Today, Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is the domain of 4G LTE networks, but that will change in the future as 5G takes root. Setting the foundation for 5G, Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have completed what they say is the first over-the-air 5G New Radio (NR) call on CBRS spectrum in a recent field trial. This combination of 5G NR over CBRS will unleash a wide range of wireless applications for enterprises and industry verticals.
The field trial took place at Ericsson’s North America headquarters in Plano, TX, using the Ericsson 5G Distributed Innovation Network. A smartphone form-factor test device was used, which was powered by the Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform with the Snapdragon X60 5G Modem-RF System. The standalone 5G network configuration with rooftop radios tested intra- and inter-band mobility and carrier aggregation (3.55-3.7 GHz TDD and C-band), as well as mobility between n48 and 5G low-band.
The Ericsson Radio 4408, Ericsson AIR 6449, and the smartphone form-factor test device were used for this trial, and the over-the-air environment was made possible with FCC test licenses.
Paul Challoner, Vice President, Network Product Solutions, Ericsson North America, told Inside Towers the successful interoperability tests of the chip is the beginning of a two-year-plus journey as the devices become available and the ecosystem matures.
“We see the system emerging over the next two years onwards,” he said. “In terms of our radio portfolios, we supply radios that are software-upgradeable to NR, and then it’s up to our customers and ecosystem to evolve and to pick their transition to NR. But the radios are capable of it when they are ready.”
As the rollout of 5G NR network equipment in the CBRS band occurs, private cellular network performance will deliver improved throughput, reduced latency, enhanced reliability, and greater connection density – thereby allowing for advanced applications such as mobile robotics, connected manufacturing and facilities, augmented reality industrial applications, and much more. In addition, the coordination of CBRS and licensed spectrum, such as C-band, through carrier aggregation further delivers increased capacity to enhance the user experience.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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