5GWhat will it be?

The evolution of mobile communication

5G will operate in a

highly heterogeneous

environment

characterised by the

existence of multiple

types of access

technologies,

multi-layer networks,

multiple types of

devices and multiple

types of user

interactions.

In such an environment, thereis a fundamental need for 5Gto achieve seamless and consistent user experienceacross time and space.

Here are some of the excitingtechnology advances consumerscan expect from 5G.

VideoVideo communicationwith extremely high

resolution will have a muchwider usage with more advanced and extreme capabilities. An environmentwill emerge in which video isavailable to everyone, regardless of the physical location, the device being usedand the network connection.

Smart ClothesClothes consisting ofmultiple types of

devices and sensors will become mainstream. Thesesensors can measure variousenvironmental and health attributes such as heart rate,blood pressure, body temperature and skin moisture.

High-Speed TrainPassengers will usehigh-quality mobile

internet for information, interaction, entertainment or work - watching a HD movie,gaming online or having avideo conference, for example- while the train is in motion.

Air 3D ConnectivityPassenger services offered will comprise

of similar applications to thoseavailable on the ground. 3Dconnectivity will be used atsporting event live serviceswhere the user is moving physically in all 3 dimensions,e.g., balloonists, gliders, or skydivers.

Higher User MobilityVehicles will demandenhanced connectivity

for in-vehicle entertainment,accessing the internet, enhanced navigation throughinstant and real-time information,autonomous driving, safetyand vehicle diagnostics.

What could itmean to the

consumer?

What arethe technical challenges involved? www.cobham.com/wireless

5G presents far greaterchallenges to all wireless engineeringdisciplines than earliertechnology generations.

5G offers the promise of delivering the quality of experience that users are demanding, and will also open upopportunities for a truly connected society, powered byapplications that may still beunimagined today.

5G will be designed from the outset to support high-speeddata services, and will also be the enabler for a rapid expansion inM2M and the IoT. 5G will drivenew use cases for wirelesstechnology, but many of theseconcepts depend on proving thatnew radio interface technologiescan deliver the throughput, latency and capacity to empowerthe real-world applications of 5G.

Achieving these targets will require innovative breakthroughsin both system design methodol-ogy and validation techniques.Rather than being a single ‘generation-defining’ wirelesstechnology, 5G will be defined bya number of different servicesbeing delivered to the end useracross multiple access technologiesand multi-layer networks.

5G will effectively be a dynamic,coherent and flexible technological framework, andvery different to the previousgenerations of wireless standards.It will provide a system thatleverages a variety of technologiesdepending on the precise needsof the application. For examplemany IoT applications do notneed a high data rate, but may require very low latency, such asin the case of remotely controlledsurgery. As IoT is adopted by industries such as automotive,manufacturing and consumerelectronics, the applications forwireless technology will differ

dramatically, but the sheer volume will place heavy demandson network capacity and availability.

Taking these new applicationsfrom the concept phase to prototype, and eventually to rollout, will also require new and sophisticated testing andvalidation techniques. A new setof test solutions needs to be inplace to support the developmentof 5G, looking at everything fromthe chipset and the radio antenna to the end-to-end network performance.

5G testing needs to begin at thedesign phase. By adopting thismethodology, it’s possible to startat the ground level and work yourway up, refining processes alongthe way to understand, validateand improve system design and performance. This ‘design fortesting’ principle can provide thefoundation for 5G and the services it will enable.

Illustration: 5G trends, drivers, scenariosand design/test paradigm shifts

Cobham Wireless is

one of the founding

partners of 5GIC,

which is conducting

research and

development into

advanced technologies

for the 5G network of

the future.

The project aims to establish aworld-leading position in mobile broadband communications. Participantsinclude leading global mobilenetwork operators, infrastructure and toolsproviders, along with mediaand communications organisations, in addition tothe University of Surrey: hometo the research centre itself.

5G Innovation Centre, Surrey, UK

The 5GIC program gives Cobham an excellent platformfor collaboration with world-class researchers andcompanies in this exciting mobile communications field.

Cobham’s early engagement in5G research will consolidate itsposition as a leading innovatorin wireless network infrastructure test technologies and systems, providing test and measurement products to enable all stages of the R&Dcycle for this new generationof wireless technology.

Our involvement includes assuring the testability of thefuture high-complexity, high-density, intelligent largescale wireless systems by developing advanced wirelessnetwork simulation and modelling techniques for effective and efficient test scenario generation.

Cobham has been a key partner in 5G research rightfrom the beginning, just as wehave been with LTE-A, we areplaying a pivotal role in testand measurement innovationsto enable the core wireless technology research to develop concept-proving system prototypes, towards5G and beyond.

Cobham Wireless 5G technology

In co-operation with 5GIC, weare evaluating and developingthe use of the industry bench-mark TM500 infrastructure testplatform for research into newair interface technologies thatmay be suitable for 5G.

A FBMC modem architecturewith IOTA has been selected asthe first of the new air interface options to be explored, and we are developing a practical IOTAmodem on the TM500 testmobile platform.

Combining 5GIC’s core algorithm research and ourwireless system engineeringcapabilities has alreadyyielded positive initial results inexperimental modem design.These include evaluation ofphysical layer performancegains resulting in potential system design enhancementsthat could be achieved usingFBMC technologies. It has alsofacilitated the validation oftheoretical analysis, andhelped both in understandingand solving practical design issues and in identifying recommendations for futureareas of research.

How willCobham

Wireless beahead of

the curve? www.cobham.com/wireless

About Cobham Wireless

Delivering state-of-the-art wireless and connectivity solutions that give our customers a competitiveedge.

At Cobham Wireless, we are global leaders in the provision of advanced wireless coverage and mobile communications systems, producing innovative, cost-effective solutions that address marketrequirements for improved connectivity, greater capacity and better quality of experience.

www.cobham.com/wireless