Verizon has become the first network provider to conduct an over-the-air call on a 3GPP-compliant 5G New Radio (NR) system using licensed spectrum. The successful test on Verizon’s millimeter wave spectrum – using Nokia 5G network technology on a 5G NR prototype device provided by Qualcomm Technologies, was an important milestone on the road to preparing Verizon’s network for widespread implementation of commercial 5G mobile services for consumers and enterprises. The test was conducted at Nokia’s facility and follows prior interoperability testing between Nokia and Qualcomm Technologies.
The test was completed over Nokia’s CloudRAN solution, which is comprised of the Nokia AirScale baseband and radio, AirFrame server, and AirScale Cloud RAN running 5G NR 3GPP-compliant software. It also utilized Qualcomm's cutting-edge 5G NR millimeter wave prototype device, which includes an optimized millimeter wave RF front-end design in a smartphone form factor.
Verizon’s deployment of 5G technology over millimeter wave spectrum – beginning in 2018 – will provide massive bandwidth, ultra-high speed and single digit latency for emerging fixed and mobile use cases. As 5G continues to evolve, and as new use cases are developed and deployed, the compaany expects itself to be well positioned to deliver the capabilities those use cases call for to become a commercially viable solution.
