Ericsson, Intel and China Mobile achieve 3GPP-compliant, multi-vendor Standalone 5G NR interoperability

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Intel, together with China Mobile Research Institute and China Mobile Jiangsu Company, have successfully demonstrated the first 3GPP-compliant, multi-vendor Standalone (SA) 5G New Radio (NR) call – accelerating the commercial deployment of standard-based 5G networks.

The 3GPP Release 15 5G NR SA specifications were completed on June 13, 2018 enabling Standalone 5G NR with user and control plane on a 5G next-generation core network. The Non-Standalone and SA releases share the same physical layer specifications. The successful interoperability test marks another milestone for the commercialization of the newly finalized 5G NR SA standards.

The partners have conducted live Interoperability Development Testing (IoDT) of 3GPP-compliant SA 5G NR technology at the Ericsson Lab in Beijing, China. The live IoDT operating at 100MHz on 3.5GHz mid-band used Ericsson’s 5G NR base stations and Intel’s 5G NR UE (Intel® 5G Mobile Trial Platform) prototypes.

Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks, Ericsson, says: “Successfully completing the first 3GPP-compliant Standalone 5G NR call marks another milestone with our ecosystem partners on the path to 5G commercialization, building on our years of research and standardization. Together, we’re delivering on our commitment to realize a standard-compliant and easily deployable technology that will bring benefits to our customers and end users.”

Asha Keddy, Vice President and General Manager Next Generation Standards, Intel, says: “Intel’s ongoing collaboration with Ericsson and China Mobile and our achievement of 3GPP-compliant Standalone (SA) 5G New Radio (NR) multi-vendor interoperability will help to prepare the industry for the deployment of 5G NR SA networks. As 5G networks begin to be deployed, a new wave of 5G experiences will be possible, powered by Intel technologies across the cloud, core network, access network, and devices.”

Huang Yuhong, Deputy General Manager of China Mobile Research Institute, says: “China Mobile has worked hard with global partners in setting up a common 5G SA standard. Now we have teamed up with Ericsson and Intel to achieve successful interoperability of 5G NR among multi vendors. This is an important milestone for the commercialization of 5G standards and will lay a solid foundation for China Mobile in our large-scale 5G trial, enabling the success of the global 5G industry.”

Later this year, Ericsson and China Mobile will conduct a 5G field trial in Suzhou city of Jiangsu Province, where the demo system will also be deployed and tested. Ericsson and Intel have been collaborating on 5G and jointly conducting trials globally with communication service providers since 2017. More details about Standalone 5G NR Interoperability Development Testing can be found here.

The three companies will hold a joint SA 5G NR live call demonstration at Mobile World Congress Shanghai, from June 27 to June 29, 2018.