Overview 3GPP 5G NR Physical Layer

3GPP held a workshop on 5G NR submission towards IMT-2020 last week. You can access all the agenda, documents, etc. on the 3GPP website here. You can also get a combined version of all presentations from the 3G4G website here. I also wrote a slightly detailed article on this workshop on 3G4G website here.

One of the presentations on 'Physical layer structure, numerology and frame structure, NR spectrum utilization mechanism 3GPP 5G NR submission towards IMT-2020' by Havish Koorapaty, Ericsson is a good introductory material on 5G New Radio (NR) Physical Layer. It is embedded below (thanks to Eiko Seidel for sharing) and the PDF can be downloaded from slideshare or 3G4G website here.

Overview 3GPP NR Physical Layer from Eiko Seidel

Related Links:

• 3GPP 5G – Briefing for Evaluation Groups
• 3G4G: Workshop on 3GPP 5G NR submission towards IMT-2020
• 3G4G Blog: 5G New Radio Standards and other Presentations
• 3G4G Blog: Base Station Antenna Considerations for 5G
• 3G4G Blog: 5G Network Architecture Options (Updated)
• 3G4G Blog: Automated 4G / 5G HetNet Design
• 3G4G Blog: Benefits and Challenges of Applying Device-Level AI to 5G networks
• 3G4G Blog: Introduction to Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
• Operator Watch Blog: 5G Development and Progress in Singapore

The Yin and the Yang of AI & Blockchain

Today I read about HTC's Exodus 1, new Blockchain smartphone that only people with crypto-currency can buy. SCMP described in very simple terms what this phone is for:

Both HTC’s Exodus and Sirin’s Finney smartphones feature a built-in digital wallet application that will enable users to securely store and use cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin and ethereum, in daily transactions.

Those smartphones are designed to replace the special memory sticks, which employ complex usernames and passwords to access, that cryptocurrency investors use to store their digital money. These investors typically store most of their cryptocurrencies in such hardware, which are kept offline as a means of security.

“There are things that a phone manufacturer can do with a chip that nobody else can,” said Chen. “We want to be safer than the existing hardware wallets … HTC has a track record of making trusted hardware.”

The company’s Exodus smartphone, for example, can serve as a “node”, which can connect to certain blockchain networks to enable trading of tokens between users. It will also be able to act as a so-called mining rig for users to earn new tokens tied to the Exodus blockchain.

“At some point, we’ll do our own utility token,” said Chen, adding that there was no timetable for such a token release.

HTC’s foray into blockchain, the distributed ledger technology behind cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, represents a strategy to keep the company relevant in smartphones, which is a market dominated by Samsung Electronics and Apple, followed by Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi and other major Chinese brands.

Anyway, the blockchain smartphone reminds me of the joke above (via marketoonist). The second technology mentioned in this joke is AI or Artificial Intelligence.

I heard HP Enterprise talk about AI recently and this picture above is a nice simple way to show how Deep Learning (DL), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are related.

I see AI and blockchain often referred to together. This does not necessarily mean that they are related. iDate allowed me to share a recent presentation (embedded below) that refers to AI & blockchain as Yin and Yang. Anyway, I am happy to learn more so if you have any thoughts please feel free to share.

iDate: AI and blockchain from 3G4G

Further Reading:

• PWC: How can telecom, media, and entertainment find the value in blockchain?
• Jisc: Blockchain: An Enabler of Efficiency, Choice and Agility in Education
• PWC: Building blockchains for a better planet
• AT&T Launches Blockchain Solutions Targeting Supply Chain and Healthcare

Related Posts:

• MegaFon: The Russian Giant Focusing on 5G and Blockchain
• Benefits and Challenges of Applying Device-Level AI to 5G networks
• Telefonica: Big Data, Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Connect the Unconnected
• Artificial Intelligence - Beyond SON for Autonomous Networks

5G Network Architecture Options (Updated)

ICYMI, we created an updated video on 5G Network Architecture options. The videos and slides are embedded below.

Intermediate: 5G Network Architecture Options (Updated) from 3G4G

This updated presentation/video looks at 5G Network Architecture options that have been proposed by 3GPP for deployment of 5G. It covers the Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) architecture. In the NSA architecture, EN-DC (E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity), NGEN-DC (NG-RAN E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity) and NE-DC (NR-E-UTRA Dual Connectivity) has been looked at. Finally, migration strategies proposed by vendors and operators (MNOs / SPs) have been discussed.


Nokia has also released a whitepaper on this topic that I only became aware of after my slides / video were done. More details in the tweet below.

