Nokia and the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) conducted a test of MulteFire technology, which combines LTE with Wi-Fi deployment in unlicensed spectrum bands such as 5GHz.
The test, which used Nokia's FlexiZone small cells together with MulteFire software, showed how MulteFire can coexist with Wi-Fi to deliver the performance, speeds and security offered by LTE in a densely populated environment, Nokia said.
During the test, Wi-Fi was turned on in the same frequency and placed very close to a MulteFire access point. MulteFire allows the delivery of high-speed services across multiple end-user devices regardless of end-users' mobile operator, allowing anyone with a MulteFire device to access data using a MulteFire access point.
The test showed up to 120 Mbps of total download and upload throughput. The test also showed up to 50 percent better range and up to two times better coverage in comparison to Wi-Fi.
MulteFire complements heterogeneous networks (HetNets), which use a mixture of macro and small cell radios, allowing operators to meet the increased connectivity demands of future smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Test in 5GHz band demonstrated coexistence with Wi-Fi. MulteFire delivered up to 50% better range compared to Wi-Fi. Commercialization of MulteFire will allow operators to simplify delivery of a high-speed, high-quality mobile broadband service and offer more subscribers a seamless mobile experience in public and private locations
Nasser Al-Nasser, Senior Vice President, Technology and Operations, STC, said: "We are the first operator in the world to have successfully conducted the test of MulteFire technology with Nokia. This test underpins our commitment to explore and identify the latest technologies that can further boost the overall service experience for our subscribers even as demand continues to grow. MulteFire will allow us to deliver LTE performance with a simplified deployment."
Waseem Al-Marzogi, head of STC Group Business, Nokia, said: "As one of the founding members of the MulteFire Alliance, Nokia is driving the development of a global technical specification, and this test is a crucial step toward commercialization of the technology. By collaborating with operators like STC, we can develop new ways of utilizing spectrum such as 5GHz to meet the network demands of today and tomorrow."
As data demand continues unabated, mobile operators want to explore more opportunities in other spectrum bands, for example the 5GHz band, to reach more of their subscribers in private enterprise networks such as stadiums, office blocks, shopping malls and airports. However, as the spectrum is shared by numerous technologies and the number of users increase, quality and speed can suffer.
Neutral Host test: MulteFire allows the delivery of high-speed services across multiple end-user devices regardless of their mobile operator, allowing anyone with a MulteFire device to access data using a MulteFire access point. The test showed up to 120 Mbps of total download and upload throughput.
Coexistence test: Tests showed MulteFire harmoniously coexisting with Wi-Fi when Wi-Fi was turned on in the same frequency and placed very close to a MulteFire access point.
Enhanced Coverage test: The test showed up to 50% better range and up to 2x better coverage in comparison to Wi-Fi.
The MulteFire Alliance was found in October 2015. It has a diverse set of international members from chipset vendors, infrastructure vendors to service providers.
Nokia is a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things. Powered by the innovation of Bell Labs and Nokia Technologies, the company is at the forefront of creating and licensing the technologies that are increasingly at the heart of our connected lives.
With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication service providers, governments, and large enterprises deliver on the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things. — SG
