Page 121 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Ericsson Makes 5G Data Call Using Dynamic Spectrum Sharing

Ericsson says it made the world’s first 5G data call using dynamic band. I haven’t heard that yet as a declared strategy for a Verizon.”
spectrum sharing. The call was made on a 3GPP Frequency Ookla analyst Milan Milanovic told FierceWireless that Verizon
Division Duplex (FDD) low band using commercial hardware and owns spectrum in band 2 in the 1900 MHz range, band 4 in the
Ericsson Radio System software. The data call was set up in August 2100 MHz range, band 5 in the 850 MHz range, and band 13 in
at Ericsson’s lab in Ottawa, Canada using an Ericsson macro radio the 700 MHz range. “My assumption would be that they [Verizon]
that supported both 4G and 5G. The call was made between a will use band 2, which is deployed everywhere and the AWS band
5G mobile test device powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4,” said Milanovic. “I think that’s the most likely they’ll use. But,
X55 5G Modem-RF System and a commercial LTE smartphone. we’re just guessing. This is a good strategy to compete on 5G
The LTE smartphone and the 5G testing device data call sections coverage. I think most operators would do the same thing without
were running simultaneously on the same FDD spectrum. This greenfield FDD spectrum.” In addition to deploying New Radio
is innovative because in the past, new generation radio access equipment in its existing LTE spectrum, Verizon will also need
technologies were deployed on separate spectrum blocks. This 5G-capable user equipment. Although Ericsson used Qualcomm’s
required operators to buy new spectrum or re-farm their existing Snapdragon X55 5G Modem for its 5G data call, Milanovic said
spectrum. Spectrum re-farming is a slow process that could take current commercial devices sold by Verizon are powered by the
as long as 10 years to complete. With dynamic spectrum sharing Snapdragon X50 modem. Durga Malladi, Qualcomm’s general
(DSS), operators can introduce 5G immediately in the same band manager for 4G/5G, said in a statement today, “With DSS support
as 4G. The technology dynamically allocates spectrum resources included in our comprehensive Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF
between 4G and 5G based on user demand. Ericsson says its DSS System architecture, and we’re looking forward to helping fast-
is based on proprietary scheduler algorithms that enable optimal track the mobile industry to nationwide coverage during the
performance as the mix of 4G and 5G devices in the network second phase of 5G commercialization next year.”
changes over time. Verizon’s CEO Hans Vestberg has repeatedly
said that the carrier plans to use Ericsson’s DSS as an integral
part of its 5G strategy. However, Ericsson’s DSS technology only
works on its New Radio equipment deployed in the same spectrum
currently being used for LTE. And, Verizon has not divulged
whether it is deploying Ericsson NR equipment in any of its LTE
spectrum. When talking about 5G, Verizon mainly talks about its
mmWave deployments in high frequency spectrum that has never
been used for LTE. On an earnings call with investors earlier this
year, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said, “To get to dynamic spectrum
sharing, you’ll deploy New Radio. So, I am yet to hear anybody in
Verizon declare that they are deploying New Radio in low-band
or mid-band. And, if you want to use DSS, you are effectively
committing in the same breath to rolling out 5G in mid- and low

MegaFon Gets Ready for 5G with Microwave Transport

One of Russia’s largest operators, Frederic Vanoosthuyze, Chief Technology density of radio interfaces (up to 15 radio
MegaFon, has chosen Ericsson to develop and IT Officer (CTIO) at MegaFon, says: directions in three radio units), system
a new nationwide transport network. “MegaFon pays great attention to the gain enabling higher capacities, and longer
As part of the three-year contract, the implementation of the most promising hops or small antennas. MINI-LINK 6000
partners say Ericsson will supply mobile technical solutions and the readiness of all also supports modulations up to 16k
transport solutions based on its MINI- elements of the company’s infrastructure quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM),
LINK platform to offer high capacity, to launch a new standard of mobile large buffer sizes (up to 720MB) and up
efficient use of spectrum, low-energy communication, setting the direction of to 112MHz channels. MINI-LINK 6000 is
consumption and simplified operations development in the industry. “The transport used together with MINI-LINK 6363, which
and maintenance. According to Ericsson’s network is one of the key elements that Ericsson claims is the world’s smallest
Microwave Outlook Report 2018, 40% of determine the level of service for our high-power radio, available in bands from
global backhaul connections are expected customers, where we constantly test and 6 to 80GHz. Other features of MINI-LINK
to be based on microwave by 2023. Russia pilot innovative technologies, together 6352 for E-Band (70/80 GHz) include
covers 17,098,246 km2 (excluding the with partners like Ericsson.” Ericsson 10Gbps capacity in a single carrier as well
Crimea) and spans has nine time zones, said key features of the MINI-LINK 6000 as multiple 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.
with a population of almost 147 million. portfolio for 6-38GHz include a high

121 SEPTEMBER 2019