Nokia has released a whitepaper on 5G Network Deployment Options, 'Understanding the strange language of NSA vs SA and options 3, 2, 7 and 4'. Available here: https://t.co/FJEIbEuAFO - ICYMI, we also made a new tutorial on this topic: https://t.co/5QOll1Sui7 pic.twitter.com/tHjbuEfW3l

— 3G4G (@3g4gUK) October 5, 2018

Related Links:

• Free 2G, 3G, 4G & 5G Training Videos
• 5G (IMT-2020) Wireless Resources
• 3GPP 5G Specifications
• Introduction to Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
• 5G Network Architecture Options (Updated)

Automated 4G / 5G HetNet Design

I recently heard Iris Barcia, COO of Keima speak after nearly 6 years at Cambridge Wireless CWTEC 2018. The last time I heard her, it was part of CW Small Cells SIG, where I used to be a SIG (special interest group) champion. Over the last 6 years, the network planning needs have changed from planning for coverage to planning for capacity from the beginning. This particular point started a little debate that I will cover in another post, but you can sneak a peek here 😉.

Embedded below is the video and presentation. The slides can be downloaded from SlideShare.

Automated HetNet Design from 3G4G

Related posts:

• Twitter et al. for Small Cell Planning
• Radio Challenges and Opportunities for Large Scale Small Cell Deployments
• Summary of Cambridge Wireless Event on Small Cells, 3rd Oct. 2012
• Introduction to Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
• 5G Network Architecture Options (Updated)

Wi-Fi gets new name

Wi-Fi Alliance has announced that the next generation WiFi technology, 802.11ax, will be known as Wi-Fi 6. This is to probably make it simpler, similar to mobile technology generations. Everyone knows 3G and 4G but how many people know UMTS or LTE. Similarly they are hoping that people will be aware of Wi-Fi 4, 5 & 6. They haven't bothered to name anything below Wi-Fi 4.

Looking at this picture from R&S above, you can see that according to Wi-Fi Alliance naming convention:

Wi-Fi 1: 802.11a (1999)
Wi-Fi 2: 802.11b (1999)
Wi-Fi 3: 802.11g (2003)
Wi-Fi 4: 802.11n (2009)
Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac (2014)
Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax (2019)

Anyway, I am not going in any technical details in this post but look for the really good links on this topic below.

To learn more about the naming of next-gen Wi-Fi, check this link.

Further reading:

• NTT Technical Review: Standardization of Next-generation Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11ax
• YouTube: Rohde & Schwarz webinar - Five things to know about WLAN 802.11ax and why testing is important
• YouTube: Will 802.11ax and IoT Rejuvenate 2.4 GHz Band? | Perry Correll | WLPC_EU Lisbon 2017
• The 3G4G Blog: 5G & 802.11ax
• The 3G4G Blog: WiFi: Standards, Spectrum and Deployment
• Quora: What is the difference between WLAN 802.11 b/g/n and 802.11ac? Which is better?

Benefits and Challenges of Applying Device-Level AI to 5G networks

I was part of Cambridge Wireless CWTEC 2018 organising committee where our event 'The inevitable automation of Next Generation Networks' covered variety of topics with AI, 5G, devices, network planning, etc. The presentations are available freely for a limited period here.

End-to-end #AI in telecoms will involve a mix of capabilities on devices, local RAN, core & NFV - @Samsung at #CWTEC

On-device AI can do all sorts of cool stuff eg on power-mgmt pic.twitter.com/SV26fLNnG3

— Dean Bubley (@disruptivedean) September 27, 2018

One of the thought provoking presentations was by Yue Wang from Samsung R&D. The presentation is embedded below and can be downloaded from Slideshare.

Device-level AI for 5G and beyond from 3G4G

This presentation also brought out some interesting thoughts and discussions:

• While the device-level AI and network-level AI would generally work cooperatively, there is a risk that some vendor may play the system to make their devices perform better than the competitors. Something similar to the signaling storm generated by SCRI (see here).
• If the device-level and network-level AI works constructively, an operator may be able to claim that their network can provide a better battery life for a device. For example iPhone XYZ has 25% better battery life on our network rather than competitors network.
• If the device-level and network-level AI works destructively for any reason then the network can become unstable and the other users may experience issues. 

I guess all these enhancements will start slowly and there will be lots of learning in the first few years before we have a stable, mutually beneficial solution.

Related Posts:

• Automating the 5G Core using Machine Learning and Data Analytics
• Telefonica: Big Data, Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Connect the Unconnected
• ITU 'Network 2030': Initiative to support Emerging Technologies and Innovation looking beyond 5G advances
• End-to-end Network Slicing in 5G
• 5G New Radio Standards and other Presentations