According to Huawei, the test covered a single-user multiple input multiple output (SU-MIMO) with a strong reflection path to reach 20Gbps user equipment (UE) peak rate, and multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) for long-range UE to reach 10Gbps peak rate. According to Huawei spokesperson, this is the first time in the world that the 5G outdoor field test using e-band to reach 20Gbps peak rate for a single user device has been done. Huawei believes that the successful testing of 5G e-band now opens new ways for applications like Virtual Reality (VR), Pokemon Go type Augmented Reality (AR) and smartcars. It will also free up precious spectrum particularly due to soaring mobile broadband communications traffic. “The joint trial of 5G mmWave connectivity in a real world radio propagation environment and co-existence of different radio links is encouraging. I highly value the cooperation with Vodafone, and believe we will achieve more progress in 5G, together with Vodafone and other industry partners.” Huawei added that the test will contribute to the study of spectrum above 6GHZ for 5G mobile broadband. “This field test in an outdoor environment is a significant step in validating the performance of 5G in high-frequency bands, improving our understanding of the capabilities of the technology,” said Vodafone Group CTO Johan Wibergh. In other news across Atlantic, FCC approved 5G in the United States. Recode reported that the FCC announced its “Spectrum Frontiers” plan to make 3.85 GHz of licensed and 7 GHz of unlicensed spectrum available for 5G in the 28, 37 and 39 GHz millimeter wave bands. There’s a provision for even more spectrum to be released down the line. The White House separately announced theAdvanced Wireless Research Initiative, a plan to spend up to $400 million over the next seven years to research and develop next-generation wireless technologies. Going by these developments, we should be surfing at 5G speeds by same time next year.
