Category Archives: 5G

5G, Midlands, Midlands News, Technology, Telecoms, Telecoms News

West Midlands wins 5G Innovation Regions competition to Level Up region and accelerate growth New Emails for Today

Today the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has won £4m to accelerate the adoption of 5G technology across the two of the region’s most important clusters – manufacturing and smart communities (which includes social care & social housing) – to boost productivity, wellness and jobs.

The funding has been won with through a joint bid from WM5G (West Midlands 5G), JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) and the WMCA’s Local Authority partners into the Government’s 5G Innovation Regions competition which is making £40m available for selected regions to accelerate the transformative benefits that advanced connectivity and digital technologies can provide.

Advanced manufacturing and smart communities are two key clusters identified in the West Midlands Plan for Growth which was launched last year to help re-ignite the regional economy and recapture its pre-Covid success. Accelerating the adoption of so-called Industry 4.0 technologies, including 5G and data/AI, in these clusters has the potential create skilled jobs, boost productivity, transform wellness, and help reduce social inequalities. However, digital adoption still remains low, reflecting underlying skills and cost of living issues combined with awareness, proposition, funding, and delivery barriers.

By becoming a 5G Innovation Region, the West Midlands will overcome these barriers by scaling proven use cases through the UK’s first adoption hubs in operational manufacturing and social housing facilities and then support many other organisations to benefit through adoption programmes.

Minister of Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale said:  “We’re channeling millions into local areas to unlock the potential of cutting-edge 5G wireless and digital technologies which will reshape our public services, drive economic growth and boost innovation. This new fund will give local areas from across the country the opportunity to be at the forefront of Britain’s world-leading 5G revolution.

“For instance, by using 5G for farming and creating science parks, we’re not just helping local communities, but also encouraging new ideas all over the UK. This is more than just linking smartphones. It’s about using powerful digital connections to transform various sectors in the economy and the public sector throughout the entire country.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “5G has the power to transform public services and grow our economy – making our workplaces more productive and creating high quality new jobs.

“Accelerating digital adoption is at the heart of our regional strategy to drive prosperity as we continue to bounce back from the impact of the pandemic. We’ve already made a strong start – investing in digital skills bootcamps, launching the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator, and achieving the best 5G coverage of any Combined Authority region.

“But there’s still more we can do to quicken the pace of adoption. That’s why winning £4m in funding and becoming a leading 5G Innovation Region is so important for the West Midlands. Close collaboration with industry leaders and our local authorities will enable us to best serve communities, businesses and public services – opening up new opportunities for local people right across our region in the months and years ahead.”

Steve Prendergast, Digital Operations Director at JLR said: “5G availability in our manufacturing facilities in the Midlands is essential to JLR’s digital transformation as we enhance the performance of our industrial footprint. As we gear up to the production of our next generation electric vehicles and their new platforms, the adoption of advanced wireless technologies will improve the scalability, flexibility and resilience of our manufacturing sites.

Cllr Saima Suleman, Cabinet Member for Digital, Culture, Heritage and Tourism for Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham City Council is transforming the way it delivers its services using digital and smart technologies to ensure our residents receive the opportunities and services they deserve. This opportunity will build on the exciting digital transformation activities in our Housing and Adult Social Care services. We look forward to working in partnership through 5GIR to accelerate the benefits from scaled adoption of these technologies for our residents, staff and partners.”

Cllr Duggins, Leader of Coventry City Council, said: “5G-powered technologies have the potential to deliver more efficient public services, new opportunities for residents and businesses, and provide a boost for economic growth. Working together as a region means that we are best placed to collectively make the most of the opportunities this represents.”

City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Simkins, said: “Wolverhampton is a Gigabit and Smart City with futureproofed digital infrastructure including full fibre broadband and 5G utilised to transform delivery of services and develop new applications to unlock its potential. We know how critical digital adoption is for our residents and organisations and we are delighted to be part of this innovative programme that will help bring further benefits to our city and region.”

