U.S. Cellular expands 5G tests with Ericsson to 28GHz

Oct 24, 2017 13:00 (GMT+0:00)

• Trials in Madison, Wisconsin focused on 5G in rural and suburban environments
• First carrier to trial 28GHz with radios at macro antenna height of 123 feet
• Demonstrated virtual reality video stream over 5G

U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) have completed joint testing of various 5G use cases at 28GHz. The tests, a significant step toward the launch of a 5G network, were conducted in rural and suburban environments in Madison, Wisconsin.

The trials were conducted under a variety of real-world conditions, and they achieved peak throughput speed of 8.5 Gbps. In addition, virtual reality was tested, achieving peak speeds of 4 Gbps. This virtual reality test was one of the highlights of the trial, as it proved how the ultra-high speeds and low latency of 5G will enable VR applications. The companies also tested augmented reality, advanced beamforming and massive MIMO.

The live over-the-air trials expanded on 5G trials between the two companies in 2016 that achieved 9 Gbps at 15GHz.

Michael S. Irizarry, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Cellular, says:

“This was an important trial for us to understand the propagation characteristics and path loss at 28Ghz, and we are pleased with our learnings. Our customers deserve to have a network that keeps up with their lifestyle, so we are constantly working to ensure that they will always have access to the latest technology and data speeds available.”

Niklas Heuveldop, Head of Market Area North America, Ericsson, says:

“5G activities continue to accelerate across North America as all operators prepare for deployments. U.S. Cellular is aggressively testing 5G to determine how to best leverage the new capabilities for its customers. Working with U.S. Cellular on this series of 5G trials has been greatly beneficial for Ericsson as we continue to explore innovative applications that 5G networks will enable.”

According to the most recent Ericsson Mobility Report , approximately 25 percent of all subscriptions will be 5G in North America in 2022, representing the highest market penetration in the world.

About U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier offers coverage where the other carriers don't and a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers' lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. For the third time in a row, U.S. Cellular has the Highest Wireless Network Quality Performance, according to J.D. Power’s twice-annual U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study, and 99 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds.