Working with Cisco, Ericsson, Intel, LG, Nokia and Samsung, Verizon has defined a 5G radio interface ahead of its fixed broadband pilot in 2017.

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

July 11, 2016

2 Min Read
Verizon Issues First 5G Radio Spec

Verizon said Monday that it has finished its initial 5G radio specification -- pushing ahead of the industry-wide standardization process -- before it launches a fixed wireless broadband pilot in the US in 2017.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) formed its 5G Technology Forum (V5GTF) late in 2015 with Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO), Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), LG Electronics Inc. (London: LGLD; Korea: 6657.KS) , Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK), Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM) and Samsung Corp. The operator says the group "has created a common and extendable platform for Verizon's 28/39 GHz fixed wireless access trials and deployments." (See Verizon & Partners to Field Test 5G in 2016.)

Verizon is expecting to launch a 5G fixed wireless trial in 2017. It has been testing a 28GHz pre-5G specification with Samsung in multiple locations in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Texas this year. (See Verizon Will Pilot 5G Fixed Wireless in 2017.)

For all the latest news on 5G, visit the dedicated 5G site here on Light Reading.

"End users will experience gigabits-per-second throughputs and single-millisecond latencies," Verizon says in its 5G radio page.

The "5G" radio interface comprises the interface between the User Equipment (UE) -- i.e. handsets and smartphones -- and the network. The radio interface covers Layers 1, 2 and 3. (See Is This the 5G You're Looking For?)

Verizon's radio interface will use Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) to buffer the signal from the interference in the downlink and uplink. (See 5G Needs More Joined-Up Thinking – Heavy Reading.)

Verizon is getting its radio specification out way ahead of the official first 3GPP 5G radio specification. The New Radio (NR) requirements are supposed to be agreed by September 2016, with Layer 1 and 2 work slated to be completed by 2017. The first 3GPP 5G radio is due to be "baked" by June 2018. (See 3GPP Wants to Complete Initial 5G Radio Spec in June 2018.)

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like