5G, News, Telecoms

Mobile users slow to upgrade to 5G due to their perception of network quality

Major study of 10,850 mobile customers across Europe says Telco operators need to do more to educate consumers on the benefits of 5G

Although almost three quarters (74%) of mobile customers in the UK are satisfied with their mobile network, one of the highest in Europe, less than a third (31%) are using 5G on their smartphone – despite over half of users (52%) with 5G access reporting a discernible improvement in performance compared to 4G.

The study of 10,850 mobile users across eight European countries by management and technology consultancy, BearingPoint, including 2,608 in the UK, found that whilst mobile network satisfaction levels are high in the Netherlands (85%), Sweden (73%), Ireland (76%), UK (74%), and France (73%) – Germany, Switzerland and Austria (all DACH countries) view their network performance very poorly – with only 13% of German customers satisfied with their mobile network.

Across Europe, whilst 84% of customers surveyed by BearingPoint for its Connectivity Challenge Study were aware of 5G, they do not truly understand its potential benefits and are concerned about network quality. As such, the study says that more needs to be done by the operators in educating consumers on the benefits of 5G and creating compelling services.

 

John Ward, UK CME Director, BearingPoint said:

“Awareness in the UK and across Europe is still low to the fact that 5G offers higher network bandwidth, better latency and higher reliability, and also provides the network technology with the highest data security and the best energy efficiency among the mobile access technologies.

 “There is also a clear divide between the DACH region and the rest of Europe. While most European countries outside the DACH region are largely satisfied with their mobile network (averaging 75%), the opposite is true for the DACH region, and this trend is mirrored when it comes to customer satisfaction with their fixed broadband connection. With massive investments in networks across Europe, this seems to be rather a matter of perception than actual quality.”

 

The study concludes that operators must also adapt their market positioning to respond to the customer perceptions, and there are five interconnected points that they need to act on:

 

  1. Customers expect robust network connectivity – 5G has an important role to play in improving network quality and user experience. More than 4 out of 5 respondents in the UK are aware of 5G, but less than 1 in 3 claim to use 5G on their smartphone.

 

  1. To drive improved satisfaction, operators need to continue to enhance the perception around network quality. 54% of European respondents overall (74% in the UK) are satisfied with their mobile network performance. This needs to be communicated more widely by operators.

 

  1. The benefits of new technological advances need to be communicated effectively to customers – 5G is no exception. Despite 5G having been launched four years ago, a significant portion of users do not understand its potential benefits.

 

  1. There is a “new network technologies” price premium, but network operators must change their approach to capitalise on it. In particular, the survey showed that 40% of users across the eight countries surveyed are willing to pay a premium to use 5G to consume high quality video content.

 

  1. Network sustainability is important to customers, but it is not yet a key driver for monetisation. It is important to 53% of all respondents that providers focus on sustainable networks, but only 25% of people surveyed are willing to change their usage habits to become more sustainable.

 

John Ward added:

“Our survey shows that network sustainability is becoming a critical factor for the choice of consumers. Over half of respondents consider it to be important for providers to focus on creating sustainable networks. But while customers would prefer an environmentally friendly provider, they are not willing to pay a premium to access sustainable networks.

 From a UK mobile network operator perspective our study should allow for cautious optimism, with three quarters of consumers satisfied with their mobile network coverage, and while there is still room for improvement, the UK performed much better than many of its European counterparts. The study also highlights willingness to pay a premium for 5G high quality streaming services, which should be a positive message for network operators.”

—

About the study

For the study, BearingPoint analysed 10,850 customers (2,608 in the UK) to assess their adoption of 5G and satisfaction with 5G, how they perceive mobile versus fixed networks and how they will use them in the future, and their views on network sustainability. The survey respondents, all aged 18 and over, were from Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. The participants represent the average demographics of each country’s 18 and older population. The survey was undertaken by YouGov between 16th – 26th January 2023.

