Telecom Infra Project launches mmWave Networks Project Group

The Telecom Infra Project (TIP), started last year by Facebook, Nokia and Intel, has launched the Millimeter Wave (mmWave) Networks Project Group, co-chaired by Deutsche Telekom and Facebook, to address the growing demand for bandwidth in dense, highly-populated cities. The goal behind mmWave is to create an ecosystem of telecom operators and technology vendors that will work together to develop and deploy mmWave networks. The group will focus on advancing networking solutions that use 60 GHz, which supports the bandwidth required for virtual reality, augmented reality, 4K video streaming, smart city sensors and other emerging bandwidth-intensive applications.

The introduction of mmWave Networks Project Group will be supported by the launch of the first European TIP Community Lab in Bonn, Germany with mmWave as the initial focus area. Another TIP Ecosystem Acceleration Center (TEAC) will be launched in Berlin, Germany, focused on network infrastructure innovation. The TIP Community Labs will provide space and equipment for TIP members doing project group work. The idea is to harness the innovation also of startups, by giving them a workspace.

The mmWave group will use the data and experience of Facebook’s Terragraph proof-of-concept system that overcame the signal range and absorption limitations that previously confined the 60GHz frequency to indoor use. The group will also benefit from Deutsche Telekom’s experience and know-how in deploying new technologies, particularly in urban environments with complex technical and regulatory issues. 

The mmWave Group’s hardware engineering efforts will focus on promoting the design of nodes that combine radio transmitters and receivers. These nodes will be designed for installation on utility poles, street lamps, sides of buildings and other public locations throughout a city to provide coverage. They will work together in a mesh configuration, with traffic hopping from node to node to reach the reception point, which could be a Wi-Fi access point, small cell or a building. This network architecture requires only a handful of nodes to be connected to fiber in order to provide city-wide coverage, which will help minimize capital expenditures. In addition, the hardware will use a commercial off-the-shelf WiGig chipset components to contain costs. 

There will be software tools and best practices, with a four track approach including cost economics modelling, validation, network planning and best practices. Each track will support use cases. The project group will initially put its focus on fixed wireless access, mobile backhaul and smart city application use cases. 

The The mmWave Group held its first official meeting at Mobile World Congress Americas on 12 September.