Revisiting Mobile World Congress

12 December 2017

As we approach another year of the largest mobile industry event, it’s probably a good time to provide you with a recap on what we showed you at the last Mobile World Congress.

Dual Connectivity with a leading Operator
At the beginning of the year we partnered with China Mobile to trial an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) Dual Connectivity system for 4G and 5G networks. Data throughput and capacity can be improved across a network, by utilising radio resources from multiple mobile cells simultaneously. Using our TM500 network testing solution, we were able to demonstrate a real-time working dual connectivity system, showing how dual/multi connectivity can be achieved to test a live network environment. As we approach the release of the new 5G NR Non-standalone specifications, dual and multi connectivity will play an important role in the successful implementation of early 5G networks, supported by 4G.

Industry’s first software-defined 5G user equipment simulator
Cobham Wireless has always been at the forefront of technological advancements due to our continued investment in R&D and partnerships with leading 5G research organisations. MWC 2017 was proof this as we showcased the industry’s first software-defined 5G user equipment simulator, based on Verizon’s open 5G standard, which can test downlink throughput of 10Gbps. Virtualising the solution provides operators with the flexibility to test technology and share hardware, software and licenses via the cloud.

1 million connected ‘things’
Gartner has predicted that there will be 50 billion connected things by 2020, and mobile operators are feeling the pressure to ensure their networks can cope. In Barcelona we delivered an IoT proof-of-concept solution, which was able to emulate up to one million 5G IoT devices per Km2, validating network performance in preparation for IoT connectivity. This method of realistic traffic profile testing will ensure Service Provider’s networks can support the scale, density and complexity of 5G’s massive IoT demands.

Capacity Centric Coverage
Our society is growing ever more connected and there is a great expectation to use our devices and smartphones and enjoy a high quality of service wherever we are. At MWC we demonstrated the benefits Operator and Neutral Hosts could reap by deploying idDAS in a C-RAN architecture. All base station equipment can be collated in a central location and managed virtually. This removes the complexity and cost of multiple operating and control sites for each area that needs coverage. Network resources can then be distributed over one fibre link to a location and cascaded to different sectors of a building or even across a city. The digital platform is a scalable, cost- and energy-efficient system allowing Operators and Neutral Host providers to coverage and capacity to more areas, creating a higher quality of service to subscribers.

2018…
The theme of Mobile World Congress 2018 is Mobile is creating a better future. The conference will address key topics such as the evolution to 5G and next-generation networks, consumer IoT, digital content and entertainment, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, privacy and security, and sustainable development, among many others. We’re proud to be a part of an event that will showcase how the foundation of today’s technology world is creating a better future.

Keep up to date on our presence at Mobile World Congress by visiting our dedicated MWC webpage.

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