Download the study to find out more: https://www.bearingpoint.com/en-gb/insights-events/insights/the-connectivity-challenge/

 

About BearingPoint

BearingPoint is an independent management and technology consultancy with European roots and a global reach. The company operates in three business units: Consulting, Products, and Capital. Consulting covers the advisory business with a clear focus on selected business areas. Products provides IP-driven digital assets and managed services for business-critical processes. Capital delivers M&A and transaction services.

BearingPoint’s clients include many of the world’s leading companies and organizations. The firm has a global consulting network with more than 10,000 people and supports clients in over 70 countries, engaging with them to achieve measurable and sustainable success.

For more information, please visit:

Homepage: www.bearingpoint.com

5G, Tech, Telecoms, Telecoms News, West Midlands News

WM5G evolves as a commercial entity having successfully established West Midlands as UK’s best connected 5G region and delivered over £200m of benefits

West Midlands 5G Limited (WM5G) – the UK’s largest 5G innovation company – has exceeded its targets in successfully establishing the West Midlands and the UK’s best connected region for 5G and proven the opportunity for 5G to transform healthcare, transport and manufacturing – evidencing over £200m in benefits.

WM5G was established by the WMCA and DCMS in 2019 with a mission to accelerate 5G rollout – recognising the upfront costs and challenges – and to test and prove transformational innovations using 5G – over a three year horizon to March 2022.

As a result of WM5G’s work the WMCA region is now the UK’s best connected region for 5G and thanks to WM5G’s pioneering barrier busting work in partnership with mobile operators, Local Authorities and DCMS. Prior to WM5G’s work it could take up to 3 years to get access to update a mobile site thanks in part to recent changes to planning legislation and compensation models, and our work saved over £800k across the West Midlands in avoided planning costs.

WM5G has built the UK’s first large scale digital connectivity map – showing the locations which don’t have 4G and 5G coverage and also the hundreds of thousands of public buildings and other assets that could be utilised to offer connectivity. WM5G then worked in partnership with mobile operators and Local Authorities to streamline the processes and compensation models for 5G deployment. As a result of this work operators were able to deploy 5G at least 6 months faster. Consequently the West midlands now has the best 5G coverage of any region with over 22% geographic coverage and over 60% population coverage, according the independent analysts Umlaut.

Furthermore WM5G has proven over £200m GVA in benefits from 5G to transform healthcare, transport and manufacturing – as well as supporting over 500 organisations to understand the benefits of 5G and develop new innovations. By working in partnership with both the public and private sector, WM5G delivered a number of projects with the aim of bringing real and tangible benefits for people and businesses and strengthen the West Midlands’ position as the hub of the UK’s 5G ecosystem and as a global leader in the sector.

In addition WM5G supported the development of a number of UK’s firsts:

  • A 5G road sensor network at over 40 junctions starting to prove the opportunity to reduce road congestion and pollution by >2.5%.
  • 14 transport use case trials  providing transformation opportunities for public transport productivity gains, improvements to public safety and customer experience, and projects in both road and rail infrastructure in the region.
  • The UK’s first 5G connected ambulance and capsule endoscopy trials (early bowel cancer detection) – proving the opportunity to improve patient care and productivity via 5G
  • The first 5G private network deployed at SME Manufacturer sites with AE Aerospace and the Manufacturing Test Centre – providing opportunity for 3%-5% improvement in productivity and laying the foundation for adoption.
  • The UK’s first 5G application accelerator programme called 5prinG, across three sites (Wolverhampton, Coventry and Birmingham) – working in partnership with O2, Deloitte, Digital Catapult and Wayra. Over 400 organisations have been upskilled on the benefits of 5G via 5prinG and over 60 start-ups to-date developed new 5G products and services responding to local innovation challenges – including cleantech, construction and smart cities.
  • Finally a successful communication programme is engaging 500k citizens, public services and businesses to raise awareness of the benefits of 5G and drive adoption, along with a Youth engagement Programme called 5G in 5 Days.

