Page 85 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Deutsche Telekom Paves the Way for 5G with Small Cells

Deutsche Telekom is collaborating with Huber+Suhner to deploy CTO, said, “Small cell antennas are an important component of
small cell antennas that support 4G and 5G frequencies. The our expansion strategy. We can systematically cover squares
Sencity Urban antennas cover the range of frequencies from 1.7 and streets with the new antennas. This helps us create more
to 4.2 GHz. They will initially be deployed in Deutsche Telekom’s capacity in the downtown areas and thus further optimize our
4G network at selected sites and can be upgraded to 5G easily, network. A big added value of our Swiss partner’s antennas is
the operator says. The antennas’ capacity and coverage benefits their flexible handling: we can convert the supply to 5G in a few
could be boosted further with MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple easy steps.” The antennas will be used first in the German cities
Output) technology. Walter Goldenits, Telekom Deutschland’s of Kiel, Lüneburg, Osnabrück, Munich and Mülheim and will be
installed on public telephone boxes, bus and streetcar shelters,
walls, or on LED furniture. “Developing small cell antennas that
support 4G and 5G technology and can be integrated properly
into the cityscape despite the limited space was a challenge,”
said Claudia Bartholdi, Product Manager at Huber+Suhner. “The
Sencity Urban antennas have optimized performance and allow
flexible mounting so that the network can easily be extended to
5G in urban areas.” According to the Small Cell Forum, Europe lags
behind North America and Asia in the deployment of small cells.
The Forum says that small cells are proliferating in regions where
work has been undertaken to lower regulatory barriers relating
to cost, sites approvals and deployment processes. Its research
in December found that deployment rates in North America are
projected to rise by 92% annually between 2017 and the end of
this year, and 74% in South East Asia – above the global average
of 68%.

US Cellular Targets 2020 5G Launch

US Cellular seeks to activate its planned 5G network in 2020, CEO mmWave spectrum haul, the cellco is expected to prioritize the
Kenneth R. Meyers has confirmed. The chief executive noted: use of its 600MHz frequencies – acquired in June 2017 – for its
‘We acquired new licenses during the Federal Communications initial 5G networks.
Commission’s (FCC’s) recent millimeter wave (mmWave)
auctions, giving us access to high-frequency spectrum required
to deliver high speed and low latency capabilities of 5G to our
current and future customers. Together, the mmWave spectrum
we acquired provides at least 300MHz of spectrum in markets
that serve 97% of our customer base. We expect to begin [the]
commercial launch of 5G services in 2020.’ As previously reported
by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, US Cellular paid USD256.0
million for a combination of 28GHz and 24GHz mmWave licenses
in Auction 101 (28GHz) and Auction 102 (24GHz). Despite the

Verizon Seeks FCC Permission for 3.5GHz Trial

US mobile giant Verizon Wireless has application – discovered by Light Reading 3.5GHz CBRS band comprises spectrum
applied to the Federal Communications – covers the period between 8 August 2019 in the 3550MHz-3700MHz range and
Commission (FCC) for a Special Temporary and 31 January 2020. If approved, the trial has been earmarked for future 5G use.
Authority (STA) which will allow it to stage will take place in Methuen, Massachusetts However, FCC officials have indicated that
TD-LTE trials using the 3.5GHz Citizens and utilize 3650MHz-3700MHz an auction is unlikely to take place before
Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band. The frequencies. TeleGeography notes that the Q2 2020 at the earliest.

85 AUGUST 2019