Ericsson and Deutsche Telekom Breaks 100Gbps Barrier Over Line of Sight MIMO Microwave Link

1. Wireless backhaul confirmed as a future-proof technology in 5G era
2. Microwave link over 1.5km in live trial achieves 10 times greater throughput than current commercial solutions 
3. Joint innovation project used Ericsson’s latest mobile transport technology

German Telecom giant Deutsche Telekom (DT) and Ericsson have concluded a ground breaking data transmission trial, Reaching beyond 100 Gbps  data stream, consistently through a Line of Sight MIMO microwave link at distance of 1.5 km.
The trial was conducted at the Deutsche Telekom Service Center in Athens, Greece, demonstrated the potential of applying spectral efficient techniques like MIMO on wireless backhaul technologies that will address the demands of 5G radios, backup for fiber links and even closing gaps in fiber rings when a physical fiber cable is not feacible.

“Advanced backhaul solutions will be needed to support high data throughput and enhanced customer experience in the 5G era. This milestone confirms the feasibility of microwave over millimeter wave spectrum as an important extension of our portfolio of high-capacity, high-performance transport options for the 5G era. In addition, it represents a game changing solution for future fronthauling capabilities.” said  Alex Jinsung Choi, SVP Strategy & Technology Innovation at Deutsche Telekom.

He was joined by  Per Narvinger, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson, who echoed: ”This trial signifies the successful establishment of true fiber capacities over the air using microwave.  This means that microwave will be even more relevant for communications service providers in creating redundant networks as a back-up for fiber, or as a way of closing a fiber ring when fiber is not a viable solution. By carrying such high capacities, microwave further establishes itself as a key transport technology, capable of delivering the performance requirements of 5G.”

Technical details

Key technological advances included an 8x8 line-of-sight MIMO (LOS) with cross polarization interference cancellation setup using commercial MINI-LINK 6352 radios and a 2.5 GHz channel bandwidth in the E-band (70/80 GHz) able to transmit eight independent data streams over the radio path. This corresponds to a breakthrough spectrum efficiency of 55.2 bps/Hz at peak. During the mid-April trial, transmission rates measures were consistently above 100 Gbps, with telecom grade availability (higher than 99.995 percent), with peak rates reaching 140 Gbps.

In late 2018, Ericsson and Deutsche Telekom broke the 40Gbps barrier fully using commercial equipment including Ericsson’s MINI-LINK 6352 solution, which currently provides 10Gbps capacity over a 2000MHz channel. To raise throughput by more than 10 times, this trial used a 2500MHz channel and pre-commercial baseband and MIMO processing equipment in addition to MINI-LINK 6352 radios.

DT

Vodafone and Telefónica Deutschland Enter in to Broadband Agreement contingent upon EC's Approval of Vodafone’s Liberty Global Deal.

 
Vodafone announced on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement to let rival Telefónica Deutschland access its broadband network in Germany. It is a major step in garnering regulatory approval for Brtish Company's Liberty Global deal.
Last year, Vodafone announced a $22 billion deal to buy Liberty Global's cable networks in Germany and central Europe, but it's still awaiting approval from the European Union. If the acquisition goes through, Vodafone would be better equipped to compete against market leader Deutsche Telekom in Germany.
Vodafone and Telefónica Deutschland Enter in to Broadband Agreement contingent upon EC's Approval of Vodafone’s Liberty Global Deal.
Telefónica Deutschland agreement with Vodafone is contingent on the European Commission accepting it as a solution for Vodafone’s Liberty Global acquisition. The agreement, if reaches full fruitation, would allow Telefónica Deutschland to offer faster internet speeds and even TV services in the country. Telefónica Deutschland has access and offers it's services via Deutsche Telekom’s copper-based network.





VODAFONE SIGNS CABLE WHOLESALE AGREEMENT WITH TELEFÓNICA DEUTSCHLAND

Vodafone Group Plc (“Vodafone”) announces today that it has entered into a definitive agreement for a cable wholesale agreement in Germany with Telefónica Deutschland (“Telefónica DE”) (“the Cable Wholesale Agreement”).

The Cable Wholesale Agreement will allow Telefónica DE to offer high-speed broadband services to consumers on Vodafone and Unitymedia's cable network in Germany, and is subject to the completion of Vodafone's acquisition of Liberty Global's operations in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania (“the Transaction”) which is conditional on European Commission approval.

Under the terms of the Cable Wholesale Agreement, Telefónica DE will be able to market broadband services over the combined Vodafone and Unitymedia cable network in Germany, which covers 23.7 million households. Telefónica DE’s customers will benefit from access to download speeds of up to 300 Mbps on the combined cable network, superior to the highest available speeds offered by wholesale DSL access, enabling Telefónica DE to deliver competitive broadband and over-the-top (OTT) TV services.

The Cable Wholesale Agreement has been signed on a long-term basis, with Telefónica DE committed to achieving a minimum level of customers over the term of the contract.

Following discussions with the European Commission, Vodafone has submitted a remedy package comprising the Cable Wholesale Agreement and a commitment to ensure sufficient capacity is available for OTT TV distribution, (the “OTT Commitment”). In combination, the Cable Wholesale Agreement and OTT Commitment will enhance broadband competition in Germany to the benefit of consumers and broadcasters. The European Commission now intends to undertake market testing of the remedy package, which is expected to conclude during May 2019.

Vodafone now expects the European Commission to undertake market testing of the remedy package, and to adopt its decision on the Transaction by July 2019 with completion occurring later that month.

Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone Group, said:

“Our deal with Liberty Global is transformational in many ways. It is a significant step towards a Gigabit society, which will enable consumers & businesses to access the world of content & digital services at high speeds. It also creates a converged national challenger in four important European countries, bringing innovation & greater choice. We are very pleased to announce today our cable wholesale access agreement with Telefonica DE, enabling them to bring faster broadband speeds to their customers and further enhancing infrastructure competition across Germany.”

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