Now, as a result of these successes, WM5G is evolving as a commercial entity to help citizens, public services and businesses benefits from advanced connectivity, sensors and data/AI. WM5G will continue to do this in the West Midlands and also work with other stakeholders on an arms-length basis – helping the region and other parts of the UK realise transformative benefits from technology.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said:

“Our £20 million investment in WM5G is generating huge value for the West Midlands – boosting the economy by supporting jobs, driving productivity across local industries and levelling up communities.

“The region took centre stage with the Commonwealth Games and I’m thrilled this fantastic project is also putting the West Midlands at the top of the table for 5G connectivity and innovation which will deliver lasting benefits for years to come.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

“WM5G has delivered some astonishing projects that make a material difference to the lives of people here in the West Midlands.  We are now the leading region in terms of 5G connectivity, which is a critical foundation for future growth and the backbone of our future economy and society.

“Thanks to the work of WM5G, the West Midlands region is now a leader in harnessing the power of 5G and the deployment of connectivity technologies particularly in the transport, manufacturing and healthcare sectors, where our region now has a genuine competitive advantage. From monitoring the health of the elderly, to the way our people are linked to the economy of the future, the way companies do business, the way we deliver public services, the experience of travellers on public transport – everything can be made better thanks to the power of this technology.”

Keith Bullock, DCMS Director for 5G Tests & Trials said:

“WM5G has created a nationally replicable model for accelerating 5G rollout in urban areas and pioneered innovative benefits to transform key sectors using 5G. We are delighted that WM5G is evolving to continue to deliver benefits going forwards – in the West Midlands and beyond on a self-funded basis.”

Robert Franks, MD of WM5G, said:

“We’re delighted with the benefits that WM5G has delivered in the West Midlands over the last 3 years. I’d like to thank all of our partners – including the WMCA and DCMS – for their invaluable support. Now we’re extending the benefits we’re delivering in the West Midlands and beyond on a commercial basis. So we’d be delighted to talk to further customers in the West Midlands and beyond about how we can help them get the benefits from connectivity – including 5G.”  

5G, News

Small Cell Forum releases updated 5G FAPI and 5G nFAPI specs, extending the feature sets – including NR positioning and 7.2x FH status awareness

SCF’s 5G FAPI suite specifications continue to evolve to meet industry needs and 3GPP alignment

London, UK, 27 July 2022 – Small Cell Forum (SCF) today announced the release of three updated specifications within the 5G FAPI suite – 5G FAPI PHY API, 5G FAPI: P19 RF and Digital Frontend Control API, and 5G nFAPI.

The specifications are used in millions of the world’s system-on-a-chip (SoC) small cells. FAPI sits at the crucial confluence of L1 hardware and L2 application and can be utilized in a variety of disaggregated RAN architectures (ranging from fully integrated to split-2/6/7.2x).

nFAPI is an interface for supporting a virtualized MAC/PHY split and is pivotal in ensuring interoperability for virtual small cell networks, enabling multivendor C-RAN economics today as well as a smooth evolution path to 5G.

The continual development of the FAPI specifications by SCF, with commitment to regular release updates, ensures the maturity, performance and relevance of the APIs, as well as their alignment with other major industry standards.

New and updated features in SCF222 5G FAPI PHY API:

New features:

  • New radio (NR) positioning (Rel-16)
  • 7.2x FH status awareness

Updated features:

  • Delay Management: added timestamp-free option
  • Shared-memory: streamlined throughout the specification; support for 64-bit pointers
  • Robust error handling: extended status report, P5 timeouts
  • Mixed numerology: updated to account for new features since FAPIv2, clarity and performance.

