The 2023 Global Mobile Broadband Forum (MBBF 2023) witnessed an extraordinary milestone as Cao Ming, President of Wireless Solution at Huawei, introduced the industry’s groundbreaking full-series solutions for 5.5G.
Aiming to provide the ultimate leap in connectivity, these cutting-edge solutions are poised to revolutionize the telecommunications landscape.
In a vibrant launch ceremony, Cao Ming emphasized that “5.5G is impeccably timed to support new dimensions of experiences, connections, and services,” underscoring the pivotal role of Huawei’s complete set of 5.5G solutions.
These solutions promise to empower network operators by delivering comprehensive tenfold capabilities while enhancing energy efficiency, spectrum utilization, and operational efficiency.
The emergence of 5.5G comes at a juncture where it is primed to transform the landscape of mobile connections. Having witnessed over four years of commercial expansion, 5G technology has grown at an astonishing pace, outpacing the progress of its predecessors.
This rapid proliferation has ignited the growth of the digital economy, propelling an array of fresh experiences, connections, and services.
Beyond mere upgrades, 5G has unlocked a new world of immersive possibilities for individuals and homes. It has extended its influence into the Internet of Things (IoT), permeating various aspects of daily life, and has become integral to core industrial processes.
Moreover, it has catalyzed the development of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) services, shaping the future of intelligent transportation.
The timely upgrade to 5.5G that promises to enhance connectivity for individuals, homes, devices, vehicles, and industries. Huawei’s holistic suite of 5.5G solutions is engineered to expedite the construction of 5.5G networks efficiently.
It achieves this by fostering constant innovation across five fundamental categories of core capabilities: broadband, multi-band, multi-antenna, intelligent, and green.
What more to expect from 5.5G
One of the crown jewels in Huawei’s 5.5G offerings is the TDD multi-band multi-channel ELAA, designed to deliver 10 Gbps experiences.
The innovative Extremely Large Antenna Array (ELAA) has already significantly amplified TDD coverage and energy efficiency in commercial 5G networks. With the transition to 5.5G, the ELAA undergoes further enhancements.
The industry’s first 128T MetaAAU, which is a groundbreaking product, integrates over 500 antenna elements and collaborates with multidimensional high-resolution beam algorithms to enhance user experiences by an astounding 50%.
Further enriching the portfolio is the introduction of the industry’s first dual-band 64T MetaAAU, which pairs with dual-band converged elements to ensure co-coverage between high and low bands.
This delivers unparalleled experiences ranging from 5 to 10 Gbps, bolstered by multi-carrier solutions.
FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing) full-series GigaGreen solutions provide the impetus to upgrade fundamental experiences. They encompass the first FDD triple-band Massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) and triple-band 8T modules, which support GHz-level bandwidth.
This capability enables the integration of 1.8+2.1+2.6 GHz within a single box and complements FDD beamforming to enhance spectral and energy efficiencies.
When compared to conventional 4T4R (4 Transmit, 4 Receive) solutions, FDD triple-band Massive MIMO increases capacity by a staggering tenfold and coverage by 10 dB.
FDD triple-band 8T8R solutions elevate spectral efficiency by threefold and enhance coverage by 7 dB when combined with genuine wideband and dynamic power sharing technologies.
Notably, Huawei’s mmWave (millimeter-wave) Active Antenna Unit (AAU) takes center stage with the most extensive antenna array for continuous 10 Gbps coverage.
As the mmWave industry matures, this pioneering AAU encapsulates over 2,000 antenna elements, surmounting the challenges that mmWave has posed in terms of co-site co-coverage with C-band.
Through seamless coordination between high and low-frequency bands, mmWave networks now promise peak throughputs of 10 Gbps, averaging at 5 Gbps.
This AAU also boasts intelligent beam management, surmounting previous mobility restrictions and enhancing NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) transmission capabilities.
The story of 5.5G would be incomplete without the inclusion of the DIGIT Indoor System (DIS), featuring performance enhancements and energy-saving capabilities.
The LampSite X series demonstrates its prowess by seamlessly integrating five bands and mmWave into a singular device.
It can maintain full bandwidth across all radio access technologies while supporting ultra-deep dormancy, reducing off-peak power consumption to an astonishingly low 1 Watt.
In areas demanding high-quality coverage, the unique multi-band medium-power LightSite module guarantees a 35% improved user experience and offers a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared to conventional Distributed Antenna System (DAS) solutions.
More transformations in Antenna and Microwave Technologies
Green antennas embrace Direct Injection Feeding (SDIF) technology to redefine antenna architecture, while Meta Lens aggregates beam energy, resulting in 25% higher energy efficiency.
A new microwave platform known as MAGICSwave paves the way for network upgrades. It boasts ultra-wide multi-channel transmission capabilities, boosting backhaul efficiency, and offers greater capacity for urban and suburban areas.
Additionally, it integrates high levels of functionality, ensuring networks remain future-proof for the next decade.
5.5G Paves the Way
The iHashBand2.0’s innovative spectrum pooling technique represents a monumental advancement in the spectral efficiency of 5.5G technology.
With the introduction of Multi-Band Serving Cell (MB-SC), operators can now seamlessly combine fragmented spectrum resources, creating a virtual large bandwidth that promises staggering speeds of up to 10 Gbps.
This development comes with an impressive 40% boost in spectral efficiency, underscoring the potential of 5.5G networks.
The Flexible Spectrum Access (FSA) feature brings another dimension to the table, offering comprehensive access to uplink bands.
This translates into the promise of Gigabit-level uplink speeds, significantly enhancing network performance with a remarkable 40% increase in spectral efficiency.
The possibilities for data-intensive applications and real-time connectivity are now within reach.
Moreover, the complete suite of 5.5G equipment introduces a revolutionary “0 Bit 0 Watt” mode, representing a paradigm shift in energy consumption during periods of network dormancy.
This ingenious approach empowers networks with on-demand rapid wake-up capabilities and millisecond-level shutdown precision at both the carrier and channel levels.
By implementing site-specific energy-saving policies based on real-time traffic trends, this technology ensures the achievement of “0 Bit 0 Watt” at the network level.
Envisioning a future where intelligent connectivity reigns supreme, Huawei’s Intelligent Radio Access Network (RAN) marks a pivotal step toward achieving Level 4 (L4) network autonomy.
This heralds a transformative era where networks possess the capability to foresee potential issues and predict network performance, thus ushering in an era of proactive network maintenance.
Dedicated to enhancing user experiences, these intelligent networks now grasp the nuances of service intentions, resulting in a more precise and deterministic user journey.
To further elevate this experience, they embrace multi-objective decision-making, facilitating the optimization of service experiences while simultaneously boosting network energy efficiency.
In essence, this cutting-edge technology empowers networks to transition into a realm where predictive intelligence and proactive network management become the norm, revolutionizing the way we interact with and depend on modern connectivity.
Cao Ming aptly concluded, “The future is here. Huawei remains committed to collaborating with industry partners to bring 5.5G to life.”
The unveiling of Huawei’s full-series 5.5G solutions at MBBF 2023 marks a groundbreaking step towards an era of intelligent connectivity, where the possibilities are as boundless.