UK 5G Report Reveals “Significant Shortfall in Existing Infrastructure to Meet Future Aspirational Requirements”
December 20 2016 - 9:17AM
Findings from a new report from the National Infrastructure
Commission (NIC), created in conjunction with InterDigital
(NASDAQ:IDCC), has identified the necessary actions that the UK
government must prioritize if it is to deploy 5G effectively. The
report, entitled “5G Infrastructure requirements for the UK,”
recommends a significant schedule of work to be undertaken to
overcome issues with existing UK mobile network coverage and
capacity. This includes making recommendations for planning changes
and spectrum regulation to meet 5G requirements.
The study outlines four key inhibitors currently plaguing
existing UK 2G, 3G and 4G infrastructure that, unless addressed,
will prevent 5G meeting expectations:
- Greater scrutiny must be placed on improving mobile
coverage on parts of UK motorways and major ‘A roads’ –
Existing fiber network infrastructure that exists along major
routes must be released to improve mobile network coverage. This
includes better access to gantries, bridges and road signs for the
deployment of mobile equipment
- The UK must find ways of deploying mobile
infrastructure alongside major rail links – Greater
emphasis must be placed on deploying fiber trackside, including
‘pre-equipping’ new rail track being laid and giving consideration
to allocating dedicated wireless frequencies purely for the benefit
of rail passengers
- Issues related to cell densification, resulting
interference and spectrum management must be overcome to deliver
optimal 5G in and around major UK cities – A significant
increase in the number of small radio cells (located on street
furniture, small masts, walls etc.) is needed to meet the
performance requirements of future networks in urban
areas
- Significant steps must be taken to overcome poor mobile
coverage in rural areas of the UK – This follows a
commitment from UK operators to overcome financial restrictions and
invest in mobile infrastructure to fill existing ‘not spots’
Dirk Trossen, Principal Engineer, InterDigital Europe, stated:
“The latest NIC report is aimed at focusing the attentions of all
stakeholders tasked with making the UK 5G-ready a reality. It is
also intended to showcase the wealth of untapped infrastructure
already in place, but not being utilized, to accelerate UK 5G
deployment. As a major global economic power, the UK has a real
opportunity to take the lead and demonstrate how existing networks
can be leveraged, regulatory challenges overcome and technical
issues resolved to ensure 5G is a success.”
The National Infrastructure Committee is a central agency,
recently formed by the UK government, to oversee necessary
investment as well as policy oversight, when it comes to critical
national infrastructure. InterDigital’s involvement in the creation
of the NIC report was a direct result of a competitive government
tender. InterDigital, along with key partners LS Telcom and WHP
Telecoms Ltd, led a 5G technology readiness evaluation, conducting
interviews with key stakeholders to evaluate the current core 5G
technologies like SDN, NFV and MEC. These findings were
incorporated into the report’s wider understanding on barriers and
needed actions for areas such as local planning, site planning and
acquisition.
InterDigital is well-positioned to contribute to the design of
5G, having played a central role in defining global wireless
standards for the industry. It is among the leading contributors to
the standardization process for LTE (Long Term Evolution) and
LTE-Advanced, various IEEE 802 groups as well as ETSI TC M2M and
RRS. Currently, InterDigital’s 5G R&D team has a strong
focus on innovation in areas that include air interfaces, networks,
M2M/IoT, spectrum sharing and services enabled by 5G networks.
The full NIC report, “5G Infrastructure requirements for the UK
– LS Telcom report for the NIC,” can be viewed here.
About InterDigital®
InterDigital develops mobile technologies that are at the core
of devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the
industry's most critical and complex technical challenges,
inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a
richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment.
InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of
the world's leading wireless companies. Founded in 1972,
InterDigital is listed on NASDAQ and is included in the S&P
MidCap 400® index.
InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.
For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com.
InterDigital Contact:
Patrick Van de Wille
Email: patrick.vandewille@interdigital.com
+1 (858) 210-4814
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