Deutsche Telekom has claimed a first in Europe with a demonstration of 5G New Radio standards on a commercial mobile network in Berlin. With partner Huawei, the German operator achieved speeds over 2 Gbps and latency of 3 ms using a 3.7 GHz spectrum link.
The live test used Non-Standalone 5G NR mode. This means that the connection is anchored in the LTE network while 5G NR carriers are used to boost data rates and reduce latency. The 3GPP is expected to finalise the standards for this method by year-end, to be included in 3GPP Release 15.
Once the standards are defined, Telekom plans to trial the technology in 2018 to prepare for a wider deployment of commercial sites and the first devices available for end-users. On 12 October this year, Telkeom and Huawei will hold a 5G Experience Day in Berlin to discuss the progress further.
