Survey Results Preferred 5G Options of UK Network Providers for up-grading the 5G IC Test Bed based on the value to their 2020 road maps Prof Stephen Temple CBE Technical Secretary to SAB (5G IC)
What makes for a successful mobile revolution? Pre Operational & Operational Deployments from 2020 Basic Ingredients NEW TECHNOLOGIES GLOBAL STANDARD LAUNCH DATE Good Coupling (3G PP) TEST BED TRIALS Poor Coupling
5G is stretching out the capacity v coverage choice with spectrum choice dictating 5G network outcomes CAPACITY 60 GHz Note: Curve purely illustrative >10 Gb/s 24 33 GHz 5 GHz 3.4 3.8 GHz 2.1 GHz 900 700 MHz >99.9% COVERAGE
Coupling spectrum opportunities with technology opportunities creates the 5G network choices CAPACITY >10 Gb/s 60 GHz 24 33 GHz 5 GHz Band Outcome 700 Reliable Coverage LTE +20dB 900 NB IoT 3G PP 2.1 GHz Not defined 3.6 GHz Urban Gb/s mobile 3G PP 5 GHz WiFi IEEE 33 GHz 10 s Gb/s nomadic 3G PP 60 GHz WiGig IEEE 3.4 3.8 GHz 2.1 GHz 900 700 MHz >99.9% COVERAGE
Q. Rank the top three 5G network options for up-grading the 5G IC Test Bed in order of preference that would appear most valuable to your company based on what you see as the commercial challenges likely to be facing your company in the market in 2020... See Annex for detailed descriptions used in survey All UK Fixed & Mobile Network Providers A 700 Reliable coverage 5G underlay B 900 NB IoT national coverage C 2.1 GHz Not specified D 3.6 GHz Urban Gb/s on the move E 5 GHz Higher capacity WiFi F 24 or 33 GHz 10 s Gb/s nomadic G 60 GHz WiGig short range links UK Operator 1 st Preference 2 nd Preference 3 rd Preference NP1 D A B NP2 D A F NP3 G D F NP4 D F G NP5 D E F
APPENDIX Description of infrastructure Options used in the Survey
A. 700 MHz Excellent national coverage prospects and good indoor penetration but only moderate data speeds and capacity possible. Connected car The many IoT verticals needing national coverage Video in moderation Universal control plane or 5G connectivity underlay LTE with radical re-engineering of radio link (to put extra 20 db in link-budget) for reach, reliability & resilience to provide the connectivity underlay for 5G
B. 900 MHz Very high reliability and very good national coverage possible but with only very low data speeds and capacity possible.. Connected car Many IoT verticals needing national coverage Fast deployment The NB-IoT concept is MNO s able to fit a new 5G narrow band technology into a single ex-gsm 200 khz RF channel.
C. 2.1 GHz (Re-farmed 3G) 10-20 MHz FDD per MNO plus passive infrastructure in place for near national coverage No plans Spectrum opportunity that nobody is coupling with new technology opportunity.
D. 3.4-3.6 GHz or 3.6 3.8 GHz Very high density of small cells providing 1-3 Gb/s data speeds with semi-contiguous coverage over dense urban areas Gb/s on the move Connected urban transport Smart Cities Security Strong video/games mobile access network Critical issue is access to wide RF channels (>100 MHz) for 5G to perform better than LTE (and WiFi). Note: This could extend interest to up to 4.2 GHz to test even wider RF channels)
E. 5 GHz Private indoor connectivity plus Public densification of high data speed WiFi cells Improved capacity of WiFi public access points WiFi at 5 GHz offers an alternative to 3.4 GHz 5G small cells but greater limitations eg less favourable propagation and a lack of control of QoS that comes with unlicensed spectrum
F. 24 or 33 GHz Enormous data rates of up to 10 Gb/s but line of site limitations - coverage small hot spots or hot zones. Good as venue infrastructure eg football stadiums and other zones of high footfall Good for apps needing very low latency eg factory automation Wireless Local loop with external antennas Very strong global research push. RF channels widths greater than 500 MHz needed.
G. 60 GHz Private indoor connectivity plus Public densification of short range line-of-sight high data speed WiFi cells or links Public and private Wifi with data rates of up to 4.6 Gb/s but much reduced coverage and range than lower bands WiFi Short radio links (backhaul?) WiGig at 60 GHz may compete with the mmwave 5G