5G call connects continents

Dynamic spectrum sharing was used to test a trans-global data call across commercial 5G networks.

Ericsson announced the reaching of the next milestone of its Spectrum Sharing technology journey in early December, having added a 5G OPPO smartphone to its 5G ecosystem and testing it via a trans-global 5G data call across live commercial 5G networks, including that of Telstra.

The 29 November data call connected Bern, Switzerland, with Australia’s Gold Coast, with Ericsson’s Spectrum Sharing deployed in Swisscom and Telstra’s commercial 5G networks.

The data call was made using spectrum sharing on a 3GPP FDD band and employed pre-commercial release OPPO 5G smartphones powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System.

According to Ericsson, OPPO is the first 5G device manufacturer using Ericsson’s Spectrum Sharing in its smartphones.

Spectrum Sharing, part of the Ericsson Radio System, is a dynamic spectrum sharing solution based on the 3GPP standard with additional intelligent scheduler algorithms. It enables the deployment of both 4G and 5G in the same band through a software upgrade, and dynamically allocates spectrum based on user demand.

The switch between 4G and 5G carriers happens within milliseconds, minimising spectrum wastage and enabling best possible user performance.

According to Ericsson, the development “will enable service providers to quickly launch 5G services over a wide area and successively expand 5G coverage in a tailored way by re-using existing network infrastructure and taking advantage of previous spectrum investments”.

“With this milestone achieved with our 5G ecosystem partners OPPO, Qualcomm Technologies and customers Swisscom and Telstra, we’ve shown that our unique solution will not only enable service providers to re-use their 4G spectrum assets for 5G but that it will also support all 5G devices,” said Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks Ericsson.

“It is the most economically feasible way to launch 5G on existing bands, enabling nationwide 5G coverage and helping make 5G accessible around the world.”

Channa Seneviratne, Network and Engineering Infrastructure Executive, Telstra, said, “This latest collaboration of industry partners is paving the way for the faster rollout of 5G by using existing spectrum holdings to serve the needs of 4G and 5G customers in the same location at the same time.

“This collective implementation is yet another innovative example of how 5G technology continues to advance in a rapid fashion, and at Telstra we are pleased to bring that latest technology to Australians first,” he added.

Telstra, with Ericsson as a key network partner, went live with 5G commercial services and four 5G devices in May 2019 on the 3.6 GHz band. Telstra now offers six 5G devices and has some 5G sites in 25 metro and regional cities around Australia, with another 10 cities to be added by 30 June 2020.

“We are very excited to reach yet another 5G milestone with our partners,” said Christoph Aeschlimann, Member of the Executive Board and Head of IT, Network & Infrastructure, Swisscom.

“The first international end-to-end Ericsson Dynamic Spectrum Sharing call is the next step in our 5G journey. It was only possible with a well-experienced team of provider, vendor, chipset and handset maker with a proven 5G track record.”

Swisscom, with Ericsson as its sole 5G vendor, was the first communications service provider in Europe to launch commercial 5G services in April 2019 on the 3.6 GHz band. Swisscom is targeting 90% population coverage by the end of 2019.

Pictured: OPPO devices used to make a 5G data call between Switzerland and Australia. Courtesy Ericsson.