Summary of #CWTEC 2019 Conference: 5G, Satellites & Magic MIMO

I was involved in helping organise yet another CW TEC conference this year. The topic was quite interesting and we had some brilliant speakers. Some of the excellent presentations were shared too, links below. Here is a very quick summary of the event, linking also to couple of excellent summaries below.

The topic was a bit unusual and it rhymed very well with the attendees which were from many different backgrounds, from 5G, communications, satellites, electronics, T&M companies, etc. Here is the opening video that will show you the motivations behind this



The day started with a breakfast briefing from Cambridge Consultants that looked at how Massive MIMO is the key to unlocking 5G User Experiences. Presentations available here.

#CWTEC is underway with a thorough breakfast briefing from @CambConsultants. What is 5G NR? What is #MassiveMIMO? How about #beamforming? Delegates get up to speed with the day’s subject area before talks kick off at 10AM. We can’t wait! pic.twitter.com/lGELOWeZk2

— Cambridge Wireless (@cambwireless) September 26, 2019

Session 1 was titled "What has Massive MIMO ever done for us?". The narrative for the session was as follows:

Clearly the desire for more and more capacity in cellular networks has driven the industry to find more and more novel techniques. The work done over the years and boosted by Tom Marzetta’s article titled “Noncooperative Cellular Wireless with Unlimited Numbers of Base Station Antennas” has set high expectations for this emergent technology, so much so the term Magic MIMO has been coined. However, how significant is it into today’s early 5G rollout and what can we expect over the coming years? Are there still further enhancements we should expect to see?

There were 3 talks as follows:

• Sync Architectures for 5G NR by Chris Farrow, Technical Manager, Chronos Technology (slides)
• Three UK’s RAN transformation: Spectrum, RAN architecture strategy, Why? by Dr Erol Hepsaydir, Head of RAN and Devices Strategy and Architecture, Three UK (slides)
• Active antenna systems in RAN: performance, challenges and evolution by Anvar Tukmanov, Wireless Research Manager, BT (slides)

Anvar Tuknanov from ⁦⁦@bt_uk⁩ showing improvement in communications capacity as technology has evolved to 5G M-MIMO. ⁦@cambwireless⁩ #CWTEC ⁦@CGI_UKNEWS⁩ #ExperienceCGI pic.twitter.com/IZXJk2n6u4

— Andrew Palmer (@AndrewPalmerCGI) September 26, 2019

Session 2 looked at "Non-Terrestrial & Hybrid Networks". The narrative for the session was as follows:

There are different initiatives underway to make satellite and other non-terrestrial networks as part of 5G. In addition, many different mobile operators have demonstrated compelling use-cases with drones, balloons and other aerostats. Other innovative approaches like European Aviation Network uses a hybrid-network using terrestrial network supported by a satellite connection as a backhaul for in-flight Wi-Fi. In addition to latency, what other challenges are stopping mass adoption of Non-terrestrial and Hybrid networks? What about advanced features like slicing, etc.?

There were 3 talks as follows:

• Opportunities for blending terrestrial and satellite technologies by Dr Jaime Reed, Director, Consulting, Space, Defence and Intelligence, CGI (slides)
• Non-terrestrial Networks: Standardization in 5G NR by Dr Yinan Qi, Senior 5G Researcher, Samsung R&D Institute UK (slides)
• Satellites and 5G: A satellite operator’s perspective by Simon Watts, Principal Consultant, Avanti Communications (slides)

A fantastic technical in-depth session on Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) by Yinan Qi, Samsung. Loved it @TMGB
#CWTEC pic.twitter.com/QUpxA3wKj9

— Zahid Ghadialy (@zahidtg) September 26, 2019

Session 3 looked at "5G: A Catalyst for Network Transformation". The narrative was as follows:

5G has set high expectations in the user as well as operator community. While eMBB can be supported with an upgrade of existing 4G infrastructure, URLLC and mMTC may require massive change in the network architecture. Operators have already started the transformation process with backhaul upgrades, new data centers, distributed core and cloud rollouts, etc. How are networks evolving to accommodate these deep changes? What other changes will be required in the network to support the growth until the next new generation arrives?

