CONTENTS

CONTENTS
FEB 2019 VOL. 21 NO. 1 ISSUE 180

To enable connectivity and trust everywhere

VIP Voices VIP Voices

VIP Voices
Nomotech: Closing the Digital Divide in Rural France
Expert Views
Considerations for 5G Network Deployments 02 Nomotech: Closing
02 Nomotech:
the Digital Dividethe
Closing in Rural France
Digital Divide in Rur
Standalone or Non-Standalone, That Is Not the Question
Reporter: Liu Yang R
Special Topic: 5G Scan for mobile reading

06 COAI’s Director
06 General
COAI’s Talks About
Director Opportunities
General and
Talks About Opportu
Challenges for India’s Telecom
Challenges forSector
India’sinTelecom
2019 Sector in 201
ZTE TECHNOLOGIES
ZTE TECHNOLOGIES Reporter: Sun Dong Re
FEB 2019 VOL. 21 NO.FEB
1 2019
ISSUE 180
VOL. 21 NO. 1 ISSUE 180

Advisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee

Director: Wang Xiang Director: Wang Xiang
Expert Views
Expert Views
Deputy Directors: Sun Fangping,
DeputyYu Directors:
Yifang, Sun Fangping, Yu Yifang,
Zhang Wanchun, Zhu Yongxing
Zhang Wanchun, Zhu Yongxing
Advisers: Bai Yanmin, Chen Jian,
Advisers: Bai Yanmin, Chen Jian, 10 Considerations
10 forConsiderations
5G Network Deployments
for 5G Network Deployment
Chen Yufei, Cui Li, Cui Liangjun,
ChenFang Hui,Cui Li, Cui Liangjun, Fang Hui,
Yufei, By Duan Xiaowei
Heng Yunjun, Liu Jianhua, Meng
HengQingtao,
Yunjun, Liu Jianhua, Meng Qingtao,
Sun Peng, Ye Ce Sun Peng, Ye Ce
14 Standalone or
14Non-Standalone, That Is Not the Question
Standalone or Non-Standalone, That Is Not t
By Alex Wang
Editorial Board Editorial Board
Director: Wang Xiang Director: Wang Xiang
Deputy Director: Huang Xinming
Deputy Director: Huang Xinming
Members: Han Gang, HuangMembers:
Xinming, Jiang Wen, Huang Xinming, Jiang Wen,
Han Gang,
Liu Qun, Wang Xiang, Liu Qun, Wang Xiang, Special Topic:
Special Topic:
Wang Quan, Zhang Zhenchao
Wang Quan, Zhang Zhenchao

Sponsor: ZTE Corporation

Sponsor: ZTE Corporation 16 Common Core
16Facilitates
CommonRapid
Core 5G Deployment
Facilitates Rapid 5G Deploym
Edited By Shenzhen EditorialEdited
Office,By
Corporate
Shenzhen Editorial Office, Corporate By Zheng Xingming By
Development Department Development Department
Editor-in-Chief: Wang XiangEditor-in-Chief: Wang Xiang
Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Huang
Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Huang Xinming
Xinming 20 Tapping Potential
20 Tapping
of 5G Through Spectrum
Potential of 5G Through Spectrum
Editorial Director: Liu Yang Editorial Director: Liu Yang By Shan Yanzhen
Executive Editor-in-Chief: Yue
Executive
Lihua Editor-in-Chief: Yue Lihua
Circulation Manager: WangCirculation
Pingping Manager: Wang Pingping 23 UniSite: Building
23 UniSite:
a Simplified and Convergent
Building a Simplified Site
andfor 4G
Converge
By Ding Guanghe B
Editorial Office Editorial Office to 5G Evolution to 5G Evolution
Address: NO. 55, Hi-tech Road
Address:
South, Shenzhen, P.R.China
NO. 55, Hi-tech Road South, Shenzhen, P.R.China
Postcode: 518075 Postcode: 518075
Tel: +86-755-26775211 Tel: +86-755-26775211 26 ZTE 4MIX Distributed
26 ZTE 4MIX
CloudDistributed
Solution Builds
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Fax: +86-755-26775217 Fax: +86-755-26775217
Website: wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/about/publications
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Email: yue.lihua@zte.com.cnEmail: yue.lihua@zte.com.cn By Ma Chirong

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 10 10

02 02
26 26 16 16

33Mobile
o Boost 5G AI to Network
Boost 5GOperations for Future
Mobile Network Operations for Future
By Tang Liang By Tang Liang

36Standards
gress of 5G Progressin
of3GPP
5G Standards in 3GPP
By Cai Xiaoliang By Cai Xiaoliang

ess Story
Success Story 06 06

38Mobile
E and China Jointly
ZTE and ChinaProvide
MobileWireless
Jointly Coverage
Provide Wireless Coverage
HongKong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
for HongKong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
By Shang Boxing By Shang Boxing

Clipping
Press Clipping

40 HowCore
w ZTE’s Common Will
ZTE’s Help Telcos
Common CoretoWill
Evolve
Help Telcos to Evolve
m Existing Networks to 5G Networks to 5G
from Existing
By Juan Pedro Tomás By Juan Pedro Tomás 38 38

01 01
VIP Voices VIP Voices

"With 5G,
"With
it will
5G,beiteasier
will befor
easier
us tofor us to
addressaddress
specificspecific
things."things."
— Frederic Chassaing,
— Frederic
Nomotech
Chassaing,
Methods
Nomotech
& Quality
Methods
Director
& Quality Director

02 02
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

motech:
Nomotech:
osing
Closing
the Digital
the Digital
vide
Divide
in Rural
in Rural
France
France
iu Yang Reporter: Liu Yang

T
here is a big broadband
here
gap carry
is a big broadband gapusing to the maximum
carry using
capacity
to the
themaximum capacity the
between France’s urban
between
and rural technology
France’s urban and rural offer. technology offer.
areas.ZTE
areas. In an interview with In an interview with ZTE
Technologies, Frederic Chassaing, What efforts has the industry
Technologies, Frederic Chassaing, What efforts
madehas
in bridging
the industry made in bridging
Methods & Nomotech
Quality Director,
Methods the digital
and& Quality Director, and divide in rural
theareas?
digital divide in rural areas?
Arias, Nomotech
Jonathan
ChiefArias,
Technical
Nomotech Chief Technical
ked about how
Officer,
the talked
company
about Theuses
useshow the company industry has had to
Theorganise
industryitself
has into
had ato organise itself into a
nology to offer
radio
high
technology
speed internet big internet
to offer high speed InfraNum.
federation, namedbig federation,
Thisnamed InfraNum. This federation
federation
as where fiber
in rural
is not
areas
easily
where
available speaks
fiber is not easily with the government
available speaks and
withtries
the government
to make and tries to make
will exploreand
newhow
technologies
it will explore sure thatand
andnew technologies the best decisions
sure that
willthe
be best
madedecisions
for will be made for
ies in the future.
opportunities
Foundedininthe
2003, theinfuture.
future. Founded 2003,ZTE is reallythe
involved
future. in
ZTE
this
is industry
really involved in this industry
specializes Nomotech ultra-high-in high and to
in high andspecializes join the effort and create
ultra-high- to joinstrong
the effort
partnerships
and create strong partnerships
adband internet
speedaccess,
broadband internet access, in
covering order to help the digital
covering in order
divide.
to help
We have
the digital divide. We have
al areas using
mainly
terrestrial areas using terrestrial developed
rural technologies. thanks to InfraNum,
technologies. developedskills
thanks to InfraNum, skills
empowerment, standardization,
empowerment,
relationship
standardization, relationship
h objectives is
“Nomotech
to achieveobjectives
very high is to achieve very
with high
the French government
with theand
French
the local
government and the local
net access nationally
speed internet
in France
access
bynationally in France by
authorities. authorities.
the two million
addressing
homes the
thattwo
willmillion
be homes that will be
ly deprived of
permanently
FTTH connection.” What difficulties haveWhat
deprived of FTTH connection.” you met
difficulties
during have
your you met during your
deployments? deployments?
al broadband
Why
so vital
is rural
in France?
broadband so vital in France?
All territories are different
All territories
and the difficulty
are different
is and the difficulty is
s keeping a strong
France
willis of
keeping
equality: to equality:
a strong will of adapt the technology
to adapt
to these
theterritories.
technology to these territories.
hould get the
everyone
same quality
shouldof Eachofcase is specific. You
get the same quality Each
have
caseinisFrance
specific.
100You have in France 100
, wherever he
broadband,
lives. In France,
wherever departments.
20%heoflives. In France, 20% ofEach department
departments.
is very
Each
different
department is very different
tion lives inthe
rural
population
areas. It islives in rural areas. from
therefore the neighboring from
It is therefore one. So
thewe
neighboring
must choose
one. So we must choose
sive and sometimes
very expensive
too difficult
and sometimes
to tooand adapttothe better technology
difficult and adapt the
for each
bettercase.
technology for each case.
sers with thereach
FTTH.
all users with the FTTH. However, to deploy it, However,
we alwaystouse
deploy
the same
it, we always use the same
w that in 10 years’
We know
time or
that
more, years’ time industrial
in 10there operating method.
or more, there industrial operating method.
o million people
will be
without
two million
opticalpeople Nomotech
fiber without optical fiber is very flexible,
Nomotech
innovative
is very
andflexible, innovative and
o Nomotechinwants
Francetosobring
Nomotech resourceful
internetwants to bring and will always
internet resourceful
find the
and
best
will always find the best
e forgotten people
to all these
with forgotten
high people with compromise
high to deploycompromise
the right product
to deploy
for the right product for
. We keep increasing
bandwidth.the
Wedata
keep increasing theeach
rates, datasituation.
rates, each situation.
n actually easily
and webring
can30actually
Mbps or easily
50 bring 30 Mbps or 50
he customers.
Mbps
In the
to future,
the customers. “Thiswe
we will In the future, solution
will (Fixed Wireless
“This solution
Access)(Fixed
must be
Wireless Access) must be

03 03
VIP Voices VIP Voices

adopted in every ruraladopted

area in France,
in everytorural
helparea
the in France, to help the
departments because departments
they continuebecause
to put they continue to
most isolated and forgotten
most isolated
people” and forgotten people”
optical fiber, and as weoptical
know fiber,
it isn’tand
a fast
as we know it isn’t a
process, so Nomotech process,
can deploy
so Nomotech
one radio can deploy one
You have maintained strong
You have
growth.
maintained
How dostrong growth. How do
network to help them network
offer internet
to help
access
them offer internet ac
you attribute your success?
you attribute your success? rapidly while waiting for
rapidly
the optical
while waiting
fiber tofor the optical fib
be deployed fully. be deployed fully.
Strategy and hard work.
Strategy
We areand
focused
hard on
work. We are focused on
our strategy, staying very
our close
strategy, staying very close to Where
to the the do you see the Where
biggestdo
challenges?
you see the biggest challeng
customer’s needs. Regular
customer’s
meetings,
needs.
callsRegular
and meetings, calls and
follow up on the actions
follow
required
up onfor
thethe
actions required forThanks
the to the market opening
Thanks towith
the the
market opening with
project, give Nomotech
project,
the edge
givetoNomotech
be close the edge to be closespectrum, the
dedicated dedicated
biggest spectrum,
challenge the
is biggest challe
to their customers, their
to needs
their customers,
and objectives.
their needs andnow
objectives.
to propose a quality
nowoftoservice
proposeand
a quality
a of service an
Nomotech is present to
Nomotech
each stepisofpresent
the project
to each step broadband
of the project
internet access
broadband
able tointernet
match with
access able to ma
and can therefore advise
andthe
canbest
therefore
technological
advise the best what
technological
the customers is what
expecting
the customers
to get. The
is expecting to ge
choice and stay the best
choice
option
andfor
stay
thethe best option forwhole
the added value of whole
our model
added
comes
valuefrom
of our model com
customer. customer. the expertise and experience
the expertise
of the and
radioexperience of the ra
But above all, the mainBut
factor
above
of all,
success
the main
is factor ofengineering.
success is This is one
engineering.
of the reasons
This why
is one
weof the reasons
hard work. No successhard
without
work.
work.
No success
You canwithout work.
haveYou can ZTE. Theyhave
picked helpspicked
Nomotech
ZTE. They
closely
helps Nomotec
be clever, wealthy, visionary,
be clever,
butwealthy,
without visionary,
work but without workreflections.in all these reflections.
in all these
nothing is possible. Ofnothing
course, is
at possible.
times weOfwere
course, at times
Wewe
arewere
now in the process
We are
of now
qualifying
in theaprocess of qualif
in a good place at theingood
a good
time,
place
or signing
at the good time, solution
or signing
to propose 100
solution
Mbps to
andpropose
more to100
anyMbps and mo
the good partnership. the good partnership. customer on the network.
customer
In theon
future,
the network.
we will In the futur
continue to provide better
continue
ratestotoprovide
our better rates to ou
What do you think of the
What
prospects
do you think
of fixed
of the prospects of fixed in order to customers
customers suit their always
in order to suit their always
wireless broadband inwireless
France? broadband in France? increasing needs, usingincreasing
new kindneeds,
of architecture
using new kind of a
and more equipment deployed
and more in
equipment
the territories.
deployed in the
As explained, the optical
As explained,
fiber will never
the optical fiber will
Thisnever
is what we have been
This isfacing
what for
we15
have
years,
been facing for 1
go everywhere in France.
go everywhere
Our customers
in France.
are Our customers
and it’sare
still the same story:
and it’s
more
still broadband,
the same story: more broa
becoming more and more
becoming
convinced
morethat
and“Fixed
more convinced thatquality
higher “Fixed of service
higher
and quality
less latency.
of service
But and less laten
Wireless Access” is the Wireless
better solution
Access”to
is the
helpbetter solution to helpmust balance
we always wethe
always
costmust
and the
balance the cost and
the digital divide. Thanks
the to
digital
its performances
divide. Thanks to its performances
revenue. revenue.
and an increased number
and of
anfinal
increased
customers
number of final customers
using this technology, using
this solution
this technology, this solution“With
is about to 5G, it
is about towill be easier
“Withfor5G,
us to
it will
address
be easier for us to add
be adopted in every rural
be adopted
area in France.
in everyThe specificThe
rural area in France. things.” specific things.”
thing that makes Nomotech
thing that
a leader
makesin Nomotech
France a leader in France
on this alternative technology
on this alternative
is becausetechnology
we can What dowe
is because you see as Nomotech’s
can What do you
newsee as Nomotech’s new
deploy one network very
deploy
fast.one
For network very fast. For opportunities
one entire one entire going forward?
opportunities going forward?
department, we can deploy
department,
radio everywhere
we can deploy
in radio everywhere in
12 months. This becomes
12 months.
an advantage
This becomes
for the an advantage for the
All the 5G announcements
All the
appear
5G announcements
to be a appear t
strong opportunity forstrong
us. Theopportunity
latest for us. The latest
technological evolution
technological
has always helped
evolution
us has always he
propose better qualitypropose
and better
better
access
quality
to local
and better acce
authorities to the finalauthorities
customers.toBut
thewefinal
needcustomers. But
Nomotech Nomotech to understand well theto5G
understand
model to understand
well the 5G model to u
headquarters headquarters how we can adapt it to
how
ourwe
model
can adapt
because
it to
weour model bec
are not a mobile operator
are not
butaamobile
fixed access
operator but a fixed
operator. operator.
We are looking at introducing
We are looking
5G in new
at introducing 5G in

