Deutsche Telekom’s innovation lab - 5G:haus has recently completed a world first field trial of self-interference cancellation (SIC) technology together with Kumu Networks. SIC is a potential 5G technology that allows in-band full duplex communication. In other words, it solves the challenge of simultaneously transmitting and receiving signals at the same time and on the same frequency, thus significantly enhancing the spectral efficiency.
In the field trial which took place on its local network in Prague & Czech Republic, Deutsche Telekom and Kumu Networks were able to evaluate the capabilities of SIC under realistic conditions and test the use of SIC to provide in-band full duplex communication. The field trial was focused on measuring the stability and robustness of the technology in a variety of challenging, real-world deployment scenarios. The trial successfully demonstrated the potential of the technology to increase spectral efficiency and its relevance as an enabler for 5G networks.
In the 5G:haus framework, Deutsche Telekom has engaged with leading research and industry partners to evaluate potential 5G technology enablers and will continue to do so. 5G:haus leverages DT’s European footprint, with trials and evaluations taking place at many different host locations. DT and Kumu Networks cooperation within 5G:haus was announced in March 2015.
In-band full duplex communication has a rich set of potential applications – it is defined in the NGMN Whitepaper as a Technology Building Block for 5G. In the 5G network architecture, it can enable efficient implementation of new radio features to achieve greater spectral efficiency and boost network capacity. Moreover, it can even provide benefits for today’s networks. For example, SIC could solve the small cell backhaul problem by allowing an efficient re-use of spectrum normally exclusively used to serve end-users, thus providing the so-called self-backhauled small cell. This product would allow the network operator to install small cells even in places, where they would otherwise not be possible due to missing or expensive backhaul connectivity.
Deutsche Telekom and Kumu Networks made a world-wide first public demonstration of the self backhauled small cell in June 2015 at the IWPC conference.
