BT, Ericsson Wideband FDD Trial Showcase Breakthrough 5G SA Performance

BT and Ericsson have successfully demonstrated the transmission of 5G services using a wideband FDD (frequency division duplex) radio carrier (over 20 MHz) within a sub-3 GHz spectrum band. According to BT and Ericsson, this accomplishment is a major advancement in the progress of 5G networks, with implications that will greatly impact the capacity and performance of networks.

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Also Read: Ericsson and MediaTek Test RedCap Interoperability for 5G SA

Wide Carrier Bandwidth

The trial, conducted on BT’s live network in Bristol and Potters Bar, showcased the benefits of configuring a wide carrier bandwidth of 50 MHz (50 MHz downlink + 50 MHz uplink) within the 2.6 GHz band, along with downlink aggregation using two TDD (time division duplex) carriers in the 3.5 GHz band. This configuration led to a capacity uplift of over three times compared to a single FDD carrier. According to the joint statement, the trial also evaluated an intermediate carrier bandwidth of 30 MHz.

Uplink Enhancement

The breakthrough is particularly significant for the uplink in 5G Standalone (5G SA) networks. According to BT, currently, 5G SA relies on a single carrier for the uplink, but this trial demonstrates the potential to significantly boost uplink capacity using a wider carrier bandwidth.

Also Read: Ericsson and MediaTek Reach Record 565 Mbps Uplink Speed for 5G FWA

Network Expansion

The technology partners stated that enabling 5G expansion in FDD bands is a crucial step in the rollout of EE’s 5G Standalone mobile network. 5G SA is expected to offer superior experiences for consumers and businesses, meeting the increasing demand for data-driven applications like cloud gaming, virtual reality (VR), and emerging edge technologies.