04 04
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

Frederic Chassaing, Frederic Chassaing,

Nomotech Methods Nomotech Methods
& Quality Director (L), & Quality Director (L),
and Jonathan Arias, and Jonathan Arias,
Nomotech Chief Nomotech Chief
Technical Officer (R) Technical Officer (R)

example, weareas.
can provide
For example,
services
we can providewant
services
to take more projects
want to
in the
takeinternational
more projects in the international
al park or specific
for industrial
customers
park with
or specific customers
scope,with
and our strategy
scope,
is to and
deploy
ouritstrategy
step by is to deploy it step by
quirements with
specific
veryrequirements
low latency with very low latency
step. We will climb slowly
step.but
Weeach
will climb
step isslowly
a but each step is a
igh bit rates.and
Actually,
very high
it is bit
notrates.
easilyActually, itgood
is notand
easily
strong step.good and strong step.
ecause we put
possible
a basebecause
station we
to cover
put a base station
We to cover
have an extended We
experience
have an in
extended experience in
a and all thea customers
large area and
shareallthe
the customers understanding
share the our customer’s
understanding
needs, our
andcustomer’s
it is needs, and it is
ut with 5G (beamforming
services. But with
and 5G
MIMO),
(beamforming and MIMO),
possible for us to dedicate
possible
this for
experience
us to dedicate
to this experience to
asier for us ittowill
address
be easier
specific
for things.
us to address specific things. 5G willother
other countries. allowcountries.
many things
5G will
to allow many things to
unched an IoT
Weactivity,
also launched
using our
an radio
IoT activity, using ourbut
happen radio
we need to
happen
understand
but weclearly
need the
to understand clearly the
opose new networks
skills to propose
and newnew networks and new
perimeters of 5G and all
perimeters
the possibilities
of 5G and there
all the possibilities there
rough our company NomoSense.
services, through our company NomoSense.
are with it. Then, we can
are think
with it.
whatThen,
would
we can
workthink what would work
best in France and thebest
other
in countries,
France anddeploy
the other countries, deploy
you see the Where
future for
do Nomotech?
you see the future for Nomotech?
a model, and address aprojects.
model, and address projects.

t to stay leaderWe
in want
France
toon
stay
rural What
leader in France are your suggestions
on rural Whatand
are your
expectations
suggestions and expectations
nology for aradio
long technology
time. We also
forwant for ZTE?
a long time. We also want for ZTE?
e step up. We
to want
take one
to address
step up.new
We want to address new
e want to work
markets.
internationally.
We want toInwork internationally.
We can In confirm that ZTE
We iscan
a very
confirm
goodthat ZTE is a very good
we worked inthe
Africa
past,for
weradio
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in Africa for radio networks
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in our
helped us strongly in our
nies or Football
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of Football Africa Cup of
development. Our success
development.
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OurOur
success is also ZTE’s. Our
ow with LTE,
Nations).
there could
Now be
with
more
LTE, there could be more is strong and
partnership partnership
we are happy
is strong
to work
and we are happy to work
ies such as opportunities
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closely with them, with
so closely
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from the oilreferences
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Around the operators.
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together
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es in the Vinci
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a, we already
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a fewweprojects.
alreadyWe
have a few projects.
need We
will be. need will be.

05 05
VIP Voices VIP Voices

COAI’s
COAI’s
Director
Director
General
General
Talks About
Talks About
Opportunities
Opportunities
and and
Challenges
Challenges
for India’s
for India’s
TelecomTelecom
SectorSector
in 2019in 2019
Reporter: Sun Dong Reporter: Sun Dong

Rajan S Mathews,Rajan
Director
S Mathews,
General of
Director
COAI General of COAI

06 06
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

ellular Operators Association

ellular Operators
of COAIofhas been instrumental
Association COAI has
in getting
been instrumental
many in getting many
India (COAI) plays an important favourable policy outcomes
India (COAI) plays an important favourable
from policy
the outcomes from the
role in the development
roleofinIndia’s Government
the development of India’s of India. One
Government
such recent
of India. One such recent
mobile industry. In October, achievement
mobileitindustry. In October, it is the issuance
achievement
of the NDCP-2018
is the issuance of the NDCP-2018
second India
hosted
Mobile
theCongress
second India which captures
2018Mobile Congress 2018 many forward-looking
which captures many
policyforward-looking policy
, India’s biggest
(IMC mobile and biggest mobile statements
2018), India’s and for the industry.
statements
The recent
for theNFAP
industry. The recent NFAP
y event, in collaboration
technology event, in collaborationwhich
with the is based on major
with the which
inputs
is based
provided
on major
by inputs provided by
nt of Telecommunications
Department of(DoT). COAI
Telecommunications
In a hasInidentified
(DoT). a additional
COAI hasbands
identified
for IMT
additional
to bands for IMT to
nterview with ZTE Technologies,
post-IMC be aligned
RajanZTE Technologies,
interview with with the globally
Rajan be aligned
harmonized
with thebands.
globally harmonized bands.
, Director General
S Mathews,
of COAI, talkedGeneral of COAI,COAI
Director is also working aggressively
talked COAI is also towards
working aggressively towards
topics at theabout
IMC 2018, and at the IMC 2018, Digital
hot topics and India mission. In
Digital
a pathIndia
breaking
mission. In a path breaking
ies and challenges
opportunities
facing and
India’s initiative,
challenges facing India’s COAI along with
initiative,
Government
COAI along
of India
with Government of India
ctor in 2019.telecom sector in 2019. launched the TarangSanchar
launched
Portal.
the TarangSanchar
It is a Portal. It is a
complete online, standardized,
completecommon
online, standardized, common
he top threeWhat
issues
are
shaping
the topIndia’s
three issues shaping India’s
platform which enables
platform
anyonewhich
to view,
enables anyone to view,
rket? mobile market? understand and obtainunderstand
informationand
on obtain
the information on the
Electro Magnetic FieldElectro
(EMF) emission
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Field of
(EMF) emission levels of
G; c. Mandatory
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Testing
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c. Telecom of 20 Lakh Base Transceiver
Telecom all 20 Lakh
Stations
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(BTSs)
Transceiver
of Stations (BTSs) of
in India Equipment in India any technology (2G, 3G,
anyand
technology
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(2G,at3G, and 4G) located at
approx. 5 lakh mobile approx.
towers across
5 lakh India.
mobileThis
towers across India. This
AI driving the
How
development
is COAI driving
of the
the development
dataof the is unparalleled
base datainbase
the world
is unparalleled
with in the world with
ustry in India?
mobile industry in India? complete technical details.
complete technical details.
COAI has dedicated itself
COAItowards
has dedicated
the training
itself towards the training
s been a majorCOAI
player
hasinbeen
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ignments related
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a major
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setting
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Telecom
operations
Sector of the Telecom Sector
olving management
whole, involving
of relations Skill Council (TSSC) in Skill
management of relations IndiaCouncil
under the
(TSSC)
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nal stakeholders
with such
external stakeholders such asthe
as government National Skills Development
government the National
Corporation
Skills Development Corporation
icy makers, bodies,
facilitating
policy
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makers, facilitating regulatory (NSDC).
a major
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e across all functions,
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across allthe up the Telecom
functions, managing the Centers
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Excellence
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defining the
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up in Public
(PPP)
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mode,
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organization. the Government, with
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the Government,
and thethe Academia and the
s today expanded
COAI
tohas
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thought thoughtworking together
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e telecom and
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and broadband and progress of
industry, growth
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COAI was
of the country. COAI was
bers including
with
cellular
members
service
including
providers, instrumental
cellular service in the formation
providers, instrumental
of thein the formation of the
rastructure telecom
players, and telecom players, and Telecommunications
infrastructure telecom Standards
Telecommunications
Development
Standards Development
manufacturers.
equipment
COAI has dedicated COAI hasSociety,
manufacturers. India (TSDSI), Society,
dedicated which aims
Indiaat(TSDSI),
developing
which aims at developing
ds the training
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oftowards the training of skilledand
skilled manpower promoting India-specific
manpower and promoting
requirements,
India-specific requirements,
fficient and to
optimum
ensure efficient
utilization
and standardizing
of optimum utilization of solutionsstandardizing
for meeting these
solutions for meeting these
ources to thehuman
industry.
resources
Many major requirements
to the industry. Many major and contributing
requirements
theseand
to contributing these to
omes from the
policy
Government
outcomes have
from been international
the Government have beenstandards.
international standards.
certed efforts
dueof to
COAI
concerted
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embers along
views
withofthe
members
Government What are the hot topics
along with the Government What
discussed
are theathot
IMC?
topics
Whydiscussed at IMC? Why
d stakeholders.
and related stakeholders. are these a priority? are these a priority?

evement areWhat
you most
achievement
proud ofare
as you most proud of as are some ofFollowing
Following the hot topics
are some
which
of the hot topics which
eneral of COAI?
Director General of COAI? were discussed at IMC:were discussed at IMC:

07 07
VIP Voices VIP Voices

With voice being offered

With
forvoice
free, being
while offered
the for free, while the
data rates are at rock bottom
data rates
level
are(data
at rock bottom level (data
realization at 1.1 paisarealization
per MB), the
at 1.1
ARPUpaisa
of the
per MB), the ARPU of the
TSPs continues to be depressed
TSPs continues
at Rs.to
69.beTSPs
depressed at Rs. 69. TSPs
are looking at new business
are looking
models
at and
new business models and
opportunities to increase
opportunities
their revenue
to increase
and their revenue and
ARPU levels. Some of these
ARPU are:
levels. Some of these are:
1. IoT/M2M — These services
1. IoT/M2M
are already
— These being
services are already being
provided by the TSPs, provided
however with
by the
new
TSPs,
DoThowever with new DoT
Guidelines on KYC for Guidelines
M2M, implementation
on KYC for M2M, implementation
of 13 Digit for M2M SIMs
of 13
and
Digit
Government
for M2M SIMs and Government
allowing use of embedded
allowing
SIMs,
use
telecom
of embedded SIMs, telecom
Industry sees opportunity
Industry
to increase
sees opportunity
their to increase their
revenue levels throughrevenue
M2M/IoT.
levels through M2M/IoT.
2. Smart Cities — With Smart
2. the Cities — With the Government
Government
initiative of developinginitiative
100 SMARTof developing
cities in 100 SMART cities in
the country there lies the
great
country
opportunity
there lies
for great opportunity for
the Telcos. The majority
the
ofTelcos.
smart The
city majority of smart city
programmes deployedprogrammes
in 2017-18 so
deployed
far in 2017-18 so far
include partnerships between
include partnerships between
telecommunication companies
telecommunication
with cities, companies with cities,
governments, utilities governments,
and IoT solution
utilities and IoT solution
providers. providers.
3. AgriTech — Agriculture
3. AgriTech
is now a—sector
Agriculture
with is now a sector with
great potential of triggering
great potential
growth. The
of triggering growth. The
AgriTech sector is witnessing
AgriTecha number
sector is of
witnessing a number of
startups in India. Telcosstartups
are playing
in India.
majorTelcos are playing major
role in this regard withrole
theinother
this regard
system with the other system
integrators. integrators.
4. Artificial Intelligence Artificial
4. — With the Intelligence — With the of 5G based technologies,
of 5Gproducts
based technologies,
and products
Government’s growingGovernment’s
interest around
growing
AI interest around AI
applications. Several Committees
applications.have
Several
beenCommittees ha
applications in India, there
applications
has seeninaIndia, there has seen a
formed by DoT for early
formed
adoption
by DoT
of 5G
for early adoption o
significant growth in interest
significant
levels
growth
around
in interest levelstechnologies.
around technologies.
AI across all industriesAI
sectors
acrossinallIndia.
industries Ensuring
It has sectors in7. India. It hasfuturistic 7.
network
Ensuring
— futuristic
In order tonetwork — In o
been seen that industries
beenhave
seenstarted
that industries have started
retain their subscribers,retain
operators
their subscribers,
are operators a
working to skill their manpower
working totoskill
enable
their manpower tocontinually
enable investing to
continually
upgrade their
investing to upgrade th
themselves to compete
themselves
with othertoglobal
compete with othernetworks
global with new technologies,
networks with
hence
newmore
technologies, h
players. players. and more discussions and
in the
more
applicability
discussionsandin the applica
5. AR/VR — It is being5.discussed
AR/VR —that
It isTSPs
being
will
discussed thatadoption
TSPs willof new and futuristic
adoption technologies.
of new and futuristic tech
also start using VR technologies
also start using VR technologies8.toData
to reinforce Privacy and Protection
reinforce 8. Data Privacy
— Withand
theProtection — Wi
their customer experience.
their For
customer
example,
experience.
a For example, a of Srikrishna report
issuance issuance
onofData
Srikrishna
Privacyreport on Da
telecom company could
telecom
use Virtual
company
Reality
could
to use Virtualand
Reality to
Protection, Data Ownership,
and Protection,
Security,
Data Ownership, Se
demonstrate its new product/service
demonstrate itstonew product/service to Protection andPrivacy,
Privacy, Localisation
Protection
has and Localisation
customers. customers. become a hot topic across
become
the aindustry
hot topic across the indu
6. Spectrum Next Generation
6. Spectrum
Technologies(5G)
Next Generation Technologies(5G)
among the TSPs as well
among
as thethe
content
TSPs as well as the cont
— The Government envisages
— The Government
positioning envisages positioning
providers, solution providers
providers,
andsolution
OTT players.
providers and O
India as globally synchronized
India as globally
participant
synchronized
in 9. BlockChain
participant in in telecom
9. BlockChain
— With theinfirst
telecom
of — With the
the design, development
the and
design,
manufacturing
development and manufacturing
the kind in the world, the
TRAIkind
videinitsthe world, TRAI vide its

08 08
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

of the immediate shortofterm

the immediate
opportunities
short
forterm opportunities for
mobile operators in 2019.
mobile
Indian
operators
TSPs are
in 2019. Indian TSPs are
already active in this space
already
and
active
displayed
in thistheir
space and displayed their
products, such as connected
products,
car,such
connected
as connected car, connected
fridge and connected fridge
home atandthe
connected
IMC 2018.home at the IMC 2018.

