Six mobile technology manufacturers including Samsung, Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent are currently conducting experimental trials of 5G mobile broadband in Japan.
The tests are being conducted in collaboration with DOCOMO, a personalised mobile solutions provider, across a wide range of 5G mobile technologies.
Alongside the aforementioned mobile giants, six companies in total are working with DOCOMO on the tests – Ericsson, Fujitsu and NEC make up the list.
The trials involve testing frequency bands above 6GHz and realising very high system capacity per unit area, and new radio technologies to support diverse types of applications including machine-to-machine (M2M) services.
5G is the next-generation in mobile broadband technology, the current generation (4G LTE) is at present being rolled out in the UK. Commercially speaking, it is believed that 5G should begin rolling out in 2020.
The new technology is expected to enable ultra-high-speed data transmissions at more than 10Gbps, that’s 1,000-fold the capacity of existing LTE networks.
DOCOMO will begin indoor trials at the DOCOMO R&D Center in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture this year, to be followed by outdoor field trials planned for next year.
Key findings from the tests will be shared with research institutes and at international conferences to contribute to 5G standardisation, which is expected to start from 2016.
DOCOMO started studies on 5G requirements, concept and technologies as early as 2010.
“Expanding our cooperation with DOCOMO on 5G radio technology is an important step towards defining future mobile networks,” said Hossein Moiin, Chief Technology Officer, Networks business at Nokia.
“Future wireless networks will interconnect not just humans but also machines and objects, creating a vibrant overlay of virtual and physical worlds with a huge variety of use cases,” he added.
“As part of our ongoing efforts in the standardisation and commercialisation of 5G mobile communications, we are very excited to collaborate with DOCOMO and expect to see considerable synergy in the partnership,” said ChangYeong Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics.
