Nokia, along with Elisa (a global telecommunications company) have successfully tested 5G technology on the 3.5 GHz band for the first time in Europe. In the test, which took place in Rusko, Finland, on 7 April, 2017, a 5G signal was transmitted on the 3.5 GHz band between a base station and terminal which when at its peak, achieved data speeds of 1.5 Gbps with a latency at 1.5 milliseconds. These speeds are much higher than current commercial 4G-based networks.
The exercise is a continuation of 5G testing carried out last August, in which Elisa and Nokia tested the remote control of robots, 360-degree video streaming, as well as superfast next-generation mobile ultra-broadband. They are now eagerly waiting for the 3.5 GHz band to become fully available so that they can accelerate the offering of commercial 5G services to their customers.
The 3.5 GHz band is expected to be one of the key frequency bands for 5G networks globally. Its bandwidth of up to 400 MHz will facilitate fast data speeds and provide comprehensive coverage.
The 3.5 GHz band is set to become available in Finland on 31 December 2018, for commercial use.