What challenges do you

What
expect
challenges
the industry
do you expect the industry
to face in 2019, and how
to face
caninthese
2019,beand how can these be
addressed? addressed?

The telecom sector is currently

The telecom
facing
sector is currently facing
burgeoning debt, falling
burgeoning
revenue and
debt, falling revenue and
constrained margins leave
constrained
no roommargins
for further
leave no room for further
investments. The Government
investments.
has set
Thethe
Government
tone has set the tone
of a progressive policyofframework
a progressive
withpolicy
the framework with the
National Digital Communication
National Digital
PolicyCommunication
2018. The Policy 2018. The
policy lays emphasis on
policy
enhancing
lays emphasis
financialon enhancing financial
health of the sector. However,
health ofthe
thechallenges
sector. However,
to the challenges to
be dealt with are: be dealt with are:
Spectrum pricing and Spectrum
future roadmap
pricing and future roadmap
Redefine adjusted gross
Redefine
revenueadjusted
(AGR) gross revenue (AGR)
Bring down levies suchBring
as spectrum
down levies
usage
such as spectrum usage
charge (SUC) and licence
charge
fee (LF)
(SUC) and licence fee (LF)
Reduce the tax burdenReduce the tax burden
Lowering cost of backhaul
Lowering
connectivity
cost of backhaul connectivity
Development of start-up
Development
ecosystem of start-up ecosystem
Favourable device andFavourable
componentdevice and component
manufacturing manufacturing
Robust cyber and dataRobust
security
cyber
framework
and data security framework
on on Unsolicited
Regulation
Commercial
on Unsolicited Commercial
Bridging skill gap Bridging skill gap
nication (UCC) Communication
asked the TSPs to
(UCC) asked the TSPs
Datatoprivacy Data privacy
ent Distributedimplement
Ledger Technology
Distributed Ledger Technology
Public private partnership
Public
(PPP)
private
models
partnership
for (PPP) models for
lockchain) to address
(DLT) (Blockchain)
the UCC related
to address the UCC related
roll out of shared infrastructure.
roll out of shared infrastructure.
Such use of Blockchain
issues. Such
in the
usetelecom
of Blockchain in the telecom
as made the solution
sector has
providers
made the How would
suchsolution providers you like ZTE
such Howcontribute
would youto the
like ZTE contribute to the
Tech Mahindra,asTanla,
IBM, Blockcube, cellular development in
Tech Mahindra, Tanla, Blockcube, cellular
India in
development
the future? in India in the future?
etc. along with
Simplify
the TSPs
etc.very
along
much
with the TSPs very much
ed in such technology.
interested in such technology. Areas in which ZTE should
Areascontribute:
in which ZTE should contribute:
a. 5G trials: co-ordination
a. 5G
with
trials:
COAIco-ordination
TSP with COAI TSP
ou believe are
Whatthe
dobiggest
you believe are the biggestmembers members
ties for mobile
opportunities
operators in
for2019,
mobile operators
b. in 2019,
Participation b. Participation
in development of telecom
in development of telecom
must be done
andtowhat
makemust
the be
most
done to make the most for next generation
standards standards
technologies.
for next generation technologies.
of them? This may be done through
This may
the Indian
be done
Friends
through the Indian Friends
of 3GPP (IF3) platformof
at 3GPP
COAI (IF3) platform at COAI
M, Smart Cities,IoT/M2M,
Blockchain,
Smart
Digital c. Contribution
Cities, Blockchain, Digital c. in
to Make Contribution
India Initiatives
to Make
of in India Initiatives of
Payment Banks
Payments
& Mobile
(Payment
WalletsBanks
such & Mobile Wallets such
the Government the Government
oney, Jio Money,
as Airtel
MPesa),
Money,
In Jio
Flight d. In
Money, MPesa), d. Getting
Flight global expertise
Getting to India for discussion
global expertise to India for discussion
ty communications
Connectivity
etc. present
communications
some etc. present some
on equipment related on
issues.
equipment related issues.

09 09
Expert Views

Considerations
for 5G
Network
Deployments
Duan Xiaowei
Wireless Solution Architect at ZTE

5
G will not only bring much faster access rates, but also penetrate into every corner of the
world through flexible network slicing. It will drive the digital transformation of vertical
industries and become the cornerstone of digital society.
With the freeze of R15 standard, the release of 5G spectrum, the maturity of 5G equipment
and the accelerated development of 5G terminal chip, 2019 will be the first year for 5G
commercialization. At this stage, the focus of mobile operators is gradually shifting from 5G equipment
testing and verification to more practical network deployment. This article will discuss the key
challenges in 5G network deployment, and give some suggestions to operators who are preparing for
5G deployment.

Choosing the Most Suitable Network
Architecture
5G deployment has two architecture options:
standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA). With
NSA, a first-mover advantage can be derived
from architecture maturity, but it is only
applicable to eMBB services and involves
complex coupling with 4G network. SA, as the
ultimate target network of 5G, has obvious
advantages in new service support, coverage,
performance, network flexibility and terminal
energy efficiency. At present, the major concerns
operators have with SA architecture include
network coverage, SA terminal and 5GC
maturity.
From the 5G R&D roadmaps unfolded by
5G terminal chip vendors like Qualcomm, Intel
and MTK, chipsets released from 2019 onwards
will support both NSA and SA at the same
time; thus for operators starting 5G network
construction after 2019, terminal is not a
decisive factor in choosing NSA or SA.
Considering the maturity of 5GC, there is no
need to have complete features in the initial
stage of 5G deployment. Operators can adopt

10

the target architecture in one step, open the
interfaces step by step, and introduce the
functions in stages, so that the commercial time
of 5GC can be advanced to Q1 2019. Therefore,
5GC does not constitute a constraint factor to
the commercialization of SA.
Taking the obvious advantages of the SA
architecture into account, if operators could
achieve continuous 5G coverage with
reasonable investment and build an
independent 5G network, operators are not
very motivated to choose the NSA architecture.
Therefore, besides the mandatory requirement
of new service, we believe that the coverage
capability of 5G base station and the operator’s
5G network investment are the key factors for
choosing SA or NSA, whether 4G and 5G co-site
deployment is feasible highly depends on the
cell edge speed requirement of 5G and the
density of existing 4G base stations.
Once the quantity of antenna elements, the
independent transceiver channels and the
transmit power of the 5G AAU are determined,
the coverage of the 5G base station mainly
depends on the available 5G frequency bands,
the complexity of the wireless environments,
and the KPI requirements for 5G services,
especially the cell-edge access rates. And the
planning of cell-edge access rates depends on
the minimum network performance requirement
of 5G services, whether to support seamless
mobility, and the acceptable 5G network
construction cost.
Based on the above principles, if an operator
only has the millimeter-wave spectrum for 5G
construction, it is more appropriate to select the
NSA architecture because millimeter-wave has
larger propagation loss and poor scattering or
diffraction capabilities compared with 1.8 GHz
or 2.6 GHz band. When millimeter-wave
spectrum is used for mobile access service, it
can hardly achieve continuous coverage as 4G
network, so it’s better to rely on the 4G network
coverage and only use it as a capacity layer to
the ultra-high-speed service in hotspot areas.
If an operator can obtain the mainstream
3.5 GHz spectrum, has reasonable cell edge
access rate requirement, for example 50 Mbps
FEB 2019
downlink (supporting 2K/4K HD video and AR
applications), 2 Mbps uplink (supporting 720p
video upload anytime, anywhere), and also has
enough investment to build a 5G continuous
coverage network in dense urban areas, we
believe that SA is a one-step and more suitable
network construction mode. According to ZTE's
field test data, in dense urban scenarios where
the inter-site distance is less than 400 meters,
it is possible to achieve continuous coverage
of 5G through 4G/5G co-site deployment; in the
area where the site spacing is more than 400
meters, an appropriate number of 5G macro or
micro base stations can be added to meet the
uplink data rate requirement of 2 Mbps.
Of course, if an operator has very limited
investment at the initial stage of 5G
deployment, can only deploy a small number
of 5G base stations in 4G network hotspots for
marketing purpose, it is more economical and
practical to choose the NSA network
construction mode.
If the operator has higher requirements for
network edge performance, such as increasing
the uplink rate to 5 Mbps (supporting 1080p
video upload anytime, anywhere), it is
recommended to use carrier aggregation of
3.5 GHz spectrum and 1800/900/700 MHz
spectrum. Since 1800/900/700 MHz bands have
been refarmed for 5G New Radio, the network
construction mode is still SA. We think it is very
difficult to achieve 5 Mbps uplink data rate in
NSA mode with around 400 meters inter-site
distance even if the uplink capability of both 4G
and 5G is utilized; deploying a large number of
new base stations also involves high investment
costs, and supplemental uplink solution is too
complex.
Maximizing the Value of Existing Site
Infrastructure
Besides the network architecture, how to
introduce 5G into the existing sites with
high-density of RAN equipment is also a major
challenge for operators. At present, the majority
of operators have multiple bands (such as
900 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz) and
11
Expert Views Expert Views

multiple standards (GSM,

multiple
UMTS,standards
LTE and NB-IoT) recommended,
(GSM, UMTS, LTE and NB-IoT) because
recommended,
it has higher because it has higher
in the same site. It is also
in the
very
same
common
site. Itfor cost-performance
is also very common for ratio,cost-performance
and also enablesratio,
3.5G and also enab
several operators to share
several
theoperators NRsite
same siteto share the same to have the same coverage
NR to have
as the
1.8Gsame
LTE even
coverage as 1.8G
infrastructure such as towers
infrastructure
and cabinets. with co-site deployment
such as towers and cabinets. with
mode.
co-site deployment mode.
Most of the sites haveMost
denseofdeployments For 5Gofnetwork blind spots
the sites haveofdense deployments For 5Gornetwork
hotspots,
blind
it spots or hotsp
antennas and RRUs, making
antennas
it difficult
and RRUs,to add is recommended
making it difficult to add to use
is pad
recommended
micro station
to use
to pad micro sta
5G AAUs. Building new5Gsites
AAUs.
alsoBuilding
faces such improve
new sites also faces suchlocal performance.
improve
Thelocal
pad-sized
performance. The pad-si
problems as difficult site
problems
acquisition,
as difficult 5G high
high site acquisition, micro base station 5G
canmicro
be installed
base station
in a can be installed
investment costs, and investment
long construction
costs, and
periods. concealed
long construction location likeconcealed
periods. the exterior
location
wall oflike the exterior wa
The introduction of multi-band,
The introduction of multi-band, the
multi-port building, the streetthe
multi-port light
building,
pole and
thethe
street light pole and
passive antennas, active
passive
+ passive hybridactive + passive advertising
antennas, hybrid light box, which
advertising
significantly
light box, which significant
antennas, and ultra-wideband
antennas,RRU
andprovides
ultra-wideband
a RRUreduces the
provides a difficulty of
reduces
the site
the
acquisition
difficulty of the site acqui
new way to solve the new
problem
way of
to tight
solveantenna and can
the problem of tight quickly increase
antenna andthe
canhotspot
quicklycapacity
increase the hotspot c
installation space in the
installation
macro basespace
station. and
in the macro base eliminate blind spots.
station. and eliminate blind spots.
Operators can consolidate
Operators
and optimize
can consolidate
the In terms
and optimize the of baseband processing
In terms of unit,
baseband
the processing un
multiple antennas of each
multiple
sector
antennas
of the existing future-oriented
of each sector of the existing high-capacity
future-oriented
basebandhigh-capacity baseban
network before or during
network
5G construction.
before or during processing
Thus, 5G construction. unit can support
Thus, processing
all wireless
unit can support all wireles
valuable space will be valuable
released space
for installing released forstandards
will be 5G installing from
5G 2G to 5G,
standards
and flexible
from 2G to 5G, and flexible
AAUs, and each sectorAAUs,
will only
anduse
each
one
sector
or two deployments
will only use one or two of centralized
deployments
units (CUs)
of centralized
and units (CUs
multi-band antennas to
multi-band
cover all frequency distributed units (DUs).distributed
antennas to cover all frequency Besides converged
units (DUs). Besides conver
bands and wireless standards
bands and
for wireless
2G, 3G and
standards
4G, 4G/5G
for 2G, networking
3G and 4G, capability,
4G/5G networking
it can support
capability, it can su
and one active antenna
and
to one
serve
active
5G networks. smooth
antenna to serve 5G transfer of hardware
networks. smoothprocessing
transfer of hardware processin
In this way, the 5G network
In thiscan
way,bethe 5G network can beresources
deployed deployedfrom 2G andresources
3G to 4Gfrom
and 2G
5G and
in the
3G to 4G and 5
without adding new sites,
without
and adding
the new sites, and thefuture when the existing
future
2G/3G
when
network
the existing
reaches2G/3G netwo
multi-network operation
multi-network
and maintenance the end of its life cycle,
operation and maintenance thethereby
end ofmaximally
its life cycle, thereby maxim
(O&M) costs can be reduced.
(O&M) costs can be reduced. protecting the investments
protecting
of operators.
the investments of operato
Regarding the 5G AAURegarding
equipment,
theZTE
5G AAU equipment, ZTE
recommends using 64T64R
recommends
AAU in dense urban AAU inIntroducing
using 64T64R dense urbanAI to Improve
Introducing
Multi-Network
AI to Improve
O&M Multi-Netw
areas to achieve the highest
areas toperformance,
achieve the and Efficiencyand
highest performance, Efficiency
16T16R AAU in urban 16T16R
and suburban
AAU inareas
urbantoand suburban areas to
make a good balance make
between
a good
coverage
balance In the
andbetween coverage 5G era, operators
and In will
the face
5G era,
theoperators will face th
network construction costs.
networkTheconstruction challenges
64T64R AAUcosts. The 64T64R AAU of complexchallenges
networks, diversified
of complex networks, diver
consists of a large number
consists
of independent services, and personalized
of a large number of independent services,
experiences.
and personalized experiences
transceiver channels, which
transceiver
can support The network complexity
channels, which can support Theis network
mainly reflected
complexity is mainly re
accurate horizontal and
accurate
verticalhorizontal
beamforming in the coexistence of multiple
and vertical beamforming in the coexistence
networks; and
of multiple network
at the same time, thusatachieving
the sameideal
time,capacity with capacity
thus achieving ideal the dense networking
with the
of large-scale
dense networking of large-sc
gains with space division
gains
multiplexing
with space in antenna
division multiplexing in arrays, the complexity
antenna arrays,
of beamthecontrol
complexity of beam
densely populated areas.
densely
In addition,
populated
64T64R and64T64R
areas. In addition, parameter configuration
and parameter
in 5G is configuration
increased in 5G is i
AAU has strong beam AAU
reflection,
has strong
diffraction,
beam and by an order
reflection, diffraction, of magnitude
and by ancompared
order of magnitude
with 4G. compared w
anti-interference capability.
anti-interference
Even in dense urban Even inThe
capability. SDN,urban
dense NFV, and cloud
Thedeployments
SDN, NFV, and
also
cloud deployments
areas with complex wireless
areas with
environments,
complex wireless disrupt the
3.5G environments, familiar network
3.5G disruptO&M
the familiar
model ofnetwork
the O&M mod
NR can achieve the same
NR can
coverage
achieve
as the same coverageoperator's
existing O&M team. operator's
as existing Business diversification
O&M team. Business diversi
1.8 GHz 2T2R LTE with1.8
co-site
GHz deployment is mainly reflected in the
2T2R LTE with co-site deployment is mainly
fact that
reflected
5G exceeds
in the fact that 5G
mode, thus reducing the
mode,
difficulty
thus reducing of difficulty eMBB
and cost the business
and cost of and penetrates
eMBB business
into vertical
and penetrates into ve
5G network deployment.
5G For
network
the general
deployment. industries
urban For the general such as industrial
urban industries
manufacturing,
such as industrial manufactu
and suburban scenarios
andwith
suburban
a small scenarios
number of agricultural
with a small number ofproduction,
agricultural
smart home,
production, smart home,
data users, low traffic density,
data users,
a very
low low
traffic
pairing telemedicine
density, a very low pairingand autopilot.
telemedicine
Experience
and autopilot. Experience
probability of MU-MIMO,
probability
16T16R AAU
of MU-MIMO,
is personalization
16T16R AAU is is mainly
personalization
reflected in the
is mainly
fact reflected in t