New and updated features in 5G nFAPI:

  • Continuing alignment with evolution of FAPI specifications
  • Optimizations in nFAPI headers and messages
  • Recommendations for non-ideal fronthaul as nFAPI transport

SCF member companies involved in the development of the upgraded specifications this year were: Qualcomm, Radisys, Picocom, Reliance Jio, BT and Analog Devices.

Andrei Radulescu, FAPI Rapporteur and Senior Staff Engineer, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said: “Small Cell Forum is a key enabler for RAN disaggregation. Multiple splits associated with virtualized open network architectures are made possible by the Forum’s continuing evolution of the FAPI interface, which provides the essential link between the software functions of the MAC and hardware functions of the physical layer.

“FAPI facilitates the further modularization of the network while at the same time enabling the flexibility and economies that come with an open ecosystem. This is why the ongoing maintenance and development of these specifications is so important, as well as their continuing alignment with the 3GPP roadmap and O-RAN interfaces.”

The complete SCF FAPI specifications suite comprises:

  • 5G PHY FAPI, SCF222 v5.0, main data path and PHY mode control
  • P19 RF and Digital Frontend Control API, SCF223 v4.0
  • SON FAPI, SCF224 v1.0, network monitor mode for 2G-5G
  • 5G Network FAPI, SCF225 v3.0, transport wrapper for PHY and RF API.
  • S-RU and S-DU Test Support, SCF228 v1.0, conformance testing for Open6 products
5G, News

Infovista and PCTEL collaborate to co-develop 5G testing use cases

Paris, France – July 19 2022 – Infovista, the global leader in network lifecycle automation (NLA), and PCTEL, a leading global provider of wireless connectivity, today announced a strategic collaboration to co-develop joint 5G network testing use cases for mobile operators and industry regulators.

The joint uses cases will bring together PCTEL 5G scanning receivers and Infovista’s market-leading TEMS software to create differentiated and simplified solutions that address specific customer needs and requirements. The initial set of use cases include 5G C-Band interference monitoring, autonomous testing, beamforming configuration validation, automatic site location detection and automated interference detection, and combine PCTEL’s scanners with Infovista’s AI-powered network testing and assurance software.

One of the first joint solutions sees Infovista and PCTEL combining to deliver automated interference source detection and location. Leveraging Infovista’s NLA cloud platform for automated cross-domain troubleshooting, the solution uses network and service performance data from Infovista Ativa™ and its AI/ML analytics engine to rapidly identify and geo-locate cells affected by interference. With the approximate area of the interference identified, Infovista’s precision drive testing algorithms determine an optimal drive route and diagnostics workflow, and then a tester is dispatched with a PCTEL scanner and guided workflow to quickly find the source of the interference.

Faiq Khan, President of Global Networks, Infovista, said: “Mobile operators and regulators are facing new and specific challenges as 5G spectrum is licensed and networks rolled out. Their complexity requires new approaches to network testing, using the latest in AI, automation and cloud-native technologies to reduce the time and cost of network testing and monitoring while also being more accurate and valuable to the business. The strategic collaboration between Infovista and PCTEL is driven by this customer need, and we’re excited about the future opportunities our combined customer program will unlock.”

Arnt Arvik, Vice President & Chief Sales Officer, PCTEL, said: “Today effective network testing and monitoring requires purpose built scanning receivers to measure hundreds of channels across a broad spectrum including 5GNR and mmWave. Testing needs to be fast and accurate, conducted in multiple environments, and it need to be capable of simultaneously testing multiple technologies and operator networks. We are delighted that our industry leading 5G scanning receivers including our flagship Gflex® will be paired with Infovista’s software solutions. Together we’re bringing the power of two customer-focused teams to co-develop joint 5G testing use cases that solve tangible challenges facing our customers today and in the future.”

PCTEL designs, develops and manufactures industrial-grade products that enable customers to deliver wireless connectivity. PCTEL scanning receivers are precision network testing tools, designed for drive testing, walk testing, troubleshooting, and monitoring of cellular, WiFi, IoT, and critical communications networks worldwide.

