SYDNEY: Telstra and Ericsson are partnering to launch much-anticipated 5G technology, although the telco’s immediate focus remains on boosting the capacity and functionality of its 4G network.
With Telstra aiming to launch its 5G services by 2020, the telco’s group managing director networks, Mike Wright, said that the work needs to start now.
The partnership with Ericsson will see teams from both companies start work on lab and field-based testing and start adapting the evolving 5G industry standards to make them fit for purpose.
Mr Wright added that the work carried out will be the primary enablers of taking 5G from concept to reality.
“The earlier we start on the development and integration of the ecosystem into our current network operations, the better the outcome for our customers,” he said.
“I am excited to see the outcomes of this collaboration with Ericsson and build on our already impressive history of mobile network innovation.”
As Telstra gets started on 5G, the telco is also pushing ahead with its plans to maintain its network supremacy in the 4G space.
Telstra has announced plans to deploy its 450Mbps peak LTE-Advanced Cat 9 network capability in the network in selected capital city CBDs by April 2015, with Cat 9 compatible devices expected to be made available later in 2015.
In collaboration with Ericsson, and Qualcomm, Telstra is building on the 4GX rollout to provide the world’s first 20+20+20 MHz enabled three band Carrier Aggregation (capable of peak network speeds up to 450Mbps).
In February, Ericsson conducted a LTE-A live Telstra demonstration in conjunction with Qualcomm that achieved peak wireless data speeds of up to 600 Mbps.
The live demonstration, conducted in cooperation with Qualcomm Technologies, utilisd ‘256 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)’, a solution that would theoretically boost app coverage in indoor and outdoor small cell networks.
LTE-A Carrier Aggregation enables operators to use spectrum more efficiently to deliver a better user experience to customers throughout the network, while the use of 256 QAM enables higher peak rates to be achieved within a reduced cell radius.
LTE-A, or ‘4G advanced’, combines spectrum bands together, which is 1800Mhz and 700MHz in Telstra’s case.
Telstra has invested $1.3bn towards what it describes as “more lanes on the superhighway”.
Meanwhile, Voice over LTE (VoLTE) capabilities across Telstra’s 4G coverage area is set to be launched by April 2015.
According to Telstra, the service will be initially trialled on the more than 10 smartphones on the network today that are capable of supporting VoLTE following a software update.
“This will expand on the extensive testing completed in 2014 and lead towards a commercial launch later in the year,” the telco said.
Along with voice, Telstra is set to equip LTE Broadcast technology across its 4G footprint by May 2015, ahead of commercial trials. A full customer launch is planned for later in 2015.