12 12
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

livers customized
that 5Gand
delivers
differentiated efficiency and reducing
customized and differentiated efficiency
networkand
O&Mreducing
costs. The
network O&M costs. The
r specific industries
services or
forusers,
specific
builds application
industries or users, builds of AI can be
application
roughly categorized
of AI can be roughly categorized
cess, data analysis
networkand
access, data analysis and into
application intelligent site equipment,
application into intelligent
intelligent
site equipment,
O&M, intelligent O&M,
vering a user's
services
full business
coveringprocesses intelligent
a user's full business edge cloud intelligent
processes engine, andedge
intelligent
cloud engine, and intelligent
siness scenarios,
and full
andbusiness
allows lifecycle network
scenarios, and allows planning andnetwork
lifecycle optimization.
planning and optimization.
ent and continuous
management
optimization
and continuous
of optimization of
d network slices.
customized
The above
network Summary
threeslices. The above three Summary
urgently need
challenges
the introduction
urgently need
of AI the introduction of AI
O&M efficiency.
to improve O&M efficiency. Although operators will
Although
face various
operators will face various challenges
challenges
ology represented
AI technology
by machine during the 5G networkduring
represented by machine deployment
the 5G period,
network5G’s
deployment period, 5G’s
nd deep learning
learning
canand
be widely used can beflexible
deep learning widelyslicing
used capability
flexible
and its
slicing
potential
capability
for and its potential for
alarm, faultinroot
network
causealarm, fault root causedigitalization
analysis, analysis, and intelligent
digitalization
transformation
and intelligent
of transformation of
overage, performance
network coverage,
optimization, vertical industries alsovertical
performance optimization, give operators
industries
confidence
also give operators confidence
pacity prediction,
networkaccurate about the network profitability
capacity prediction, accurate about theinnetwork
the 5G profitability
era. in the 5G era.
onstruction, network
network-level
construction, ZTEenergy
energy network-level is willing to closelyZTE
cooperate
is willingwith
to closely cooperate with
ent, dynamicmanagement, cloud schedulingoperators
scheduling ofdynamic of cloud to solve the operators
problems to
in solve
network
the problems in network
sources, andnetwork
intelligent
resources,
networkand intelligentdeployment
network and O&M,deployment
and work together
and O&M,to and work together to
reby improving
slicing,
network
thereby improving networkcreate
O&M O&M a brilliant future!
create a brilliant future!

13 13
Expert Views Expert Views

Standalone
Standalone
or or
Non-Standalone,
Non-Standalone,
That That
Is NotIs Not
the Question
the Question
Alex Wang
Source: Light Reading Source: Light Reading Managing Director of 5G RAN
Managing
Solutions
Director
at ZTE of 5G RAN Sol

I I
t is broadly recognizedt that
is broadly
the Asia/Pacific
recognizedregion
that the
is leading
Asia/Pacific
the race
region
to 5G.
is leading
Operators
the race to 5G. Opera
in South Korea, Japan in
and
South
China
Korea,
will be
Japan
among
and the
China
firstwill
onesbe in
among
the world
the first
to launch
ones in the world to laun
commercial 5G networks
commercial
of significant
5G networks
scale. Forofexample,
significant
China
scale.
is likely
For example,
to have China
a is likely to have a
pre-commercial grade pre-commercial
5G (soft) launchgrade
soon 5G
and(soft)
2020launch
is set to
soon
be the
andyear
2020for
is commercial
set to be the year for com
roll out of the next generation
roll out ofmobile
the next
services.
generation
By then,
mobile
it is services.
expectedBythat
then,
technologies
it is expected
and that
ecosystems
technologies and e
will be fully ready andwill
it will
be be
fully
the
ready
rightand
timing
it will
forbe
the
the
full-fledged
right timing
standalone
for the full-fledged
(SA) mode standalone
of 5G. (SA) mode of

As a decades-long cooperation
As a decades-long
partner with Whenwith
cooperation partner it comes to consumer
When itaccess
comestoto5Gconsumer access
each and every operator,
eachZTE
and
can
every operator, ZTE can experience,
understand understand although aexperience,
few smartphone
although
vendors
a few smartphon
their decision and support
their it.
decision
The Chinese have promised to introduce
and support it. The Chinese have promised
5G-compliant
to introduce 5G-compl
operators all aim to beoperators
the best all
in their
aim to be the best inhandsets
network in the first half
their network handsets
of 2019,
in the
the leading
first half of 2019, the l
quality and the servicequality
they can
andoffer,
the service
in which vendors
they can offer, (Samsung, Apple,
in which vendors
etc.) (Samsung,
are expected
Apple,
to etc.) are exp
case SA mode has its advantages. bring their 5G flagshipbring
case SA mode has its advantages. products
their to
5Gmarket
flagship
in products to ma
To start with, by definition,
To start
SA with,
modebymeans the Q3-Q4
definition, SA mode means2019 timeframe
the Q3-Q4
or even
2019
later,
timeframe
which or even lat
5G radio built with 5G5G
core
radio
networks,
built with
therefore means
5G core networks, they are more likely
therefore meanstothey
be available
are moretolikely to be avail
it can realise all the new
it can
userealise all the new use casesthe
cases the themass market towards
the the
massend
market
of 2019
towards
or the end of 2
technologies have promised.
technologies
Broadly
have
speaking sometime
promised. Broadly in 2020. Thissometime
speaking makes 2020
in 2020.
a reasonable
This makes 2020 a
these include two types
these
of cases.
include
Thetwo
firsttypes
group target
of cases. The firsttogroup
launch 5G fortarget
the consumer
to launchmarkets.
5G for the consumer
is the cases that need isvertical
the cases
5G environment, Operationally, mobile operators
that need vertical 5G environment, Operationally,
may mobile
also find
operators may
for instance network slicing
for instance
for dedicated SA mode more straightforward
network slicing for dedicated SA mode to
more
implement
straightforward
as to imp
domains or locations or
domains
customers.
or locations or customers.the
The second Thearchitecture
second is more
thesimplified.
architecture
Also,
is SA
more simplified. Als
group is typically in the
group
ultraisreliable
typically
low mode
in the ultra reliable lowis the ultimate target
mode network
is the ultimate
of 5G. target network o
latency communications
latency
(uRLLC)
communications Operators that implement
category—for (uRLLC) category—for Operators
SA mode
thatwill
implement
not SA mode w
instance, autonomous instance,
driving cars,
autonomous driving cars,have
or advanced to go through, after
or advanced havea to
fewgoyears
through,
of 5Gafter a few years
industrial manufacturing.
industrial
In bothmanufacturing. operation,
cases we needIn both cases another round
we need operation,
of upgrade
another
fromround of upgrade f
end-to-end 5G connectivity.
end-to-end 5G connectivity. non-standalone (NSA) non-standalone
to SA, which can(NSA)
be very
to SA, which ca

14 14
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

m the perspectives
costly, from
of investment, operators do not needoperators
the perspectives of investment, to wait for
doallnot need to wait for all technologies
technologies
timeline andresources,
operational
timeline
efficiency. and
and operational ecosystem components
efficiency. and ecosystem
to be ready
components
before to be ready before
, operators could
Meanwhile,
also find
operators
it a good theyitroll
could also find out 5G services.
a good they roll out 5G services.
y to extricate
opportunity
themselvestofrom the themselves To
extricate speak
from the as a long-standing
To speak
cooperation
as a long-standing cooperation
4G supplierslock-in
and toofbring
4G suppliers
new partner
and to bring new with many of the
partner
world’s
withleading
many of the world’s leading
r 5G. This will
vendors
be more
for than
5G. This will be more operators,
a good than a goodZTE can understand
operators,their
ZTE preference
can understand their preference
the operators
chance
to optimize
for the operators
their for NSA
to optimize theirmode and support
for NSA
it. As
mode
a matter
and support
of it. As a matter of
cture. Capex structure. fact, one of ZTE’s mostfact,
successful
one of operator
ZTE’s most successful operator
o the strong virtualization
Thanks to thecapabilities partnerships,
strong virtualization the one with
capabilities partnerships,
HutchisontheDrei
oneinwith Hutchison Drei in
y 5G architecture,
afforded
it also
by 5G architecture, it alsoAustria,
makes makes has been builtAustria,
on the has
evaluation
been built
of on the evaluation of
ense to bring
business
on board
sense bring on board Pre5G
newtovendors technologies. ZTE
new vendors Pre5G
alsotechnologies.
believes that ZTE
mostalso believes that most
domains for
to their
selected
strength
domains
in these operators
for their strength starting withoperators
in these NSA mode starting
will migrate
with NSA mode will migrate
verticals. to SA mode when theto
5GSA
technology
mode whenandthe 5G technology and
the recent momentum
Despite the
of SA
recent
modemomentum ecosystem
of SA modeare more mature
ecosystem
and more
are more
costmature and more cost
ese and global
fromoperators,
Chinese there
and global efficient.
are operators, there are efficient.
a number ofalso
operators
quite awith Backed by its strong track
number of operators with Backed
record
by its
of strong
R&D track record of R&D
for NSA mode.
preference
For some
for operators leadership
NSA mode. For some operators(over 1,000 leadership
essential 5G
(over
patents
1,000are
essential 5G patents are
on is based on
thisspeed
decision
advantage,
is based the only the tip
on speed advantage, theof the iceberg)
only the
andtip
commercial
of the iceberg) and commercial
oll out 5G asability
soon toas roll
possible.
out 5GFor successes
as soon as possible. For(decades of successes
experience(decades
workingofwith
experience working with
option is also
others
heavily
this related
option to
is also telecomtooperators
cost,heavily related cost, all over
telecom
the operators
world), ZTEallisover the world), ZTE is
ition, NSA mode
as by is
definition,
5G radioNSA
withmode happywith
LTE is 5G radio and LTE
able to support
happywhichever
and able to
route
support
to whichever route to
orks, therefore
core
saving
networks,
the cost
therefore
of 5Gcost
saving the its operator
of partners
5Gmay
its operator
choose, SA
partners
or NSA.
may choose, SA or NSA.
ut the 5G core
building
network,
out at
theleast at thenetwork,Itatis least
5G core encouraging
at the to see
It is
that
encouraging
5G is gathering
to see that 5G is gathering
e. initial stage. momentum in many countries,
momentum especially
in manyincountries, especially in
G use cases doSome
not need
5G use cases do not needEurope.
end-to-end Spectrum auctions
end-to-end Europe.
have
Spectrum
been auctions have been
ge, and NSA5G
mode
coverage,
will already
and NSA completed
be mode will already be in Italy, thecompleted
UK, and Finland,
in Italy,while
the UK, and Finland, while
iver good enough
able to experience:
deliver goodFor auctionsFor
enough experience: in Austria andauctions
Germany in are
Austria
going
and
to Germany are going to
nhanced mobile
example,
broadband
enhanced
(eMBB) be held
mobile broadband early next year.
(eMBB) beMeanwhile,
held early 2019.
ZTE also
Meanwhile, ZTE also noticed
the service access
rolled out
like by
theVerizon noticed
service rolled out by that in some cases
Verizon that inthe
some
prices
cases
paidthe
outprices paid out by
r most consumer
Wireless;
IoT or
connections
most consumer by operators
on IoT connections onto acquire
operators
5G spectrums
to acquire
are so
5G spectrums are so high
hich would need
cellular,
massive
whichcapacity
would need high
but massive that their
capacity but reservesthat
aretheir
almost
reserves
dried. are
Thisalmost dried. This may be
ate small volumes
only generate
of data small maytraffic.
traffic.volumes of data be worth bringingworth
to the
bringing
attention
to of
thethe
attention of the
services are Most
already
OTToperating
services on
are 4G, regulators
already operating and governments.
on 4G, regulators
Although
and governments.
the Although the
what 5G cantherefore
offer is anwhat 5G can offer is an attempt
enhancement. to maximize return
enhancement. attempt
fortoa maximize
precious public
return for a precious public
le, HD videoFor
streaming
example,will
HDbevideo
ablestreaming
to asset (the
will be electromagnetic
able to assetspectrum)
(the electromagnetic
should not spectrum) should not
4K or 8K, ordeliver
virtualon
reality
4K orexperience be faulted,
8K, or virtual reality draining operators’
experience be faulted,
funds
draining
may not
operators’
be funds may not be
e more life-like
will become
and more
more
immersive. theimmersive.
life-like and more most sustainable result
the most
for the
sustainable
industry result
in for the industry in
e their mainIftarget
thesemarket
are their
segments, the segments,
main target market long run. the long run.

