Uplink 5G is severely limited by the small antennas and relatively modest power in a mobile phone. Typical wireless networks have some unused spectrum in lower frequencies assigned to uplink, but it’s been difficult to use that spectrum to add to 5G uplink capacity.
Adding more uplink bandwidth to the signal has not been trivial. The 5G mid-band and mmWave use TDD (Time Division Duplexing.) TDD switches between upstream and downstream in the same spectrum. Lower bands use FDD (Requensy Division Duplexing.) FDD uses different frequency bands for upstream and downstream.
The claimed result: 5G uplink performance improved 20% to 60% near the cell site. Uplink doubled or more at the edge of the cell.
Working together, China Telecom and Huawei are testing Super Uplink in the field.
China Telecom and Huawei Jointly Release 5G Super Uplink Innovation Solution, Redefining 5G Networks Based on Industry Requirements
2019.06.27
[Shanghai, China, June 27, 2019] During MWC19 Shanghai, China Telecom and Huawei jointly release the 5G Super Uplink Joint Technology Innovation solution. A large number of new 5G services emerge in the new 2B/2C blue ocean markets, posing higher requirements on the uplink rate and latency. The 5G Super Uplink solution proposes the innovative networking technology featuring TDD/FDD coordination, high-band/low-band complementation, and time/frequency domain aggregation, which achieves an unprecedented uplink rate of 5G networks and reduces latency over the air interface. This solution truly redefined 5G networks based on industry requirements.
Liu Guiqing, Vice President, China Telecom Corporation Limited, third from left Ding Yun, Executive Director of the Board President, Carrier Business Group Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., third from right Yang Chaobin, President of 5G Product Line, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., second from right
At the “Hello 5G Encouraging the Future” 5G Innovation Cooperation Conference held in April this year, China Telecom formulated the networking strategy that depends on the standalone (SA) networking and applies three SA features of URLLC, eMBB, and eMTC to meet 2B/2C requirements. China Telecom has extensively explored 5G applications in vertical industries such as government affairs, transportation, ecosystem, party building, healthcare, tourism, policing, Internet of Vehicles (IoV), education, and manufacturing. In the future 2B/2C ecosystem, large bandwidth and low latency are the focus of services. For example, the 4K HD video backhaul will give rise to the boom of new media, Internet celebrity live broadcast, and other services, bringing immersive experience to the audience. Drone services, unmanned driving, and telemedicine have higher requirements on the uplink rate and network latency.
The 5G Super Uplink solution proposed by China Telecom and Huawei implements the time-frequency domain aggregation of TDD and FDD in the uplink frequency band. Therefore, the solution can increase uplink spectrum resources of NR, boost the uplink capability of the 5G network, reduce latency, and improve the utilization rate of the uplink spectrum of 2.1 GHz/1.8 GHz. At the launch event, the Proof of Concept (PoC) of “Super Uplink” was demonstrated. The test results showed that the experienced uplink rate of 5G UEs in the cell center was increased by 20% to 60%, the experienced uplink rate of 5G UEs at the cell edge was increased to 2 to 4 times, the air interface latency was reduced by about 30%, and the URLLC services were enabled. Huawei Balong 5000 chipset, customer-premises equipment (CPE), and Mate 20 X were also displayed at the event. Super Uplink is supported from end to end by Huawei 5G technologies.
Liu Guiqing, executive vice president of China Telecom Group Co., Ltd., said: “The five ecosystems extend to 5G and become the important engine for China Telecom’s continuous growth. China Telecom adheres to the philosophy of “Customer First, Attentive Service”, insists on formulating standards first and leading technology development, and pioneers the practice of 5G network innovation. To provide better 5G experience, optimize customers’ service awareness, and enhance differentiated competitiveness in the market, China Telecom cooperates with Huawei to propose the innovative 5G networking technology featuring TDD/FDD coordination, high-band/low-band complementation, and time/frequency domain aggregation. This solution aims to further improve the uplink data capability and reduce latency, providing better development space for vertical industry applications. China Telecom will work with industry partners to seek the optimal network experience solution and promote the prosperity of the industry.”
Ryan Ding, executive director, CEO of the Carrier BG of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., commented: “5G not only changes everyday life but also revolutionizes human society. Service requirements are driving the development of 5G technologies. 5G industry innovation represents uplink ultra-large bandwidth, ultra-low latency, end-to-end slicing, and mobile edge computing (MEC). Based on the digital requirements of the industry, Huawei and China Telecom proposed the 5G Super Uplink Joint Technology Innovation solution. It is another breakthrough after Huawei CloudAIR solution.”
Yang Chaobin, president of 5G Product Line, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., noted: “The Super Uplink solution can meet the service requirements of large bandwidth and low latency at the same time. We are honored to work with China Telecom to implement the test and verification of 5G Super Uplink. Huawei 5G supports end-to-end Super Uplink and co-deployment of NSA and SA. Huawei will help industry partners continuously innovate to create the optimal 5G experience.”
China Telecom and Huawei continue to cooperate closely in technological innovation, promote 5G innovation, and contribute to 5G industry development. Huawei will support the strategic goal of China Telecom’s 5G development as always, and deepen cooperation on Super Uplink to help China Telecom take the lead in the new era of a 5G intelligent world.
China Telecom Shanghai and Huawei Debut World’s First 5G Super Uplink Network
Aug 22, 2019
[Shanghai, China, August 22, 2019] China Telecom Shanghai and Huawei have joined forces to launch the world’s first 5G networks, with performance verification successfully completed at Tongji University. For China Telecom, which is the parent company of China Telecom Shanghai, and Huawei, this represents a big milestone that follows the joint release of the Super Uplink solution for 5G at the 2019 Mobile World Congress. Particularly, for China Telecom, the launch represents the first significant step towards the construction of leading commercial 5G networks supporting high uplink data speeds.
The rapid development of the interactive Internet continues unhindered. Online streaming, education, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, policing, and security among other critical services all require networks to provide higher uplink data speeds. China Telecom and Huawei aim to meet this challenge with the Super Uplink solution, which noticeably improves uplink capabilities and shortens latency via TDD/FDD spectral coordination, high/low band complementarity, and aggregation in time and frequency domains. Such a dramatic improvement will greatly empower vertical industry applications and reinforce China Telecom’s leading position in the mobile telecom market.
In just two short months, China Telecom Shanghai has constructed Super Uplink networks featuring small-scale continuous coverage, and completed full end-to-end verification relating to service dimensioning, network planning, site selection, device upgrade, and other key technologies. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on network functions and performance, demonstrating that the Super Uplink solution increases uplink speeds by 20%–100% under good radio conditions, while also delivering a fourfold increase to cell-edge uplink rates.
China Telecom Shanghai will expand pre-commercial trials of the networks and increase technological research and development, network construction, and industrial cooperation. China Telecom Shanghai has also decided to expand the application of Super Uplink at the second China International Import Expo, as it aims to secure a comprehensive adoption of this solution. China Telecom will continue to strengthen cooperation with various industries to promote 5G services and applications that fully utilize the advantages of low uplink latency.