This session featured 3 talks as well

• An Introduction to Open RAN Concept by Zahid Ghadialy, Senior Director, Strategic Marketing, Parallel Wireless UK & EMEA (slides)
• Powering the successful deployment of 5G infrastructure by David George, Vice President of EMEA and APAC, Sitetracker (slides)
• The 5G transformation: no sweet without sweat by Antonella Faniuolo, Head of Network Strategy, Planning, Digital & Optimisation, Vodafone (slides)

We loved @zahidtg’s #OpenRAN diagrams in his session at #CWTEC this afternoon. Good explanation of why OpenRAN matters and how it actually works. #5G @Parallel_tw pic.twitter.com/DTna4pC7bA

— Cambridge Wireless (@cambwireless) September 26, 2019

The final session topic was "Getting ready for Beyond-5G Era". The narrative was as follows:

Many technologies like Full duplex, etc. that were originally intended to be part of 5G were not able to make it into the standards. Along with these, what other revolutionary changes are needed to make Beyond-5G technologies not only fulfil the vision, ambition and use-cases that were originally envisaged for 5G but to take it a step further and make it a game changer.

This session featured 3 talks as well, as follows:

• Thinking Beyond 5G: Projects and Initiatives by Alan Carlton, Vice President, InterDigital Europe (slides not available)
• 5G Evolution: Progressive enhancement and new features for new markets by Matthew Baker, Head of Radio Physical Layer and Coexistence Standardization, Nokia (slides)
• Why 6G’s design goals need far more than just radio & core innovation by Dean Bubley, Analyst & Futurist, Disruptive Analysis (slides not available)

3GPP Release - Technology
99 - UMTS (3G)
4
5 - HSDPA (3.5G)
6 - HSUPA
7 - HSPA+
8 - LTE (3.9G)
9
10 - LTA-A (4G)
11
12
13 - LTE-A Pro (4.5G)
14
15 - 5G
16
17
18 - 5.5G?
19
20
21 - 6G?#CWTEC #3G4G5Gpic.twitter.com/vQi5Dhfsno

— 3G4G (@3g4gUK) October 8, 2019

And my personal highlight was that I launched World's first coloured 5G tie

Did I mention I am launching my World's First Coloured 5G Tie that caters for all different implementations of 5G 😁 #CWTEC@cambwireless @3g4gUK @Parallel_tw @3GPPLive @IBTwi @AndrewPalmerCGI @alainmouradUK pic.twitter.com/j0ebPnSxaB

— Zahid Ghadialy (@zahidtg) September 26, 2019

Hopefully you found the presentations shared as useful. Please also read the summaries of CWTEC provided below.


Related Articles:

• CW Technology & Engineering Conference Review by CW (Cambridge Wireless)
• CWTEC: 5G, Massive MIMO and Satellites by David Chambers, ThinkSmallCell
• Dean Bubley made a nice Twitter Thread on CWTEC here.
• All the information about the conference is available here.

Opinion: What is "Real 5G" or "True 5G"

I made another opinion piece couple of weeks back. While it was shared already as part of some channels, here is it on the blog with serves as a permanent link. Video and slides below.

Opinion: What is “Real 5G”? (and “Real 4G”?) from 3G4G

As always, I welcome your opinions, comments & suggestions below.


Related Posts:

• Operator Watch Blog - Three UK: Bringing A True 5G Experience
• The 3G4G Blog - The Politics of Standalone vs Non-Standalone 5G & 4G Speeds
• Operator Watch Blog - UK MNO Mobile Spectrum Holdings
• The 3G4G Blog - 5G SpeedTests and Theoretical Max Speeds Calculations
• Operator Watch Blog - The Global Reach of Hutchison / '3' Group Mobile Telecom Companies
• The 3G4G Blog - Mobile Network Cell Tower Site Construction

Mobile Network Cell Tower Site Construction

I attended an IET Prestige lecture by Phil Sheppard, Director of Strategy & Architecture at 3UK recently. He showed an interesting video on how a site is constructed. I combined some of his slides and video to show here. The video is as follows




Related Posts:

• What is meant by Infrastructure in a Telecoms Network?
• Mobile Network Infrastructure Sharing in Japan over Electric Power Infrastructure
• Quick tutorial on Mobile Network Sharing Options
• Network Sharing is becoming more relevant with 5G
• Vodafone UK improving coverage with Phone Boxes, Mini-masts & Manhole Covers
• NTT Docomo's Underground LTE Small Cells with possibility to deploy 5G in future

5G SpeedTests and Theoretical Max Speeds Calculations

Right now, Speed Tests are being described as 5G killer apps.

SpeedTests are the 5G killer app right now 😂. Thread 👇 https://t.co/jjyk0PheT6

— 3G4G (@3g4gUK) July 2, 2019

A good point by Benedict Evans

What was the killer app for 3G? The internet. What’s the killer app for 5G? More internet, mostly.

— Benedict Evans (@benedictevans) January 18, 2019

Everyone is excited and want to see how fast 5G networks can go. If you use Twitter, you will notice loads and loads of speed tests being done on 5G. An example can be seen above.