15 15
Special Topic Special Topic

Common
Common
CoreCore
Facilitates
Facilitates
Rapid
Rapid
5G 5G
Deployment
Deployment

Problems in 5G Deployment
Problems in 5G Deployment Solutions for 5G Core Deployment
Solutions for 5G Core Deployment

A A
s there are more pressing
s there
demands Deploying
are more pressing 5GC Directly
demands Deploying
vs. Upgrading
5GC Directly
EPC vs. Upgrading
for high-speed bandwidth
for high-speed
in services bandwidth in services
like AR/VR, HD video and
like 3D
AR/VR, HD video andTo
video, 3Dmeet the user needToformeet
video, internet
the user need for internet
for massive terminal access
for massive
in connection
terminal access in via 5G, theconnection
core network
via is5G,
chiefly
the core network is
services like smart cityservices
and smart
likemeter
smart reading, deployed
city and smart meter in two ways deployed
reading, (Fig. 1): in two ways (Fig. 1):
and for low latency and and high
for reliability
low latency in and high reliability in 1: Upgrade the evolved
Path Path 1: packet
Upgradecore
the evolved packe
Zheng Xingming Zhengservices
Xingming like internet ofservices
vehicles,
likeindustrial
internet of vehicles, industrial
(EPC) to support 5G wireless
(EPC) toaccess
support
(5G5G wireless access
Architect of ZTE CCN control
Architect of ZTE and
CCN telemedicine,
control
the and
pacetelemedicine,
of 5G the pace ofarchitecture
5G Option3) architecture Option3)
Products Products
network deployment isnetwork gettingdeployment
closer and the
is getting closerPath
and 2:the
Deploy the 5G Path
core 2:
network
Deploy(5GC)
the 5G core network
industries are full of expectations
industries are
forfull
5Gof expectations for directly
5G (5G architecture
directly
Option2)
(5G architecture Option2)
networks supplied by networks
operators.supplied by operators.
Operators also have big
Operators
problems
also
with
have
howbig problems Upgrading
with how EPC to 5G faces
Upgrading
a big EPC
problem:
to 5Gitfaces a big pr
to deploy a 5G Core. On
to deploy
the oneahand,
5G Core. does not
theyOn the one hand, theysupport network
does slices
not support
that arenetwork slices that a
have to consider whether
havethe
to traditional
consider whether
EPC required
the traditional by 5G verticalrequired
EPC industry.byThe
5Gupgrade
vertical industry. The u
network can meet thenetwork
ever-changing
can meet
needs
the of solution
ever-changing needsis of
just a transition
solution
to 5G
is just
evolution.
a transition
After to 5G evolu
5G vertical services, but
5Gon
vertical
the other
services,
hand,but the hand,
theon the other 5G core
thenetwork isthe
deployed,
5G core the
network
cost of
is deployed, the
5G Core using the service-based
5G Core using
architecture upgrading the originalupgrading
the service-based architecture EPC will bethe
wasted.
original EPC will be wa
(SBA) has brought a great
(SBA)impact
has brought
on traditional However,
a great impact on deploying the
traditional However,
5G coredeploying
network the 5G core netw
telecom networks. Changes
telecom
arenetworks.
made on Changes
the directly
are made can best meetdirectly
on the service can
needs
best
andmeet
avoid
service needs a
interoperability of existing
interoperability existing devicesunnecessary
devices andoftheir and their investment
unnecessary
waste, so itinvestment
is the waste, so it is
operational mode. operational mode. preferred solution for current
preferred
5Gsolution
deployment.
for current 5G deplo
The major problems operators
The majorhave
problems Another
to faceoperators have to faceimportant factor
Another
for deployment
important factor for deploy
when deploying the 5G
when
Coredeploying
are how to
themeet pathtoselection
5G Core are how meet is whether
paththe
selection
industrial
is whether
chain the industria
the needs of industry the
users,
needs
howof
toindustry can
coexist users, how to meet the requirements
coexist can meet
of commercial
the requirements
time. of comme
with existing networks,with
howexisting
to swapnetworks, Currently,
users how to swap users the 5G CoreCurrently,
R15 specification
the 5G Core
has R15 specificatio
seamlessly, and how toseamlessly,
operate and
andmaintain been
how to operate and officially releasedbeen
maintain by 3GPP.
officially
The released
system by 3GPP. The s
their networks. their networks. equipment and terminal
equipment
devices in
and
compliance
terminal devices in co

16 16
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

pecification with
can meet
the specification
the time time
can meet the of commercial deployment.
time time of commercial
Therefore,deployment. Therefore,
nts for commercial
requirements
use in for
thecommercial
fourth making
use in full use of legacy
the fourth making
network
full use
interfaces
of legacy
hasnetwork interfaces has
2019. quarter of 2019. become the best solution
become
for the
theinitial
best solution
5G for the initial 5G
e, deploying 5GC
Therefore,
directlydeploying deployment.
(using 5G5GC directly (using 5G deployment.
e Option2) is
architecture
the best deployment The 3GPP 5G standards
Option2) is the best deployment The
have
3GPP
also5Gmade
standards
a have also made a
G evolution. path for 5G evolution. great change to the billing
great system,
change so
to operators
the billing system, so operators
need to change their billing
need to systems.
changeThe
their
online
billing systems. The online
acy Interfaces
Using
to Reduce
Legacy Network
Interfaces to Reduce Network
and offline billings areand
integrated
offline billings
and useare integrated and use
Changes service-based interfaces.
service-based
However, the
interfaces.
existing However, the existing
network’s offline billingnetwork’s
system isoffline
generally
billing system is generally
issues in deploying
The key
a new
issues
network undertaken
in deploying a new network by the BOSS,
undertaken
and its online
by thebilling
BOSS,isand its online billing is
hanges made
areon
what
existing
changes
network undertaken
made on existing network by the OCS,
undertaken
which makes
by the
it difficult
OCS, which makes it difficult
d how to coexist
devices
with
andthem. to change. Therefore, the
how to coexist with them. to change.
newly-built
Therefore,
5G Core
the newly-built 5G Core
to make full use
In order make full use of theexpands
of thetolegacy legacy a small number
expands
of fields
a small
with number
5G of fields with 5G
he general principle
network, adopted
the general features
for principle adopted for based on the features
original EPC
based
billing
on the original EPC billing
onstruction is
network
new network
construction
for new architecture
is new network for new and interfaces.
architecture
This makes
and interfaces.
the least This makes the least
e legacy network
users for
while
oldlegacy
users. network
In for oldchange to the existingchange
users. In billing system
to the existing
and is the
billing system and is the
ds, the existing
other
EPCwords,
provides
the access best billing
existing EPC provides access deployment
best
solution.
billing deployment solution.
original 2G,service
3G andfor
4Goriginal
users, and ZTE and
2G, 3G and 4G users, has rolled out its Common
ZTE has rolled
Core out
thatits Common Core that
built 5G Core
theoffers
newly access
built service converges
5G Coretooffers access service EPC
to and 5GC
converges
capabilities.
EPCWithout
and 5GCany
capabilities. Without any
5G users. upgrade or change to upgrade
the existing
or change
EPC, the
to the existing EPC, the
le service continuity
To enable
when
service
handover Common
continuity when Core solutionCommon
handover can achieve
Coreconvergent
solution can achieve convergent
ed from newly-built
is performed fromtonewly-built 5G access
5G Core Core toand smooth handover
access and
in the
smooth
4G/5Ghandover in the 4G/5G
C, operatorsexisting
need toEPC,
upgrade overlapping coverage overlapping
operators need to upgrade area, while guaranteeing
coverage area, while guaranteeing
twork devices
existing
to support
network
necessary service
devices to support continuity and service
necessary requiring
continuity
a minimum
and requiring a minimum
ng interfaces.
interworking
For example,
interfaces. change
connect For example, to the existingchange
connect billing system.
to the existing
Therefore,
billing system. Therefore,
als to the new
5G 5G
terminals
Core totomake
the new themake
them5G Core to Common
them Core solution
the Common
is the best
Core
choice
solution
for is the best choice for
and introduce
identified,
the N26and
interface
introduce initial 5G for
for the N26 interface deployment. initial 5G deployment.
d fast handover
smooth
between
and fast
4Ghandover
and 5G. between 4G and 5G.
here are twoHowever,
issues inthere
changing Smoothly Evolving toSmoothly
are two issues in changing 5G Network
Evolving
without
to 5G Network without
twork equipment:
existingone
network
is waste
equipment:
of Changing
one is waste of the SIM Card
Changing
or Phone
the
Number
SIM Card or Phone Number
, and the other
investment,
is that the
andR&D
the cycle
other is that the R&D cycle
the networkcaused
changebymay
the affect
network After deploying
thechange may affect the a newAfter
network,
deploying
what makes
a new network, what makes

Path 1 Path 1 N26 N26

EPC EPC+ EPC+ EPC+ EPC+ 5GC 5GC

LTE
LTE LTE LTE LTE LTE LTE LTE NR
LTE NR
Fig. 1. Deployment Fig. 1. Deployment
NR NR NR NR of the core network of the core network
in two ways. in two ways.

Common Core Common Core

Path 2 EPC
Path 2Common Core
EPC
Common Core (EPC+5GC) (EPC+5GC)
(EPC+5GC) (EPC+5GC)

NR/LTE LTE NR NR/LTE

eLTE LTE NR eLTE
LTE LTE NR
LTE LTE NR
NR eLTE NR NR eLTE NR

17 17
Special Topic Special Topic

operators headache is operators headache

how to migrate how to migratetousers
is of
users modify to modify
of their subscription their subscription
network, it is not networ
the legacy network to the
the legacy network to the new network.
new network. not conducive
conducive to the development of to the development
For the transition fromFor the transition
2G/3G differentiated
from 2G/3G to 4G,
to 4G, a user a user differentiated 5G packages.
5G packages.
needs to install a new needs to install
SIM card and thea new SIM card and the
operators
operators have to invest a lot in have to invest
offering One-Button
free a lot in offering One-Button
free Deployment Deployment
Opens the Road to Opens the R
cardHowever,
card replacement service. a 5Gservice. However,Intelligent
replacement a 5G OperationsIntelligent Operations
network
network will be compatible will
with thebeoriginal
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architecture based onThe
the NFV technology. the NFV techno
service
service without changing the without
SIM cardchanging
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integration hardware integration of
traditional
phone
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favor with will find favorNEs
users. withbecomes NEs becomes
users. the architecture with athe architecture with a h
hardware
To migrate
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3G andusers from 2G, 3G and resource
pool, a virtualized pool, pool
resource a virtualized
and resource p
4Gto
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migrate
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segment number segmentoperational
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management management
under the NFV under the N
Single user migration: Single user
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migration: can choose architecture.
whether to enable 5G whether
services. to
Theenable ZTE
5G services. The
solution solution ZTE slice
CloudStudio network CloudStudio network slice man
management
helps
helps operators carry out operators carry
independent system supports
out independent
billing system supports
billing E2E network E2E network slicing a
slicing and
and special
and special package offerings package
for 5G lifecycle
offerings for
services. management.lifecycle
5G services. Combinedmanagement.
with AI Combined with
Thesigning
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4G network technology
can signing system can technology
and automated andframework,
software automated software fr
also be fully used. also be fully used. theenables
the CloudStudio system CloudStudio system enables slice-
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Batch
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number of user numberautomation
segments: automation and
segments: design, orchestration design, orchestration and
The system
The system directly migrates directly
existing deployment,
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user and intelligent and intelligent slice selec
slice selection,
number
number segments to the segments
newly-built achieving
5GC.to the newly-built achieving a complete
5GC.a complete autonomous network autonomous ne
Though
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require withoutusers
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CSMF CSMF
BSS/OSS BSS/OSS
NSMF NSMF

RAN NSSMF RAN NSSMF TN NSSMF TN NSSMF CN NSSMF CN NSSMF

NFVO NFVO SDNO SDNO NFVO NF

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Fig. 2. ZTE Fig. 2. ZTE

CloudStudio CloudStudio
architecture. architecture.

