Ericsson has launched a range of “5G plug-ins” to help operators launch the likes of driverless buses and fibre-quality wireless ahead of the launch of next generation network.
The software-based plug-ins can be used on existing LTE networks and include massive-MIMO, which improves user experience, capacity and coverage, multi-user MIMO, which builds upon massive MIMO’s features and reduces interference, RAN virtualisation, which allows virtual network functions to be run from a common platform, intelligent connectivity, which routes data according to application needs and resources, and latency reduction.
Trials will begin later this year ahead of its launch in 2017.
Peter Jarich, Vice President, Consumer and Infrastructure Services, Current Analysis, said: “5G has gained undeniable momentum over the last year. Yet, without spectrum allocations or ratified standards, operators need a migration tactic allowing them to leverage current network investments in synch with their 5G evolution strategies. Ericsson’s 5G Plug-Ins deliver this flexibility, supporting the deployment of advanced access technologies in the near-term, and in preparation for 5G.”
Ericsson has been one of the most active vendors within 5G research. Earlier this week, it announced it was adding a new proof of concept ward and incubator space to its 5G centre in Aachen, Germany. It also launched a trial of network slicing, one of the key 5G technologies, with NTT DOCOMO.
Arun Bansal, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Radio, Ericsson, said: “5G will be driven by new use cases requiring higher performance – from connected cars with perfect driving records, to immersive augmented reality for remote surgery, to multi-K movies on mobile devices. 5G will unlock new consumer and industrial applications, and with our 5G field trial plans already well underway, we are now introducing Ericsson 5G Plug-Ins, which enable the evolutionary steps that operators need to take as they develop networks to secure their 5G future.”