-definition videos were transmitted from a 5G base station installed along the railroad, corresponding to the 4.5 GHz band and 28 GHz band, to a 5G mobile station located inside a train running at approximately 90 km/h and projected on a large display in real time. In addition, the videos were transmitted to 40 smartphones on the train via wireless LAN.
The NEC 5G base station was equipped with a Massive MIMO antenna, which forms beams (directivity) that concentrate power on the location and direction of the 5G mobile station. Since the antenna always forms optimal beams for a mobile station by making the beams track the mobile station in motion, it is capable of realizing a high-data transmission rate and high-quality wireless data communication, even for a mobile station installed inside a moving train, as in this demonstration. This demonstration of 5G enables the transmission of high-presence and high-definition video content, even on a train or a bus in motion, providing a service that allows the distribution of large-capacity content in a variety of media, regardless of the location or situation.
Moving forward, NEC will continue to work on 5G verification throughout a wide range of use cases, such as urban and rural areas. This demonstration includes part of the results of a 5G Integrated Verification Trial conducted by NTT Communications Corporation in 2018.