CU CU UPF AMF SMF UPF

NSSF AMF
NRF SMF NSSF
MAN/WAN MAN/WAN
DU NFVI DU
VIM NFVI VIM NFVI VIMNFVI

RAN RAN TN TN CN CN

18 18
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

ZTE CloudStudio
dStudio introduces 4G/5G
DevOps to introduces DevOps 4G/5G
to core network will core network
be introduced will be introduced to run
to run
facilitate
ile development andagile development
deployment 5G trials. Virtual
of and deployment of 5G trials.
EPC (vEPC) Virtual
in the EPC (vEPC) in the convergent
convergent
innovative
services that services that
are characterized core willbyalso be used core
by are characterized will also
to expand thebeexisting
used to expand the existing
on-demand
design, automated design, automated
deployment, SLA EPC. The existing
deployment, SLA EPC. in
network The existing
this phase network
does in this phase does
assurance,
ntelligent analysis andintelligent analysis and prediction,
prediction, not need to be upgraded.
not need to be upgraded.
securitymanagement.
lation and tenant Phase 2: From 2020 toPhase
isolation and tenant management. 2021, 2:
5GCFrom
will2020
be to 2021, 5GC will be
an developOperators develop appropriatecommercialized
cannetwork
appropriate network commercialized
on a large on 3G
scale. The 2G, a large scale. The 2G, 3G
as requiredslicing
by theSLA as required
industry, and 4G
by the industry,
regions, regions, and 4G
users will gradually users will
migrate gradually
to the 5G migrate to the 5G
virtualscenarios.
ators and other operatorsThe
and other scenarios. The In this phase,network.
network. vEPC in In
thethis phase, vEPC in the convergent
convergent
o system is CloudStudio system is used to implement
used to implement core 5GC
core will interoperate with will interoperate
to realize with 5GC to realize
comprehensive
sive automation automation
management that smooththat
management smooth
handover between 4Ghandover between 4G and 5G users
and 5G users
ource poolinvolves resource
construction, in network
pool construction,
network in hotspot
hotspot areas. If service areas.across
continuity If service continuity across
ployment, function deployment,
daily monitoring, 4G and
faultdaily monitoring, 5G networks is4G
fault and 5G itnetworks
required, is required, it is necessary
is necessary
operations,
as well as upgrade well as upgrade andtoexpansion.
andasexpansion. toEPC
upgrade the existing upgrade the existing EPC for interworking
for interworking
This can lower
wer the requirements the requirements onwith
on operating 5GC.
operating with 5GC.
personnel. Phase 3: From 2022 toPhase
future,3:traditional
From 2022 to future, traditional
devices will
devices will gradually withdraw fromgradually
the withdraw from the
Suggestions
s for 5G Core Evolution for 5G Core Evolution
network. Slice-based
network. Slice-based operations management operations management
gests that the ZTE suggests
existing thatcould
network will provide
the existing network will provide
coulddiverse end-to-end diverseslices
network end-to-end network slices
phases: to 5G in three phases: that can meet differentthat
be evolved
to 5G in three can meet
service needsdifferent
in eMBB,service needs in eMBB,
From 2018 toPhase
2019, 1: From 2018 to 2019, a convergent
a convergent mMTC, and uRLLC scenarios.
mMTC, and uRLLC scenarios.

19 19
Special Topic Special Topic

Tapping
Tapping
Potential
Potential
of 5G
of Through
5G Through
Spectrum
Spectrum

G changes life; 5G willGchange

changes life; 5G will South
changeKorea, Japan, and
South
ChinaKorea,
will become
Japan, and
the China will beco
society. 5G will not only
society.
improve
5G the
will not only improve
first theto deployfirst
countries 5Gcountries
networks,tofollowed
deploy 5G
by networks, fo
bandwidth but also extend
bandwidth
from but also extend
some from
European countries.
some Some
European
Middlecountries.
Eastern Some Middle
human-centric communications
human-centric
to communications to have thecountries
countries also need to rapidly
also have
deploy
the need to rapidly
include both human-centric
includeand
both human-centric and machine-centric
machine-centric 5G networks. For example,
5G networks.
the UAE For
will example,
host the the UAE wi
communications. 5G will
communications.
open a new era5Gofwill
IoT,open a new eraExpo
World of IoT,
in 2020 and
World
Qatar
Expo
willinhost
2020theand Qatar will hos
unlocking possibilities unlocking
that are beyond
possibilities
our that are beyond our
deployments. Most African
deployments.
countriesMost
still have
African countries s
imagination. The wholeimagination.
society hasThe
great
whole society haslow
great
4G penetration rates,
low and
4G penetration
will be relatively
rates, and will be r
Shan Yanzhen Shan Yanzhen
expectations for 5G, and
expectations
spectrum is
forkey
5G,toand spectrumlagging
is key to
behind in 5G deployment.
lagging behind in 5G deployment.
Wireless Planning Manager Wireless Planning
5G’s Manager
future. 5G’s future. Countries represented Countries
by China, represented
the United by China, the
at ZTE at ZTE
States, Japan, South Korea
States,
andJapan,
regions
South Korea and regions
Worldwide Spectrum Worldwide
Allocations Spectrum Allocations represented by Europerepresented
have announced
by Europe
planshave announce
to use spectrum in mid-bands
to use spectrum
(around in
3.5mid-bands
GHz (around
Spectrum is the core resource
Spectrum
of the
is the
mobile
core resource of and
the mobile
4.9 GHz) and highand
bands
4.9 (around
GHz) and26high
GHzbands (around
communication development.
communication
Spectrum
development.
planning Spectrum
and 28planning
GHz), seizing the
andfirst-mover
28 GHz), seizing
advantage
the first-mover ad
determines the development
determines
patterns
the development
of the patterns of the
in 5G. in 5G.
industry. As 5G development
industry.
accelerates,
As 5G development
the accelerates, the as 2016, the US
As early As Federal
early asCommunications
2016, the US Federal Co
spectrum has become the
spectrum
focus of
hasthe
become
entire the focus of the entire (FCC) unanimously
Commission Commission
voted
(FCC)
to unanimously
free up voted
industry chain. industry chain. almost 11 GHz of high-band
almost spectrum
11 GHz ofabove
high-band spectrum
At present, governments
At of
present,
different
governments
countries of different countries
24 GHz for 5G use, comprising
24 GHz for
3.85 use,licensed
5GGHz comprising 3.85 GH
have all elevated the 5Ghave
network
all elevated
construction
the 5Gto
network construction
spectrum intothe 27.5–28.35
spectrum
GHz,in37–38.6
the 27.5–28.35
GHz GHz, 37–3
the strategic level of the
the
ICT
strategic
industry.
level
Considering
of the ICT industry.
and Considering
38.6–40 GHz bands
andand
38.6–40 of unlicensed
7 GHzGHz bands and 7 GHz of
the progress of global 5G
thetrials,
progress
the United
of global
States,
5G trials, the spectrum
United States,
in the 64–71spectrum
GHz band.
in the 64–71 GHz band.

20 20
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

mber 2018, China’s

In December
Ministry 2018,
of frequency
China’s Ministry of ranges. If you
frequency
look at the
ranges.
overall
If you look at the overall
nd Information
Industry
Technology
and Information spectrum
officially Technology allocations inspectrum
officially the 3400–3800
allocations
MHzin the 3400–3800 MHz
e plan to use
released
2515–2675
the plan
MHz, band,
to use 2515–2675 except the newly
MHz, band,
auctioned
exceptspectrum,
the newly auctioned spectrum,
MHz and 4800–5000
3300–3600MHz
MHzbands
and 4800–5000
for the spectrum
MHz bands for each operator
the spectrum
has in other
each operator has in other
300–3400 MHz
5G, limited
with 3300–3400 frequency
to indoorMHz limited to indoor bands is non-contiguous.
frequency bands
Thisisisnon-contiguous. This is
hina is also scenario.
the first country
China isto not conducive
also the first country to to 5G construction,
not conduciveand
to there
5G construction, and there
G mid-bandrelease
plan. a 5G mid-band plan. is the possibility of switching
is the possibility
frequencyofbands
switching frequency bands
om has identified
UK’s three
Ofcombands
has identified
to threebetween
bands tooperators. between operators.
G: 700 MHz (low
support
band),
5G: 3.4–3.8
700 MHzGHz In Italy,
(low band), 3.4–3.8 GHz the 3400-3600InMHz
Italy,band
the has
3400-3600
been MHz band has been
, 24.25–27.5(mid-band),
GHz (high-band). occupied. The auction occupied.
24.25–27.5 GHz (high-band). of spectrum
Theinauction
the of spectrum in the
completed Ofcom
the auction
has completed the auction3600–3800
for portions MHz band 3600–3800
for portions has been completed.
MHz band In
has been completed. In
spectrum, and
of 3.5
four
GHz
operators the 3600–3720 MHz range,
spectrum, and four operators the 3600–3720
Vodafone Italia
MHz range,
won Vodafone Italia won
3UK, O2 and
(Vodafone, totalO2ofand EE) won a80total
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f spectrum 150
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band each. Telecom
80 MHz Italy
in the
captured 80 MHz in the
0 MHz, 3500–3580
(3410–3480
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According 3720–3800
3500–3580 MHz). AccordingMHz range.3720–3800 MHz range.
comes of thetoauction,
the outcomes
the price
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per auction, the price per
r 3.4 GHz is Hz
48%paid
higher
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than
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that 48% higherWhich
is for Band
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he 4G spectrum
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e time). Thisatproves
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operators
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that many operators are
operator attaches
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operator attaches to 5Gconstantly
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about which band is better.
ook the largest
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is no
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MHz; O2 andtaking
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should beuse
fully
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nly got 20 MHz.
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antages with
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narrow-bandwidth current trends in the current
with such narrow-bandwidth industry, trends
sub-6 GHz
in thewill
industry, sub-6 GHz will
will becomespectrum
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thethe
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and
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ors. UK operators. then high frequency millimeter
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orea has also been
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m auctions with
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ectrum auction
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In the a little
auction complete. earlier. For China,
In the a little
to use
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andto use the 2.6 GHz and
nd, 280 MHz
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in the 4.9 in
MHz of spectrum GHz
thebands, efforts 4.9
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MHz range3420–3700
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m and KT each
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got 80 MHz.
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spectrum
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in with
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perators obtained
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800
operators
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obtained 800 MHz. and 4.9 GHz bands.
From 2.6 GHz
With
and2.6
4.9GHz
GHzthat
bands. With 2.6 GHz that
ctive of spectrum
the perspective
allocation,ofSouth offers South
spectrum allocation, obvious advantages
offersinobvious
coverage,
advantages in coverage,
the forefront,
Korea
andisthe
in the
fact forefront,
that operators
and the fact that can deploy 5G
operators
in SA mode
can deploy
while 5G in SA mode while
ator has obtained
each operator
large-bandwidth reusing existing network
has obtained large-bandwidth reusing
assets.
existing
To match
network
Chinaassets. To match China
s more conducive
spectrum
to 5G
is more conducive to 5GMobile’s
construction 5G deployment
construction Mobile’s
plans, 5G
ZTEdeployment
is actively plans, ZTE is actively
e development.
and service development. promoting the development
promoting
of the
theindustry
development of the industry
e, both Spain In
and
Europe, both Spain and Italychain,
Italy have have working hard onchain,
its equipment,
working hard
terminals
on its equipment, terminals
portions of auctioned
3.5 GHz spectrum.
portions In or IoT devices.
of 3.5 GHz spectrum. In Both China
or IoT
Telecom
devices.and
Both
China
China Telecom and China
3.4–3.6 GHzSpain,
band the
has 3.4–3.6 Unicom have receivedUnicom
been GHz band has been the 3.5 GHz
haveband,
received
which
the 3.5 GHz band, which
efore, and the
assigned
spectrum
before, and the spectrumis allocation
allocation the mainstream 5G frequency
is the mainstream
band in 5G
thefrequency band in the
fragmented
is with
relatively spectrum with someworld.
somefragmented The 3.5 GHz industry
spectrum world. chain
The 3.5
is aGHz
bit industry
more chain is a bit more
d for TD-LTE.being
The remaining
used for TD-LTE.
200 MHz mature
The remaining 200with
MHza larger scale
mature
andwith
lower
a larger
costs. scale
At and lower costs. At
m in the 3600–3800
of spectrum
MHzinband present,
the 3600–3800 MHz band 3.5 GHz progresses
present,
faster
3.5 GHz
in trial
progresses
activity faster in trial activity
ned in July was
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in July and is the
has2018. This auction has best opportunity
and is for
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best opportunity
Unicom for China Unicom
n operator’sspecified
bandwithanbut
operator’s andnot
not the bandwith but China
theTelecom. and China Telecom.

21 21
Special Topic
Considering many factors such as
spectrum usability, 3.5 GHz has
become the preferred band for 5G
deployments for most operators, and
can be the global roaming band for
5G in the future.
Considering many factors such as spectrum
usability, 3.5 GHz has become the preferred
band for 5G deployments for most operators,
and can be the global roaming band for 5G in
the future. 5G construction needs to consider
both coverage and capacity. Utilizing antenna
technologies such as massive multiple input
multiple output (Massive MIMO), 3.5 GHz can
offer coverage that is comparable to that of
FDD band of 1800 MHz. With 3.5 GHz, operators
can reuse existing sites to build 5G networks.
Although large contiguous bands and rich
spectrum resources are available in high
bands for 5G, there are challenges in network
coverage. The 3.5 GHz mid-band will still be the
primary band for initial 5G deployments.
Getting Ready for 5G
The global mainstream operators’ 5G
spectrum battle is in full swing, but the wireless
spectrum resources are always limited and
scarce. Improving spectrum efficiency has
always been the key to the upgrade of mobile
networks from generation to generation.
Multi-antenna space-division multiplexing is the
only technology that can double the spectrum
efficiency. As the most important space-division
22
multiplexing technology, Massive MIMO
supports more precise beam control and a
higher number of concurrent streams, and has
become the core technology of 5G.
ZTE has innovatively proposed Pre5G, a
technology that applies Massive MIMO
technology to 4G networks in advance. The
technology won the “Best Mobile Technology
Breakthrough Award” and “Outstanding Overall
Mobile Technology—The CTO’s Choice” awards
at MWC 2016. It has successfully been put into
commercial use, which will significantly
accelerate the commercialization of 5G Massive
MIMO. ZTE expects that Massive MIMO will offer
more possibilities to operators who has less
spectrum for 5G.
In 2017, with the joint efforts of the entire
5G industry, breakthroughs was made in 5G
standards, key technologies, and industrial
environments. In 2018, 5G entered the phase
for large-scale field tests and pre-commercial
roll-outs, and standards and technologies were
further improved. In 2019 and 2020, large-scale
commercial deployments of 5G will begin, and
there will be continuous deepening and
expansion of the 5G commercialization.
5G is coming, and ZTE is ready to
go!

