Vodafone tests 5G Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) in its Dusseldorf lab
Vodafone announced that it has conducted what it claims is the world’s first test of 5G Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS), based on a combination of two low spectrum bands in its VIP lab in Dusseldorf, Germany. The company used simultaneously the 700MHz and 800MHz bands on a 5G non-standalone device. The frequency in the 800MHz range was used as the “anchor band”, while the 700MHz frequencies were shared between 4G and 5G.
The tests were conducted with suppliers Ericsson, Huawei and Qualcomm which used its Snapdragon X55 5G modem (which supports 5G NR mmWave and sub-6 GHz spectrum bands and can deliver speeds of up to 7 Gbps over 5G and 2.5 Gbps on Cat 22 LTE).
Vodafone claims this is a world first in cellular radio. 2G, 3G and 4G standards were initially rolled out on dedicated blocks of spectrum, which meant that re-allocating for the next generation was an extremely slow – not to mention expensive – process. With dynamic spectrum sharing, this can be done overnight with a simple software upgrade.
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DSS allows network operators to deliver both 4G and 5G within the same spectrum, enabling a smooth transition between the two technologies and therefore a more cost-effective rollout. While the technology has already been demonstrated, the unique aspect of last month’s test was the simultaneous use of two low frequency bands (700MHz and 800MHz) on a 5G non-standalone device. 800MHz was used as the “anchor band” while 700MHz was shared dynamically between 4G and 5G, allowing operators to seamlessly allocate spectrum resources according to demands on the network.
Without DSS, an operator that has 20 MHz of mid-band spectrum would have to split that spectrum in two. In other words, they would have to allocate 10 MHz of spectrum to 4G LTE and cram all their LTE users into that 10 MHz of spectrum. Then the remaining 10 MHz of AWS spectrum could be used for 5G, even though initially there will only be a minimal number of 5G users.
With DSS, an operator doesn’t have to split that mid-band spectrum or have a dedicated spectrum for either 4G LTE or 5G. Instead, they can share that 20 MHz of spectrum between the two technologies.
For operators, DSS technology means they will be able to unleash the potential of 5G quicker, both for consumers and in industry, and ensure coverage over a wider area than ever before. It will also lay the foundations for the future technologies that will rely on 5G.
How does DSS benefit for the end-user? Most importantly, it means better 5G coverage, with lower latency and higher quality (in addition to faster download speeds) for consumers sooner. DSS on low bands will also be significant in enabling low latency applications and deeper in-building coverage.
Dynamic spectrum sharing will no doubt play an integral role in ensuring a seamless global rollout of 5G and this test is a significant step towards offering this next-generation connectivity for all. Through industry collaboration such as these, we can make that leap sooner, revolutionising the lives of consumers and enabling business innovation across the globe.
References:
https://www.vodafone.com/perspectives/blog/dynamic-spectrum-sharing
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Vodafone maintains outlook as Q3 service revenue growth improves to nearly 1%
Vodafone Group maintained its full-year outlook after reporting third-quarter results largely in line with the previous quarter. Group revenue for the three months to December rose 6.8 percent to EUR 11.75 billion, helped by the acquisition of Liberty Global’s cable assets, and organic service revenue was up 0.8 percent. That compares to underlying growth of 0.7 percent in Q2 and a drop of 0.2 percent in Q1 service revenue.
CEO Nick Read said he was pleased with the company’s progress in commercial and strategic initiatives. While competition in Europe remained challenging, with organic service revenue down 1.4 percent there, the company was growing in the fixed broadband market, improving customer loyalty and simplifying operations with over 3 million customers already own the new speed-based unlimited data plans.
Growth in Europe was depressed still by tough competition in Spain and Italy, down respectively 6.5 and 5.0 percent in terms of service revenue. Service revenue in Germany was flat on an organic basis, as growth in cable broadband offset a 2.2 percent fall in mobile. The UK improved to growth of 0.6 percent, supported by contract customer growth and the new unlimited plans launched with 5G services in July. The CEO said cost reductions of around EUR 400 million in Europe this year are on track for completion.
In the rest of the world, organic service revenues rose 9.1 percent, led by improvement at Vodacom in South Africa and continued growth in Turkey. Reported RoW revenues were down 2.7 percent to EUR 2.48 billion, after the sale of Vodafone New Zealand and negative forex effects. Vodafone announced another divestment, in Egypt, to help reduce debt.
The company said its new towers company is set to be operational by May, and is preparing for an IPO in early 2021. Competition clearance for its Italian towers venture is expected by the end of February, and Vodafone it’s also looking at monetizing other individual assets. In addition, the operator is pursuing additional network sharing agreements, in Germany with Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica to cover grey spots, and in Portugal with Nos.
Vodafone said it expects a further gradual improvement in service revenue growth in Q4, led by Europe. The outlook for the full year remains adjusted EBITDA of EUR 14.8-15.0 billion, meaning organic growth of 2-3 percent, and free cash flow (pre-spectrum) of around EUR 5.4 billion.
With 5G networks now live in seven countries, along with unlimited data plans, Vodafone said data traffic was up around 45 percent year-on-year in Europe in Q3. Average smartphone usage for the overall customer base increased to 4.5 GB per month, an increase of 1.2 GB year-on-year.
The total mobile customer reached 269.8 million customers at the end of December, up from 269.2 million three months earlier. The share of contract customers improved to 31.4 percent from 30.2 percent a year ago.
Excluding Vodafone-Ziggo, Vodafone said it added 204,000 broadband customers, 417,000 NGN customers, 142,000 converged customers and 47,000 TV customers during the quarter. The total fixed broadband base reached 23.1 million subscribers.
https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-maintains-outlook-as-q3-service-revenue-growth-improves-to-nearly-1–1325348
Ericsson Spectrum Sharing launches commercially
By Harry Baldock, Total Telecom, Thursday 27 February 20
The new software will allow 4G and 5G to be deployed on the same band, improving efficiency and removing the need for reinvestment
With the availability of spectrum always a thorn in operators’ sides, Ericsson has launched a new software solution that should allow them to get the maximum out of this precious resource.
Ericsson Spectrum Sharing (ESS) software allows 4G and 5G to share the same band and the same radio, switching between the two in a millisecond based on user demand. It will allow operators to make the most of their existing spectrum, rolling out 5G on their existing LTE bands without needing to reinvest.
“For the first time, our customers do not have to re-farm spectrum before deploying a new ‘G’ and can quickly get 5G on the same footprint as they have with 4G today,” said Ericsson’s VP and head of networks, Fredrik Jejdling. “In the next 12 months, more than 80 percent of the commercial 5G networks we support will use our spectrum sharing solution to achieve broad 5G coverage.”
ESS is to be implemented by a range of service providers, including Swisscom, Telstra, Ooredoo, and Play.
This news comes just days after rival Huawei released its own dynamic spectrum sharing solution, called Hybrid DSS. Nokia has yet to launch a similar product, but reportedly has plans to do so later this year.
https://www.totaltele.com/505068/Ericsson-Spectrum-Sharing-launches-commercially