Ericsson and SoftBank have announced the next phase of their 5G trials at 28 GHz, following successful basic 5G tests at 4.5 GHz and 15 GHz in Tokyo.
Launched in August 2016, the comprehensive 5G program initially tested base stations and user equipment using control signal feedback over mid-band spectrum at 4.5 GHz, a frequency now considered a leading candidate for 5G services in Japan.
The forthcoming tests will take place in both indoor and outdoor environments and will include trials with moving devices as well as stationary scenarios. These evaluations will use Ericsson’s 28 GHz mmWave 5G Test Bed solution, which comprises base stations and prototype devices. The trials will demonstrate a range of advanced 5G capabilities—such as Massive MIMO, extensive beamforming, distributed MIMO, multi-user MIMO and beam tracking—alongside multi-gigabit data rates and ultra-low latency. These technologies are central to meeting the performance demands of future consumer mobile broadband and industrial applications.
Hideyuki Tsukuda, senior vice president at SoftBank, commented: “SoftBank began validating 4.5 GHz radio in August 2016, and 4.5 GHz has emerged as a leading candidate for 5G services in Japan alongside 28 GHz. By leveraging Ericsson’s 28 GHz Test Bed, we can validate many advanced features at very low latency and high throughput, reinforcing our position as a 5G pioneer.”
Picture credit: Ericsson