Infovista’s TEMS Network Testing Portfolio enables network and services performance quality evaluation, troubleshooting and optimization by measuring and benchmarking end user experience. For Network Operators and Regulators, TEMS delivers the ability to walk test, drive test, and dynamically analyze service performance under real-life conditions — indoors, outdoors, and around the clock. For more on the Infovista TEMS network testing portfolio, please visit https://www.infovista.com/tems

5G, News

Nokia selects Infovista to deliver cloud-based automated drive testing to accelerate roll-out of 5G deployments

Global partnership includes centralized management and automation of critical testing process for new 5G and legacy networks

Paris, France – July 12th, 2022 – Infovista, the global leader in network lifecycle automation (NLA), today announced a global partnership with Nokia to accelerate the rollout and acceptance of 5G network deployments. The partnership will see Infovista deliver its cloud-based, automated testing solutions to support the verification, optimization and benchmarking of new 5G and legacy networks deployed and managed by Nokia.

The complexity of 5G, magnified by the environments in which networks are being deployed, make multi-site testing a costly and time intensive overhead. Infovista’s cloud-based testing solutions enable Nokia to automate and centralize the management of testing routines, significantly streamlining backend reporting and freeing Nokia engineers and service companies from manual drive testing to focus on high value network optimization tasks.

As part of the global partnership, Nokia will now be able to leverage innovative network testing solutions from Infovista such as Automated SSV solution. The solution not only predicts where to drive and what tests to perform, but also which hot spots and critical areas should be tested and then autonomously conducting the network testing routine. This automation of network testing processes removes trial and error and significantly impacts the time to market and efficiency of Nokia’s network deployments.

Infovista is delivering its TEMS testing solutions to Nokia. The cloud-based automation of network testing routines enables Nokia to centralize and automate reporting and real-time validation of testing, reducing the number of failed drive tests that must be repeated. The cloud-based solutions remove the need to Nokia to maintain dedicated servers and redundancy, reuse of licenses globally and use commercial off-the-shelf devices, significantly increasing the efficiency of network testing.

“5G network complexity combined with the proliferation of device types now requires a set of next generation testing solutions leveraging AI/ML, cloud and automation. For operators that are racing to deploy new 5G sites, while continuing to optimize and expand existing network coverage, this new network testing approach is a gamechanger,” said Faiq Khan, President Global Networks, Infovista. “We’re very pleased to be building on our long-standing partnership with Nokia, extending it from centralized reporting to deliver real innovation with cloud-based automation of critical 5G testing processes.”

As part of the partnership, Nokia will have access to the latest AI/ML data-driven approaches and automation innovations in network testing, including Infovista’s patent-pending Precision Drive Testing™ solution, which powers use cases including network acceptance automation, fine tuning 5G planning propagation models, geolocated troubleshooting and proactive network health monitoring.

5G, News

AccelerComm Launches LEOphy to Enhance Performance of Low-Earth Orbit 5G Communications Satellites

Power-efficient layer 1 modem solution delivers the lowest error rates, and maximises spectral efficiency for 5G satellite networks

Southampton, UK – July 6th 2022: AccelerComm, the Layer 1 5G IP specialists, today unveiled LEOphy, a layer 1 modem that delivers enhanced performance for low-earth orbit satellite communications. The power-efficient high phy solution has been tailored to deliver maximum flexibility and reliability to enable more efficient 5G satellite communications, boasting the lowest error rates while also consuming less power than competing products. As a result, it ensures a high-reliability link without having to resort to higher coding rates and low modulation schemes, thereby maximising spectral efficiency, particularly important in satellites where channel capacity is highly constrained, compared to terrestrial networks.