UniSite:
Building a Simplified and
Convergent Site for 4G
to 5G Evolution
s the pace of 5G commercialization
is getting closer, the industry’s focus
has gradually shifted from 5G
technology verification to actual
network deployment. 5G sites, as the top
priority of 5G networks, account for more than
80% of the operator’s investment. Therefore, the
deployment of 5G sites has become a major
concern and challenge in the industry, especially
for operators and equipment vendors.
Challenges of 5G Site Deployment
Deployment of 5G network is more
complicated than that of 2G, 3G, 4G and NB
networks because of the complexity of 5G
spectrum and service characteristics. Especially
the deployment of 5G wireless sites poses even
greater challenges which involve:
More sites: The first phase of 5G deployment
is chiefly based on the 3.5–5 GHz frequency
bands. Compared to 2G, 3G, 4G and NB
networks within the sub-3 GHz bands, 5G
needs more sites to achieve continuous
coverage with better rate experience. This
leads to huge capital costs for operators.
More difficult site acquisition: There is a
challenge in the acquisition of new sites,
especially in the early 5G deployment
FEB 2019
starting from urban areas. It is quite difficult
to obtain new sites in these areas. There is
also difficulty in acquiring existing network
sites because of stricter spatial constraints
and higher rents.
More devices: The introduction of 5G brings
more devices to the site. It is more
complicated to deploy and operate these
devices of different systems on multiple Ding Guanghe
frequency bands apart from the increasing Director of ZTE Wireless
Solution
rental fees.
How to protect network investment:
Operators need to protect their network
investment. They will consider maintaining
and adding the value to their newly-built
networks on the long run while making full
use of their existing networks.
How to reduce the impact on existing
networks: The major concern in the 5G
deployment is to avoid or reduce the
interruption of existing services. Another
concern is to avoid the impact of 5G network
such as interference on the performance of
existing networks.
ZTE UniSite Solution: Simplifying 5G Site
Deployment
Relying on the deep understanding of the
23
Special Topic
challenges faced by operators in their 5G
deployment, ZTE has proposed some ideas to
help them address the challenges.
Maximize existing site utilization: Existing
sites are valuable resources, so operators try
their best to find ways to maximize site
utilization. For example, they introduce
multi-mode multi-frequency convergence
devices, high-capacity devices, highly
integrated devices, and high-order MIMO to
reduce the number of devices used, so that a
single site can accommodate more systems
and more frequency bands and improve its
spectrum efficiency.
Rapidly deploy new sites at low cost: Match
the corresponding site solutions according to
site environments, make good use of
environmental resources, and avoid public
discontent. For example, light poles are used
to build a site to cover hotspot areas in the
commercial street.
Reduce the impact on existing network
services: Protect and make full use of existing
network devices to reduce as much as
possible the impact on existing services.
Uni-antenna
Multi-band antenna + AAU
Fig. 1. Schematic
diagram of the
Uni-radio
UniSite solution. Multi-band and multi-mode RRU
Uni-cabinet
New-generation all-in-one cabinet
24
Deploy a new 5G network while reconstructing
or swapping existing network devices unless
they are outdated and cannot be evolved.
Decouple 4G and 5G, and make independent
5G configuration, maintenance and networking
except the co-site infrastructure sharing.
Based on these ideas, ZTE has launched its
UniSite solution (Fig. 1). UniSite incorporates the
concept of convergence to completely simplify
the radio site and maximize site utilization, so
that 5G can be rapidly introduced at a low cost.
UniSite brings the following attractions to
operators:
A full range of site solutions meet diverse
coverage needs: UniSite involves several
scenarios such as Macro site, QCell site, Pad
site, and iMacro site. These site solutions are
cost effective to match different 5G scenarios.
Multi-mode BBUs create a high-performance
network: The new-generation BBU V9200
based on a virtual platform can be
commercially deployed. The BBU V9200
supporting 2G, 3G, 4G, NB and 5G is the
industry’s largest-capacity BBU with a height
Uni-BBU
Full-mode and virtualized BBU
Uni-transport
FlexE and SDN transport
Uni-power
Ultra large capacity for all loads
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

integrates virtual
of 2U.
and
It IT
integrates
platforms
virtual and IT platforms
capacity: Considering the
capacity:
introduction
Considering
of 5G,the introduction of 5G,
elastic RAN capacity
to offerand
elastic
open RAN capacity and open
ZTE has developed a new
ZTE outdoor
has developed a new outdoor
es, enabling local
interfaces,
innovative
enabling
services
local innovative services
large-capacity cabinet.large-capacity
Although the cabinet.
new Although the new
porting flexibleand
CRAN
supporting
and DRANflexible CRAN and cabinet
DRAN greatly improves
cabinet
its capacity,
greatly its
improves
size its capacity, its size
ing. networking. is exactly the same as isthat
exactly
of the
the
old
same
one.asItsthat of the old one. Its
ode multi-bandMulti-mode
RF units simplify
multi-band
the RF units simplify the interfaces are
installation installation
also similar
interfaces
to those
are also similar to those
reduce TCO: Considering
site and reduce
the TCO: Considering the
of the old one. This ensures
of the good
old one. This ensures good
nce of multi-mode
coexistence
multi-band
of multi-mode
sites, multi-band sites,
compatibility with existing
compatibility
network with
devices
existing network devices
launched a series
ZTE of
hasultra
launched
broadband
a series of ultra and
broadband
cabinets. The new-generation
and cabinets.cabinet
The new-generation cabinet
(UBRs) based RF
on units
its multi-mode
(UBRs) based on its multi-mode
supports B8200+V9200supports
overlay B8200+V9200
deployment overlay deployment
tform. There are
SDR
UBRs
platform.
operating
There
onare UBRs operating
and canonembed 5G transmission
and can embed
equipment
5G transmission equipment
00M bands and
800M+900M
UBRs operating
bandsonand UBRs operating on all-in-one deployment.
to achieve to achieve all-in-one
The deployment. The
2100M bands, 1800M+2100M
which significantly
bands, which significantly
next-generation powernext-generation
module is also power module is also
the number of reduce
site devices,
the number
simplifyof site devices,embedded
simplify in the cabinet
embedded
and provides
in the acabinet and provides a
loyment, and lower
the deployment,
the requirements
and lower the requirements
maximum DC output of
maximum
350A. The
DCnew
output of 350A. The new
O for the site. ZTE
andhas
TCOalso
for rolled
the site.
outZTE has also power
rolled out
module can be power
connected
module
to acan be connected to a
y of 5G AAU/RRU
a variety
products
of 5G
to AAU/RRU
match products maximum
to match of 21 RRUs maximum
and AAUs due
of 21toRRUs and AAUs due to
t coverage scenarios.
different
Forcoverage
example,scenarios. For example,
more breakers, and itsmore
system
breakers,
efficiency
and its system efficiency
developed to cover
64TR is
urban
developed
high-traffic
to cover urban reaches
high-traffic
as much as 98%.
reaches as much as 98%.
nd 16TR is used
areas,
to cover
and 16TR
ordinary
is used to cover ordinary
hese devices support
areas. These
smooth Conclusion
devices support smooth Conclusion
n to 4G/5G mixed
evolution
modetothrough
4G/5G mixed mode through
e upgrade. software upgrade. UniSite is a cost-effective
UniSite
solution
is a cost-effective
that solution that
a integration facilitates
Antenna the comprehensively addresses
integration facilitates the comprehensively
the challenges
addresses
faced the challenges faced
ction of 5G: Theintroduction
traditional site
of 5G:
hasThe by operators
a traditional site has a in deploying
by operators
their 5G sites.
in deploying
The their 5G sites. The
umber of single-frequency
large numberantennas, UniSite
of single-frequency solution has the
antennas, UniSite
advantages
solution
of has
highthe advantages of high
esult in the lackwhich
of antenna
result in
space
the lack performance,
and of antenna space andlow TCO performance,
and easy deployment.
low TCO and easy deployment.
y to expand network
difficulty
capacity.
to expand The UniSite
ZTE network capacity. ZTE solution provides
The UniSite
high solution provides high
nched a varietyhas
of multi-frequency performance. It has super
launched a variety of multi-frequency performance.
large-capacity
It hassite,
super large-capacity site,
ort antennas tomulti-port
reduce TCOantennas
by new-generation
to reduce TCO by large-capacity
new-generation
BBUs based
large-capacity
on a BBUs based on a
ing antenna space.
integrating antenna space. The virtualized
The typical typical platform, ultra
virtualized
broadband
platform,
RF units,
ultra broadband RF units,
ion solution integrates
integration
all solution
sub-3 GHz new-generation
integrates all sub-3 GHz 5G transmission
new-generation
devices,
5G and
transmission devices, and
antennas in one
passive
antenna
antennas
and forms new-generation
in one antenna and forms large-capacity
new-generation
outdoorlarge-capacity
cabinets. outdoor cabinets.
enna system after
1+1 introducing
antenna system Multi-mode
5G after introducing 5G BBUs or RFMulti-mode
units can be
BBUs
converged
or RF units can be converged
e sub-3 GHz antenna
AAU. The
and
sub-3
RRUGHz andRRU
are antenna and collaborative.
are Theyand
arecollaborative.
highly reliable
They
andare highly reliable and
ed into a multi-frequency
integrated into
AAU,a which adaptive
multi-frequency to various scenarios.
AAU, which adaptiveThe
to various
solutionscenarios. The solution
he RF units require
makesless RF units require less reduces
theantenna antennaTCO. It makes reduces
good use
TCO.
of existing
It makes good use of existing
nd also reducesspace
TCO. and also reduces TCO. network devices, so that
network
the operator’s
devices, so that the operator’s
neration Flexhaul
New-generation investment can be protected.
transmission Flexhaul transmission investment
The can
multi-band
be protected. The multi-band
meet 5G service
devices
bearermeet 5G service bearer multi-mode
requirements: site reduces
requirements: multi-mode
the number
siteofreduces
devicesthe number of devices
generation of bearer
A newproducts
generation
based used and
of bearer products allows for long-term
based used andsmooth
allows for long-term smooth
E and SDN are on
characterized
FlexE and SDN evolution.
by are characterized by This saves more
evolution.
spaceThis
and saves
consumes
more space and consumes
-leading 5G transport
industry-leading
applications, less energy. The solution
5G transport applications, lessalso
energy.
provides
The solution
easy also provides easy
w latency, ultra-high
ultra-low
clock
latency,
accuracy, deployment.
ultra-high clock accuracy, Its multi-band
deployment.
multi-mode
Its multi-band multi-mode
h reliability. They
andcan
high
fully
reliability.
meet the converged
They can fully meet thedevices andconverged
all-in-one devices
highly and all-in-one highly
f 5G services. needs of 5G services. integrated outdoor cabinets
integrated
simplify
outdoor
site cabinets simplify site
neration outdoor
New-generation
cabinets and outdoor installation,
power cabinets and power and its flexible
installation,
site schemes
and its flexible site schemes
meet the need
supplies
of 4G+5G
meet
forthe
large facilitate
need of 4G+5G rapid deployment.
for large facilitate rapid deployment.

25 25
Special Topic Special Topic

ZTE 4MIX Distributed

ZTE 4MIX Distributed
CloudCloud
Solution
Solution
BuildsBuilds
5G-Ready
5G-Ready
CloudCloud
Infrastructure
Infrastructure

C C
loudified reconstruction
loudified
of reconstruction of
application scenarios. At
application
present, the
scenarios.
early NFV
At present, the e
telecommunications networks
telecommunications
is networks
networkisinfrastructurenetwork
cloud solutions
infrastructure
have cloud solutions
already the consensus already
of global
the consensus bottlenecks
of global in many aspects,
bottlenecks
and need
in many
to be
aspects, and need
operators. Virtualization
operators.
technology
Virtualizationfurther
technology
reformed in terms
further
of deployment
reformed in terms of deployme
brings many advantages
brings
suchmany
as cost
advantages
reductionsuch as cost reductionnetwork performance,
architecture, architecture, network
and performance, an
and flexible scale-in/out.
andHowever,
flexible scale-in/out.
with the However,operation
with the and maintenance
operation
(O&M)
andconvenience.
maintenance (O&M) con
advent of 5G, new challenges
advent of
and
5G,problems
new challenges
are and problems are
constantly emerging. constantly emerging. Distributed Deployment
Distributed Deployment
Ma Chirong 5G has three major application
Ma Chirong 5G has three
scenarios:
major application scenarios:
enhanced
Planning Manager of ZTE Planning mobile
Manager of ZTE broadband
enhanced
(eMBB),
mobile broadband (eMBB),5G completely realizes5G
control
completely
and user
realizes
planecontrol and
CCN Products CCN Products
focusing on 4K/8K HD focusing
videos, VR/AR
on 4K/8K
and HD videos, VR/AR and
separation (CUPS), driving
separation
the network
(CUPS),evolving
driving the network
other high-bandwidth other
services,
high-bandwidth
requiring a services, requiring a
to a distributed deployment
to a distributed
architecture.
deployment
On architectu
transmission rate 10 times
transmission
faster than
rate4G;
10 high
times faster than 4G; high
the one hand, flexible,the
high-performance
one hand, flexible,
edgehigh-performan
reliability and low latency
reliability
communications
and low latency communications
nodes are built at the nodes
edge of
arethe
built
network
at theto
edge of the net
(uRLLC), focusing on high-reliability
(uRLLC), focusing
and on high-reliabilityget
andclose to end users:get
through
close to
theend
local
users: through the lo
low-latency services such
low-latency
as self-driving
services
carsuch as self-driving car of high-bandwidth
offloading offloading
services
of high-bandwidth
such as services
and telemedicine, requiring
and telemedicine,
a delay as low
requiring
as a delay4K/8K
as low asAR/VR, the 4K/8K
and occupation
and AR/VR,
of the the
coreoccupation of th
one millisecond; and massive
one millisecond;
machine and
typemassive machine typeand backbonenetwork
network transmission
and backbone
network is
transmission n
communications (mMTC),
communications
focusing on smart
(mMTC),
city,focusingreduced,
on smartthe
city,
utilizationreduced,
of bandwidth
the utilization
resourcesof bandwidth
smart home and othersmart
massive
home
connection
and other massive connection
is effectively increased.isThe
effectively
high-speed
increased. The high-speed
services, requiring support
services,
for accessing
requiring one
support for accessing one capability isprocessing
processing moved tocapability
the edge, is moved to the
million devices per square
million
kilometers,
devices per
10 times
square kilometers, 10 times
effectively supporting effectively
services requiring
supporting services requirin
that of 4G. Therefore, 5G
thatnetworks
of 4G. Therefore,
need to 5G networksultra-low
need to latency such ultra-low
as self-driving
latency
carsuch
and as self-driving c
have higher performance
haveand
higher
moreperformance
powerful and more powerful Edge nodes
telemedicine. telemedicine.
also need Edge
to benodes also need to
management capabilities,
management
and also need
capabilities,
to be and alsoflexible
need toand
be scalable toflexible
meet diverse
and scalable
5G to meet diverse 5
flexible and intelligentflexible
to meetand
a wide
intelligent
varietytoofmeet a wide variety scenarios.
application of On
application
the otherscenarios.
hand, a On the other ha

