NTT DoCoMo has successfully tested millimetre wave (mmWave) technology in a real-world location, reaching a peak connection speed of more than 2 Gbps.
Carried out in partnership with Nokia Networks, the test took place in the Roppongi Hills high-rise complex in Tokyo, and used spectrum in the 70 GHz band.
mmWave frequencies are seen as a critical component of 5G, but they present significant challenges, particularly in commercial buildings, where signal strength is affected by reflective surfaces and base stations being out of line of sight with devices.
"This time, however, the trial was successful thanks to the use of two new technologies: beamforming, which focuses radio waves in a specific direction, and beam tracking to control beam direction according to the mobile device’s location," said DoCoMo, in a statement last week.
Earlier in November, DoCoMo and Samsung conducted a test in which a peak connection speed of 2.5 Gbps was delivered to a vehicle travelling at 60 kilometres per hour using 28-GHz spectrum and a large number of antennas in conjunction with beamforming and tracking.
"Going forward, DoCoMo will continue to research and develop advanced network technologies aimed at the commercial launch of a 5G next-generation mobile communications system by 2020," DoCoMo said.
