• Signal handed off to vehicle traveling between two radio sectors
• Data transmission on 28GHz spectrum was sent from two 5G NR radios
• Test took place at Nokia’s campus in Murray Hill, New Jersey
• Verizon says it is now moving 5G “out of the lab and into the field”

Verizon and its key vendor partner Nokia say they have acheived another major 5G “first” – this one being the first successful transmission of a 3GPP New Radio (NR) 5G signal to a receiver situated in a moving vehicle, seamlessly handing off the signal from one radio sector to another. Whilst we’ve long been critical of positioning 5G deployment as some kind of a race, we’re more than happy that certain telcos are keen to highlight and document their early stage tests and trials (obviously more technical detail would be appreciated, but commercial reality means that competitors can go snoop someplace else).

What we do know about Verizon’s test is that it used the 28GHz mmWave spectrum with measurements made via a building-mounted receiver at Nokia’s campus in New Jersey.

Verizon notes that the test vehicle travelled between the two radios, “achieving seamless 5G NR Layer 3 3GPP-compliant mobility handoff of the signal between the two sectors (intra-gNB and inter-DU)”. For those not immersed in the standards processes, some explanation is required here. The term gNB refers to a next generation NodeB, which is essentially a base station (the reasons for calling a base station NodeB date back to 3G days). A gNB base station consists of two logical nodes: a gNB-Centralized Unit (gNB-CU) and gNB-Distributed Unit (gNB-DU). Thanks to our old friend Martin Sauterfor tracking down the original of the “g” (no, it does not mean gigabit…). Lesson over.

Key Quote: 

• “Unlike some of the incremental 5G technology announcements we’ve seen lately, tests like the one we conducted are significant advancements in the development of 5G technology,” said Bill Stone, VP Technology Development and Planning, Verizon. “By taking these tests out of the lab and into the field, we’re replicating the experience users will ultimately have in a 5G mobility environment.”

Original Press Release:

5G on the move: Verizon and Nokia complete first 5G NR mobility call

NEW YORK – Verizon and our technology partner Nokia continue to advance the development and deployment of 5G technology by achieving another major 5G milestone: the first successful transmission of a 3GPP New Radio (NR) 5G signal to a receiver situated in a moving vehicle, seamlessly handing off the signal from one radio sector to another. The test took place at Nokia’s campus in Murray Hill, NJ. It follows the companies’ successful completion of a series of outdoor data sessions over the 5G NR standard, and the successful multi-carrier aggregation to boost those signals into Gbps range, that took place in June – also both industry firsts.

In the test, a data transmission on 28 GHz spectrum was sent from two 5G NR radios on the Nokia building to a vehicle outfitted with a receiver and equipment to measure transmission statistics. The vehicle traveled between the two radios, achieving seamless 5G NR Layer 3 3GPP-compliant mobility handoff of the signal between the two sectors (intra-gNB and inter-DU).

“Unlike some of the incremental 5G technology announcements we’ve seen lately, tests like the one we conducted are significant advancements in the development of 5G technology,” said Bill Stone, vice president, Technology Development and Planning for Verizon. “By taking these tests out of the lab and into the field, we’re replicating the experience users will ultimately have in a 5G mobility environment.”

“We are pleased to showcase the acceleration of the mobile capabilities in 5G,” said Marc Rouanne, president, Mobile Networks, Nokia. “Enhanced mobile broadband is one of the first services being delivered on Nokia's end-to-end 5G Future X portfolio. As a result, we can help our customers meet their early 5G deployment schedules and initial coverage demands.”

First to launch 5G residential broadband service in four U.S. markets

Verizon has announced it will be first to launch 5G residential broadband service in four markets in the U.S. – Los Angeles, Sacramento, Houston and Indianapolis – in the second half of 2018, followed by a mobile 5G solution.

Learn more about Verizon's plans for bringing 5G technology to our customers