Constellations of 5G satellites are being deployed to play a vital role in completing the technology and connectivity ecosystem needed for automation and IoT adoption, and are being used to address critical connectivity challenges, such as data speed and coverage limitations for several important applications such as remote sensing, video surveillance, UAVs and drones, geo-positioning, backhaul solutions, and general data connectivity.

“Traditionally satellites have not been well suited to delivering real-time communications applications due to low data-rates, costs and long latencies. The result being that they have only been suitable to serve specific niche applications,” said Rob Barnes, Chief Commercial Officer at AccelerComm. “However, the potential of new 5G applications has seen a revolution in thinking in this market. The use of AccelerComm technology now enables satellite networks to efficiently deliver high-quality and high-performance 5G services economically and on a global basis.”

AccelerComm’s portfolio of advanced channel coding solutions contain unique cutting-edge technology to maximize spectral efficiency and reduce latency for truly high-performance Open RAN 5G communications systems. This enables the next generation of services requiring ultra-reliable, low latency communications, such as VR/AR, industrial IoT, autonomous vehicles and drone control.

Further details of AccelerComm products can be found at www.accelercomm.com

5G, News, Tech

Fibocom 5G Module FG360-JP Completed NTT DOCOMO Interoperability Testing, Accelerating 5G Expansion in Japan

Fibocom (Stock Code: 300638), a global leading provider of IoT (Internet of Things) wireless solutions and wireless communication modules, announces that the FG360-JP module has completed interoperability testing (IOT) with NTT DOCOMO and received certifications of JATE and TELEC. Customers in Japan are now able to leverage FG360-JP on NTT DOCOMO’s 5G networks, experiencing high-speed, secure and reliable 5G connectivity.

Japan is one of the fastest growing 5G markets in the world, and NTT DOCOMO is one of Japanese largest operators. By completing the interoperability testing, Fibocom FG360-JP can offer incredible 5G connectivity for customers in Japan. In addition, FG360-JP has received JATE and TELEC certifications, which are mandatory for wireless products to be operated in Japan. The module is able to empower a wide range of IoT applications on NTT DOCOMO’s 5G network, including FWA (CPE, ODU, gateway, router), MIFI, industrial monitoring, telemedicine, etc.

Jin Pak, VP of APAC Sales Dept., Fibocom, commented: “We are proud to see that the Fibocom FG360 series has reached another milestone. Fibocom look forward to expanding our footprint in the Japanese 5G market with our FG360-JP module. Having completed this interoperability testing ahead helps customers reducing time to market, ensuring that they can take full advantage of NTT DOCOMO’s network.”

Coming with a Quad-core & 2 GHz ARM Cortex-A55 CPU, Fibocom’s FG360-JP module supports 2CC CA (Carrier Aggregation) on 200MHz frequency to improve the utilization of spectrum resources and ensure an extended 5G coverage. Supporting Wi-Fi 6 AX1800/ AX3600 (Main stream)/ AX4200/ AX6000 configuration, the module allows end devices to enjoy the full benefits of high-speed 5G + Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. It is designed to bring incredible 5G experiences to FWA terminals such as enterprise routers and gateways, CPE, Mi-Fi, etc.

Supporting 5G standalone network (SA1) and non-standalone (NSA) network architectures, FG360-JP is backward compatible with LTE/WCDMA network standards. It also has high integration and excellent performance that cover global main frequency bands & ENDC (with NA and EAU SKUs). Based on the MediaTek T750 chipset platform, the module delivers maximum downlink rates of 4.67Gbps and uplink rates of 1.25Gbps, enabling exciting high-speed 5G experience.

Fibocom FG360-JP adopts LGA form factor and has a rich extension of interfaces such as USB3.1, PCIe3.0, UART, SPI, GPIO, etc., allowing much flexibility and ease of integration for customer’s deployment. The module also supports multi-constellation GNSS receiver, including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS and Galileo, which provides high-precision positioning and navigation.

5G, News

Basel to bring the best of fibre optics as ECOC Exhibition’s Market Focus and awards open for entries

The event will be held in Basel, Switzerland

19 May 2022 – From 19-21 September 2022, the Swiss city of Basel will host technologists, thought leaders and decision makers, as part of Europe’s largest exhibition for the optical communications industry. Exhibitor booths, face-to-face networking, live ‘Market Focus’ presentations, product demonstrations and an award ceremony will attract thousands of attendees and exhibitors to the city.

“With the continent on the cusp of a next-gen networking boom, ECOC Exhibition is the meeting place and showcase for the latest developments in the optical connectivity industry”, said Emma Harvey, Commercial Director, ECOC.

ECOC Exhibition’s Market Focus, which attracts speakers from across the world, is now open for entries and focuses on five key themes. Topics include fibre access (5G) and next generation 6G/7G systems, intersatellite communication, high speed PON and FTTX solutions, and advanced fibre-based connectors, interfaces and panels. Call for speakers closes Monday 13th June.

Also open for entries are the ECOC Exhibition Industry Awards. Celebrating and recognising technology and product commercialisation and highlighting significant achievements in advancing the business of optical communications, transport, networking, fibre-based products and photonic integration circuits, the awards are open for entries until Monday 13th June.

Previous winners include Ciena, Lightwave Logic, Huawei, and II-VI. Nominations are judged by an independent Awards Committee and the winners announced during the exhibition. For more information and to enter, visit: https://www.ecocexhibition.com/visit/ecoc-exhibition-industry-awards/.

The Product Focus theatre is run in conjunction with Market Focus and features presentations covering the latest innovative products, live demonstrations and technology announcements.

“With billions pumped into fibre rollout plans and investment pledges at an all-time high, the fibre optic industry is leading the charge for continent-wide gigabit connectivity. For those who want their voices heard by the industry – and the advancements of their companies and institutions that are ushering in a new era of optical technology known – ECOC Exhibition offers a platform to amplify their voices and meet with partners, customers and new faces in the industry,” said Emma Harvey.

Visitor registration is open for the event. Visit https://www.ecocexhibition.com/register for more information.

5G, News

AccelerComm to Demonstrate How Spectral Efficiency is Key to 5G Small Cell Success at SCWS 2022

Company to present critical role of its physical layer IP solutions in maximising performance of dense networks at Small Cell Forum’s flagship event

London, UK – May 19th 2022 – AccelerComm, the Layer 1 5G IP specialists, today announced that it will be presenting a range of its solutions that help maximise the performance of 5G small cells at the SCWS 2022 event in London from May 24th-25th. The company provides 5G physical layer IP solutions which enable optimal performance of small cell 5G radio networks by mitigating the effects of noise, interference, and poor signal strength, thereby increasing throughput, reducing latency, and maximising spectral efficiency.

The gains available from deploying the complete AccelerComm solution are considerable, enabling operators to as much as double the capacity of their spectrum, resulting in up to a 30% reduction in CAPEX spending on infrastructure. This not only helps make the business case for 5G more compelling, but will also enable a range of new applications and services though higher performance, reliability and lower latency.

As SCWS, AccelerComm will be presenting three key benefits of its physical layer IP solutions for small cells:

  • Doubling of spectral efficiency: The AccelerComm channel equaliser can as much as double the average cell spectral efficiency, which in turn brings an improvement in network performance and results in a large potential reduction in the required number of sites (and hence power) required to provide coverage.
  • Higher throughputs: Look-aside FPGA-based Accelerator with 16 Gbps of throughput using the O-RAN Acceleration Abstraction Layer (AAL) interface.
  • Reduced LDPC Block error rates for improved URLLC performance: LDPC Block error rates using a Xilinx T2 Telco Card deliver improved BLER performance, enabling increased receiver gain, s and no error floors which is important for URLLC applications.

To learn more contact: info@accelercomm.com

To arrange a meeting please visit: Small Cells World Summit 2022 | AccelerComm