I recently heard Phil Sheppard, Director of Strategy & Architecture, '3 UK' speak about their 5G launch that is coming up soon. Phil clearly mentioned that because they have a lot more spectrum (see Operator Watch blog post here and here) in Capacity Layer, their 5G network would be faster than the other UK operators. He also provided rough real world Peak Speeds for Three and other operators as can be seen above. Of course the real world speeds greatly depend on what else is going on in the network and in the cell so this is just a guideline rather than actual advertised speeds.

I have explained multiple times that all 5G networks being rolled out today are Non-Stand Alone (NSA) 5G networks. If you don't know what SA and NSA 5G networks are, check this out. As you can see, the 5G NSA networks are actually 4G Carrier Aggregated Networks + 5G Carrier Aggregated Networks. Not all 4G spectrum will be usable in 5G networks but let's assume it is.

To calculate the theoretical maximum speed of 5G NSA networks, we can calculate the theoretical maximum 4G Network speeds + theoretical maximum 5G Network speeds.

I have looked at theoretical calculation of max LTE Carrier Aggregated Speeds here. Won't do calculation here but assuming 3CA for any network is quite possible.

I also looked at theoretical calculation of 5G FDD New Radio here but then found a website that helps with 5G NR calculation here.

If we calculate just the 5G part, looking at the picture from Three, we can see that they list BT/EE & O2 speeds as 0.61 Gbps or 610 Mbps, just for the 5G part.

Looking at the calculation, if we Input Theoretical max values in this equation:

Calculating just for DL

J - number of aggregated component carriers,
maximum number (3GPP 38.802): 16
input value: 1

v(j)Layers - maximum number of MIMO layers ,
3GPP 38.802: maximum 8 in DL, maximum 4 in UL
input value: 8

Q(j)m modulation order (3GPP 38.804)
For UL and DL Q(j)m is same (QPSK-2, 16QAM-4, 64QAM-6, 256QAM-8)
input value: 8 (256QAM)

f(j) Scaling factor (3GPP 38.306)
input value: 1

FR(j) Frequency Range 3GPP 38.104:
FR1 (450 MHz – 6000 MHz) и FR2 (24250 MHz – 52600 MHz)
input value: FR1

µ(j) -value of carrier configuration (3GPP 38.211)
For DL and UL µ(j) is same (µ(0)=15kHz, µ(1)=30kHz, µ(2)=60kHz, µ(3)=120kHz)
input value: 0 (15kHz)

BW(j)- band Bandwidth, MHz (3GPP 38.104),
should be selected with Frequency Range and µ(i) configuration:
input value: BW:40MHz FR1 µ:15kHz:

Enter a PRB value (if other)
default: 0

Rmax (if you don't know what is it, don't change)
Value depends on the type of coding from 3GPP 38.212
(For LDPC code maximum number is 948/1024 = 0.92578125)
default: 0.92578125

*** Only for TDD ***
Part of the Slots allocated for DL in TDD mode,
where 1 = 100% of Slots (3GPP 38.213, taking into account Flexible slots).
Calculated as: the number of time Slots for DL divided by 14
default value: 0.857142

Part of the Slots allocated for UL in TDD mode,
where 1 = 100% of Slots (3GPP 38.213, taking into account Flexible slots).
Calculated as: 1 minus number of Slots for DL
default value: 0.14285800000000004

Calculated 5G NR Throughput, Mbps: 1584


As you may have noticed, BTE/EE has 40 MHz spectrum while Vodafone in UK have 50 MHz of spectrum.

Changing
BW(j)- band Bandwidth, MHz (3GPP 38.104),
should be selected with Frequency Range and µ(i) configuration:
input value: BW:50MHz FR1 µ:15kHz:

Calculated 5G NR Throughput, Mbps: 1982

Now Three UK has 100 MHz, immediately available for use. So changing

µ(j) -value of carrier configuration (3GPP 38.211)
For DL and UL µ(j) is same (µ(0)=15kHz, µ(1)=30kHz, µ(2)=60kHz, µ(3)=120kHz)
input value: 1 (30kHz)

BW(j)- band Bandwidth, MHz (3GPP 38.104),
should be selected with Frequency Range and µ(i) configuration:
BW:100MHz FR1 µ:30kHz:


Calculated 5G NR Throughput, Mbps: 4006

In theory, a lot of speed is possible with the 100 MHz bandwidth that Three will be able to use. We will have to wait and see who can do a theoretical max SpeedTest. In the meantime remember that a 1Gbps speed test will use over 1 GB of data.



Related Posts:

• Tutorial on 5G Spectrum
• Theoretical Throughput Calculation of FDD 5G New Radio (NR)
• Theoretical calculation of EE's announcement for 429Mbps throughput