Nokia has released a software update that upgrades existing 4G radio equipment to a 5G New Radio (5G/NR) environment. In addition, the mobile network specialist is releasing Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS).
The upgrade makes it possible for mobile operators to set up existing mobile equipment on mobile sites even more efficiently. This is particularly beneficial for the radios in the antennas.
Rollout of 5G/NR FDD
The radios generate the signal for the antennas on mobile sites. By rearranging the existing 4G spectrum, these radios can also generate a 5G signal. This is done using TDD spectrum based on TDD cmWave and TDD-mWave technology for frequencies above 6 GHz and 30 GHZ.
In the coming period, 5G/NR implementations will be carried out by rearranging the existing FDD frequencies below 6 GHz. For this purpose, the TDD spectrum, for greater coverage and capacity, will be combined in the existing FDD infrastructure and frequencies via TDD/FDD Carrier Aggregation. This is also referred to as ‘refarming’.
With the software update, this last action can be rolled out by software and thus facilitates the roll-out of 5G/NR FDD. Mobile operators will no longer have to visit mobile sites to do this manually. Now, this roll-out can be done by software from a central point. This saves costs and also ensures that mobile sites do not have to shut down temporarily.
Dynamic Spectrum Sharing
In addition to the software update for 5G/NR, Nokia also recently released the technology Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS). With the technology, which covers all mobile technology from 2G to 4G, mobile operators will soon be able to reuse all their radio frequencies for 5G/NR. This also makes the upgrade to 5/NR easier and ultimately cheaper.
Availability software update
The software update for 5G/NR via 4G/LTE radios is only available for your own radio equipment. According to Nokia, it currently supports approximately 1 million Nokia mobile radios. By the end of 2021, this number should be 3.1 million, and there is potential for up to 5 million radios. Nokia has 359 customers worldwide who actively use FDD radios deployed for LTE. Most of these radios can be upgraded.
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