Indoor 5G NR network experiment "a success"

While 5G NR pre-commercial trials are currently ongoing in several countries mostly in outdoor environments, indoor trials, especially in mmWave frequency range, are still rare.

The 5G NR network at 5G Expert Days was planned by iBwave, a leader in in-building network planning. In the setup an R&S SMW200A signal generator transmitted 5G NR signals via the 24/26GHz Active Antenna Innovator Kit, supplied by Anokiwave to control various beams.

The performance of the network was measured using the first commercially available 5G NR network measurement solution including an autonomous 5G NR network scanner R&S TSMA6 with integrated PC, a downconverter R&S TSME30DC that also covers 28GHz frequency band and R&S ROMES4 drive test software commissioned into a backpack.

The collected measurement data was analysed in terms of coverage of different beams with the R&S ROMES4 software and compared with the iBwave network planning and simulation based on modeling the indoor environment.

Seth Roy, VP Products of iBwave, said: “For iBwave this is an exciting time in the wireless industry, and we’re thrilled to be supporting this experimental 5G NR network design initiative. We’ve been through a similar transition before during the shift from 3G to 4G deployments, and have full confidence our solutions will help our customers through the 4G to 5G transition phase as well.”

Andy Crofts, Anokiwave VP of Applications, stated: “We are delighted to support Rohde & Schwarz’ 5G Expert Days with our 24/26GHz Active Antenna Innovator Kit, based on our highly integrated Silicon 5G ICs, to demonstrate the high EiRP and low power dissipation achievable using silicon RF integration in a planar active antenna module.”

The 5G Expert Days, hosted by Rohde & Schwarz, are a well-established industry workshop that offers researchers, developers, manufacturers and test equipment users an excellent opportunity to discuss the recently finalized 5G NR technology.

Andreas Pauly, Executive Vice President of Rohde & Schwarz Test and Measurement, stated: “The experimental 5G NR network was a successful hands-on complement to the 5G Expert Days, using Anokiwave’s most advanced and highest performing 5G integrated circuits and iBwave’s network planning and simulation. The results show our real expertise in 5G deployment, in particular for the mmWave frequency range.”