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Mobile network operator Vodafone recently hooked up with semiconductor (CPU etc.) firm MediaTek to test the combination of their 5G Standalone (5G SA) based mobile broadband network with the latest M90 modem. The solution proved able to deliver 5G uplink speeds of up to 277Mbps at their test facility in Madrid (Spain).
The majority of 5G mobile networks today are still Non-Standalone (NSA), which means they are partly reliant upon older and slower 4G infrastructure. But SA networks are pure end-to-end 5G that can deliver ultra-low latency times, greater energy efficiency, better speeds (particularly uploads), network slicing, improved support for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Voice over New Radio (VoNR or Vo5G) and increased reliability and security etc.
Vodafone is deploying their new 5G SA network across a number of countries in Europe, including the United Kingdom, but to make the most of this requires network hardware and end-user devices able to access the full potential. This is where the new modem from MediaTek could help, although they’re not the only such chipset in town.
While approximately 90% of mobile traffic traditionally utilises the downlink channel from mobile masts to users’ smartphones, there is still a growing need for good upload speeds too (e.g. remote play, cloud services / gaming, businesses etc.). On this front, the new MediaTek processor theoretically claims it can deliver download speeds of up to 12Gbps (Gigabits per second) and boosts uplink performance by up to 20% based on the latest 5G specification (Release 17 – developed by 3GPP).
The test itself also boosted the 5G uplink connection by using carrier aggregation to combine several spectrum channels (bands), which increased the capacity and speed of the connection up to 277Mbps. But some key details remain unclear, such as exactly what bands were used, over what distance and how much spectrum frequency this involved etc.
Vodafone and MediaTek also used MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennas to transmit two data streams simultaneously from a single smartphone to the nearest mast, as well as tested it with the two key mobile data transmission methods – Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). “This is like adding extra 5G lanes to an existing mast. TDD is used to provide capacity at high frequency bands and is used in urban areas, and FDD is used on lower frequency bands to provide wider coverage,” said Vodafone.
HC Hwang, General Manager of Wireless Comms System at MediaTek, said:
“Enhancing uplink performance using groundbreaking technology will ensure next generation 5G experiences continue to support users globally.”
However, one key caveat here is that commercial smartphones do not yet support this feature (as they need uplink MIMO in FDD), but Vodafone and MediaTek said they aim to drive the development of compatible devices for the benefit of smartphone users everywhere.