The increasingly crowded 5G research space has had yet another entrant with some of Europe’s biggest operator and vendor players developing multiservice network architecture.
The 5G NORMA project is part of the 5GPPP initiative and aims to define the radio and core networks operators will need.
In total, 13 companies are involved, including Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Telefónica on the operator side, and Alcatel-Lucent, NEC, Nokia Networks and ATOS from the vendor community.
5G NORMA, which stands for 5G novel radio multiservice adaptive network architecture, begins imminently and will last 30 months.
It will work on shifting the use of both core and radio network resources to service requirements, variable traffic demands, and fronthaul and backhaul capacity.
The project will aim to dynamically allocate network functions, with could lead to access and core functions being brought together thanks to software defined networking.
NORMA will also look to determine the value of 5G to the mobile industry and wider society, across consumers, enterprises and the public sector.
It will look to focus on the commercialisation of 5G technology through partnerships and start-ups.
Dr Werner Mohr, Chairman of the 5GPPP Association, said: “5G is not only about new radio access technology, network architecture will play an important role as well. 5G networks will have to be programmable, software driven and managed holistically to enable a diverse range of services in a profitable way.
“With 5G NORMA, the consortium aims to ensure economic sustainability of the network operation and open opportunities for new players, while leveraging a future-proof architecture in a cost- and energy-effective way.”
An increasing number of 5G projects, test labs and demonstrations have already been launched, with three announced last week alone. Nokia and SK Telecom announced a new research centre at the vendor’s Korean offices.
Ericsson said it would build 5G network components with an Italian university.
Finally, Proximus and Huawei signed a 5G Memorandum of Understanding to explore 5G.