The recent completion of the 35th 5G benchmark study by the publisher involved a collaboration with Accuver Americas and Spirent Communications. This independent benchmark study focused on 5G 4CC using T-Mobile’s commercial 5G network in rural South Carolina, with Ericsson serving as the RAN infrastructure supplier.
The report’s highlights include:
Acknowledgements: The study was a joint effort with Accuver Americas (XCAL-M and XCAP) and Spirent Communications (Umetrix Data). The publisher was responsible for data collection, analysis, and commentary.
Methodology: Using a Galaxy S23 smartphone, the study tested downlink performance in a cluster of 10 Gbps cell sites with 1180 MHz of Band n41, 220 MHz of Band n25, and 220 MHz of Band n71. Drive tests were primarily conducted along rural roads and suburban neighborhoods, suitable for fixed wireless access (FWA) service.
FWA is for Real: The report emphasized the impressive 5G network capacity, exceeding mobile broadband needs. Cell sites were upgraded to support FWA services for surrounding homes and businesses.
FDD-TDD CA: In addition to overall performance, the study explored the benefits of FDD-TDD carrier aggregation, focusing on using a lower frequency 5G carrier to extend Band n41 coverage and enhance throughput in poor coverage scenarios.
SRS-based Beamforming: The report revisited the advantages of SRS-based beamforming for improving end-user data speeds and MU-MIMO in low-mobility scenarios, quantifying the gains and exploring the relationship between mobility and SRS accuracy.
Key Topics Covered:
- Executive Summary
- Key Observations
- Detailed Results and Analysis
- 3.1 Summary Level Information
- 3.2 FDD-TDD Coverage Extension
- 3.3 Impact of Mobility on SRS-based Beamforming
- 3.4 Fixed Wireless Access
- Test Methodology
- Final Thoughts
Companies Mentioned:
- Accuver Americas
- Spirent Communications
- Samsung
