Ericsson and Qualcomm announced they completed a standards-based 5G NR lab data call on the 28 GHz band, a move the Swedish telecom equipment giant bills as further proof of 5G’s commercial readiness.
The 3GPP-standard-based over-the-air downlink data call was performed at Ericsson’s Lab in Kista, Sweden, in September using Ericsson’s commercial 5G NR radio AIR5121 and baseband products, along with a smartphone form factor device with Qualcomm’s snapdragon X50 5G modem.
Earlier this month, the pair successfully completed a 3GPP-compliant 5G data call on the 39 GHz millimeter wave band.
Ericsson has also completed interoperability tests on the 3.5 GHz mid-band with Telstra and Intel. The vendor says that access to new high-frequency bands is an important component to providing ultra-high speeds and low latencies.
“By adding 28 GHz to the list of spectrum bands supported and tested by our equipment for initial 5G launches, we make it easier for our customers to roll out early 5G services to their users,” says Thomas Noren, head of 5G Commercialization at Ericsson, in a statement. “This is made possible by our collaborative efforts with key partners to build a solid 5G ecosystem.”
In the U.S. carriers are preparing to launch 5G services beginning later this year. Verizon’s fixed wireless 5G in-home broadband is going live in four markets next Monday, while AT&T is preparing to use its 28 GHz mmWave spectrum to launch mobile 5G in 12 markets by the end of the year.
In September, Ericsson signed a multi-year $3.5 billion contract to provide T-Mobile with standard-compliant 5G NR hardware and software for the carrier’s nationwide 5G deployment. T-Mobile plans to start deploying mobile 5G in 2019.
