SK Telecom plans to conduct interoperability testing and over-the-air field trials based on 5G New Radio (NR) standards.
The trials in association with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies – will drive the mobile ecosystem toward validation and commercialization of 5G NR technologies. The interoperability testing will launch in Korea starting in the second half of 2017.
SK Telecom aims to launch 5G mobile network based on 3GPP Rel-15 standard compliant 5G NR infrastructure and devices.
During the trials, SK Telecom, Ericsson and Qualcomm will showcase new 5G NR technologies that utilize wide bandwidths available at higher frequency bands to increase network capacity and achieve multi-gigabit per second data rates.
The proliferation of 5G NR technology will enable telecom operators to offer cost-effective gigabit Internet service to more homes and businesses. Broadband customers are looking for improving their Internet experience and use virtual reality, augmented reality and connected cloud services with better connectivity.
The trials will employ 3GPP 5G NR Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna technology with adaptive beamforming and beam tracking techniques to deliver sustained mobile broadband communications at higher frequency bands, including non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments and device mobility.
The 5G trial will utilize OFDM-based waveforms and a new flexible framework design that are also part of the 5G NR specifications.
Alex Jinsung Choi, chief technology officer of SK Telecom, said: “As 3GPP NR is a 5G standard, we are delighted to announce early 3GPP NR trials with leading 5G players, Ericsson and Qualcomm.”
Ulf Ewaldsson, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Ericsson and Matt Grob, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Qualcomm Technologies, are driving the 5G trials for their telecom operator clients.
