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Spanish incumbent saw six-fold improvement in cell-edge performance in live test with ZTE.
Telefonica has conducted its first live test of massive multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) in Madrid, as part of the development work on 5G it is carrying out in partnership with ZTE.
The trial began in October at the Spanish incumbent’s headquarters, and was aimed at evaluating the performance of the technology in hotspot and indoor coverage scenarios.
Telefonica and ZTE said the performance of the pre-5G massive MIMO base station achieved a six-fold increase in cell-edge capacity compared to LTE macro base stations. 3D beamforming also reduced end-user interference.
"We see a lot of potential for this technology and its capability to bring a better experience for our customers," said Enrique Blanco, CTO of Telefonica, in a statement.
New applications were also demonstrated during the trial, including virtual reality and 2K video streaming. All tests were carried out on existing 4G terminals, including ZTE smartphones.
"We believe Pre5G massive MIMO technology can solve the Internet’s last mile problem by improving Internet access and therefore enhancing the user experience," Blanco said.
"Massive MIMO will be a fundamental technological enabler for future 5G networks," he added.
The trial represents the completion of the first phase of the 5G memorandum of understanding (MoU) established between Telefonica and ZTE in June.
The agreement also covers the IoT, network virtualisation and cloud technology.