26 26
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

ide intensivenetwork-wide
central nodeintensive
is central node performance
is requirement
performance
for ultra-low
requirement for ultra-low latency
d to provideconstructed
a resource pool
to provide
shareda resource latency
pool shared
and exponential
andgrowth
exponential
of service
growth
scale,
of service scale,
ons, improve
across
resource
regions,
utilization,
improve resource utilization,
common servers lose competitive
common servers
edgelose
in competitive edge in
fficient centralized
achievemanagement
efficient centralized
of management of and cost.performance
performance Hence, hardware
and cost. Hence, hardware
odes, and cope
massive
with nodes,
rapid network
and cope with rapid network technology
acceleration acceleration
is tightly concerned
technologybyis tightly concerned by
ent. The central
development.
node can also
The central node can also
the industry. Current mainstream
the industry.hardware
Current mainstream hardware
capability exposure
support platform
a capability
to exposure platform to
acceleration technologies
acceleration
involve offloading
technologies
the involve offloading the
gital servicesprovide
and help
digital
operators
services and help operators
data switching function
data
of virtual
switching
switches
function
on of virtual switches on
ue innovation.
achieve
Therefore,
value innovation.
a Therefore,
thea telecom cloud platform
the telecom
to the cloud
FPGA platform to the FPGA
deployment
distributed
architecture
deployment
with architecture with to improve forwarding
SmartNIC SmartNIC toperformance,
improve forwarding performance,
ch as flexibility,
features
highsuch
performance,
as flexibility, high performance,
and incorporating the and
graphics
incorporating
processing
theunit
graphics processing unit
fficiency willand
be high
the main
efficiency will be the main
(GPU) into the unified (GPU)
cloud into
resource
the unified
pool ascloud
a resource pool as a
ent trend of development
telecom cloudtrend
network.
of telecom cloud network.
high-performance computing
high-performance
resource that
computing
can resource that can
make full use of GPU’smake
excellent
full use
processing
of GPU’s excellent processing
AccelerationHardware Acceleration capabilities to improvecapabilities
computingtocapability
improve of
computing capability of
the telecom cloud platform
the telecom
and to cloud
provide
platform and to provide
ecom networkEarly
cloudification
telecom network
solutionscloudification
bettersolutions
support for HD better
video and
support
AR/VR
forservices.
HD video and AR/VR services.
onal network
turn
infrastructure
traditional network
based oninfrastructure
ARMbased on virtualization
processor ARM processor
can also virtualization
be used. can also be used.
hardware into
dedicated
the unified
hardware
resource
into the unified
Theresource
new-generation telecom
The new-generation
network telecom network
d on common
pool
X86based
servers,
on common
breaking X86 servers, breaking solution cloudification
cloudification needs to converge
solution
these
needs to converge these
urce silos and
down
achieving
resource
flexible
silos and achievinghardware
flexible acceleration hardware
technologies
acceleration
to technologies to
cale-in/out. However,
resource scale-in/out.
with the advent
However, with the advent
comprehensively improve
comprehensively
both forwarding
improve
and both forwarding and
ng the challenges
of 5G, from
facingthe
the challenges from the
computing performance.
computing performance.

27 27
Special Topic Special Topic

Best New Cloud Best New Cloud

Infrastructure Infrastructure
award award

AI - Based Intelligent O&M

AI - Based Intelligent O&M complicated problemscomplicated
across layersproblems
and across layers an
domains, brings higherdomains,
processing
brings
efficiency
higher processing effi
5G drives network functions
5G drives
(NF)network
movingfunctions (NF)
to moving
multiple aspects of to
O&M
multiple
whichaspects
involveof
rapid
O&M which invo
to edge nodes close totoend
edge
users.
nodesThisclose
trend
to end users. root
This cause
trend analysis (RCA),
rootreal-time
cause analysis
dynamic
(RCA), real-time dy
leads to the dramatic growth
leads toofthe
edge
dramatic
nodesgrowth of edge nodesadjustment, and
resource resource
capacity
adjustment,
predication
and capacity pre
by ten times even hundred
by tentimes,
timesand
eventhe
hundred times, and
and analysis,
the and gradually
and analysis,
enables and
fullygradually enables fu
O&M workload gets doubled
O&M workload
accordingly.
gets doubled accordingly.
automated O&M modeautomated
to release O&M
manpower
mode to release man
Besides, after the cloudified
Besides,
reconstruction
after the cloudified
of reconstruction
and reduceof Opex. and reduce Opex.
network structure, though
network
layered
structure,
decoupling
though layered decoupling
significantly reduces hardware
significantly
costs,
reduces Container
more hardware costs, more + Virtual Machine
Container + Virtual Machine
complicity is brought to
complicity
O&M work.
is brought
Therefore,
to O&M work. Therefore,
telecom operators are telecom
looking for
operators
more efficient
are looking for more
5G efficient
NFs will be based on
5G components
NFs will be based
and on componen
O&M approaches. To this
O&M end,
approaches.
deep applications
To this end, deep applications With lessmicroservices.
microservices. resource occupation
With lessand
resource occup
of AI will become the of
keyAIdriver
will become
for automated
the key driver for automated
easy migration, container
easyismigration,
consideredcontainer
as the is considered
and intelligent O&M. The
andAIintelligent
technologyO&M.
is The AI technology is carrier more fitting
resource resourceto carrier
5G microservice
more fitting to 5G mic
capable of analyzing multidimensional
capable of analyzing multidimensional
architecture. However, architecture.
the containerHowever,
technology
the container te

Access cloud Access cloudEdge cloud Edge cloud Core cloud Core cloud

Fig. 1. ZTE’s Fig. 1. ZTE’s

5G-ready 5G-ready Unattended O&M Unattended O&MMulti-cloud Multi-cloud
centralized O&M centralized O&M Unified cloud Unified cloud
4MIX distributed 4MIX distributed
management platform management platfor
cloud cloud
infrastructure infrastructure Lightweight Lightweight GPU GPU
HCI HCI FGPA FGPA
solution. solution. cloud platform cloud platform
Container cloud Container cloud
Hardware Hardware
Big data AI Big data AI
acceleration acceleration

28 28
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

IX deployment modes: precise

MIX deployment
and fast modes: precise and fastMIX O&M mode: intelligentMIX
and O&M
efficient
mode: intelligent and efficient

Core DC Core DC DC
Access Access DC
Unified O&M Unified O&M O&M
Unattended Fig. 2.O&M
Unattended Features Fig. 2. Features
arge scale SuperHCI
large scale
Lightweight HCI Lightweight of the 4MIX of the 4MIX
distributed cloud distributed cloud
infrastructure infrastructure
solution. solution.

MIX hardware: cost-effectiveMIX hardware: cost-effective MIX resource pools: resource

MIX
onresource
demandpools: resource on demand

x86 FPGA
x86 GPU NP FPGA GPU NP

w cost Low Low

cost latency Low latency
VM/Bare metal VM/Bare metal
Container Container

t matured inhas
thenot
telecom
yet matured buildasanit integrated resource
field, asinitthe telecom field, build an
pool,
integrated
to carryresource pool, to carry
esses in orchestration
has weaknesses
capability
in orchestration
and out unified
capability and management
out and
unified
orchestration
managementof and orchestration of
oreover, most
security.
of current
Moreover, VM, bare metal, and container
cloud most of current cloud VM, baresources,
metal, and
andcontainer sources, and
e VM solutions
projects
whichuse
areVM
constantly flexibly allocate resources
solutions which are constantly flexibly
according
allocatetoresources
upper according to upper
long-term evolving
practice and
in long-term
have many layermany
practice and have applications. layer applications.
s. Thus, bothadvantages.
the container
Thus, VM the container MIX
andboth and hardware:
VM The solution
MIX hardware:
combinesThe
X86solution combines X86
es are quitetechnologies
important toare
5G,quite
and the servers
important to 5G, and and
the acceleration
servers
hardware
and acceleration
such as hardware such as
also activelyindustry
exploring
is also
howactively
to choose FPGA
exploring how properly and carries
to choose FPGAout
properly
unifiedand carries out unified
e between and
them.
balance between them. management through management
the same cloud
through the same cloud
ess such challenges,
To address
ZTE has platform to significantly
such challenges, ZTE has platform
reduce to
hardware
significantly reduce hardware
the 5G-ready
developed
4MIX distributed investment, guaranteeinvestment,
the 5G-ready 4MIX distributed high performance
guarantee
of high performance of
structure solution
cloud infrastructure solution (Fig. 1). Itthe
(Fig. 1). It is based is network,
based and finally
theoffer
network,
the most
and finally offer the most
ributed architecture
on the distributed
with “corearchitecture
cloud cost-effective
with “core cloud solution cost-effective
to users. solution to users.
ud + access+cloud”,
edge cloud
and integrated MIX O&M mode: The solution
+ access cloud”, and integrated MIX O&M builds
mode:anThe solution builds an
ontainer, hardware
with HCI,acceleration, end-to-end closed-loop
container, hardware acceleration, end-to-end
automaticclosed-loop
O&M for automatic O&M for
er advancedAItechnologies
and other advanced thebuild
to build technologies to entire distributed cloud
the entire
through
distributed
remotecloud through remote
dy cloud infrastructure
the 5G-readyfeaturing control and AI technologies,
cloud infrastructure featuring controlbringing
and AI technologies,
an bringing an
rgy-saving, flexible
green, energy-saving,
adaption, efficient O&M mode with
flexible adaption, efficient
unmanned
O&M mode
remote
with unmanned remote
ce acceleration,
performance
intelligence,
acceleration,
and sites
intelligence, andand centralized control
sites and
at the
centralized
center. control at the center.
ncy. high efficiency.
X distributed cloud
The 4MIX
infrastructure The 4MIX distributed cloud
distributed cloud infrastructure The 4MIX
infrastructure
distributed cloud infrastructure
as the following
solution
features
has the
(Fig.following
2): featuressolution
(Fig. 2): creates the optimal
solution
configuration
creates the optimal configuration
ployment modes:
MIXThe
deployment for excellent user experience
solution modes: The solution for excellent
and precise
user experience and precise
s auxiliary deployment
provides modes
auxiliary
rapidly deployment
deployment modes rapidlyto meet the
deployment
requirements
to meet
in the requirements in
urately for different
and accurately
data centers,
for different
such datadifferent
centers,5G scenarios,different
such facilitating
5Gthe
scenarios, facilitating the
mated large-scale
as automated
deploymentlarge-scale
for construction
deployment for of 5G-ready
construction
cloud infrastructure.
of 5G-ready cloud infrastructure.
ud and green core
lightweight The solution won the “Best
cloud and green lightweight The solution
New Cloud
won the “Best New Cloud
ment for edge cloud.
deployment for edge cloud. Infrastructure" award at
Infrastructure"
the SDN NFVaward
Worldat the SDN NFV World
ource pools: The
MIX
solution
resource
combines Congress
pools: The solution 2018. This award
combines Congress
fully 2018.
showcases
This award
ZTE’s fully showcases ZTE’s
instream open two
source
mainstream
cloud innovation capability and
open source cloud innovation
leadingcapability
position inand leading position in
ms, OpenStack and
platforms,
Kubernetes,
OpenStack the SDN/NFV
to and Kubernetes, to field. the SDN/NFV field.

29 29
Special Topic Special Topic

5G FWA:
5G FWA:
Solution
Solution
to Last
to Last
MileMile
Deployment
Deployment

n October 2018, Verizon

n October
began to2018, Verizon
cabling
began(Fig.
to 1). The traditional wired
cabling (Fig. 1).access
The traditional wired a
launch its 5G Home service
launchinitsparts
5G Home service
solution
in parts
provides one-dimensional coverage,
solution provides one-dimensional cov
of four cities in the United
of four
States.
cities in the United
that is,
States.
signal transmission is provided
that is, where
signal transmission is provided
Although this launch was
Although
based this
on launch was
there
based
are cables.
on FWA there
offers are
two-dimensional
cables. FWA offers two-dime
proprietary rather thanproprietary
fully standardized
rather than
5G fully standardized
coverage,
5Gthat is, whencoverage,
a site is established,
that is, when a site is establ
technologies, it marked
technologies,
a new milestone
it marked
for a new milestone
users infor
the site-centered
userscoverage area can
in the site-centered coverage are
global 5G commercialization.
global 5G commercialization. enjoy high-speed access service.
enjoy 5G-based
high-speed FWAservice. 5G-ba
access
5G has three application
5G scenarios:
has three eMBB,
application scenarios:
can eMBB,
even provide three-dimensional coverage,
can even provide three-dimensional co
Bai Wei mMTC and URLLC. Fixed
Bai Wei mMTC
wireless
and access
URLLC. Fixed wireless access
that is, users in the high-rise
that is, buildings covered
users in the high-rise buildings
International Marketing (FWA)Marketing
International is a special application
(FWA) isofa eMBB
specialand
application of eMBB
by the
andsite can enjoy high-speed dataenjoy
by the site can accesshigh-speed data
Manager of ZTE TDD&5G Manager of ZTE TDD&5G
Products also
Products one of the earliest
also
commercial
one of the
use
earliest
cases commercialservice.
use cases service.
in the 5G era. 5G-based
in FWA
the 5G
(5Gera.
FWA)5G-based FWA (5G FWA)
FWA is the only optionFWA
in many
is thescenarios
only option in many sce
provides three-dimensional
provides
coverage
three-dimensional
and coverage
suchand
as rural areas or the
suchareas where
as rural fibers
areas or the areas where
fiber-like experience, satisfying
fiber-like multiple
experience,
needs
satisfying multiple
cannotneeds
reach the home. In developing
cannot reach thecountries,
home. In developing
of operators. of operators. only 20% of households have
only 20%access to fixed have access t
of households
broadband networks. FWA is a better
broadband choiceFWA
networks. of is a better
Three-Dimensional Coverage
Three-Dimensional Coverage broadband connectionbroadband
for the remaining 80%for the remaini
connection
of households. of households.
The last mile access is The
a complicated
last mile access
process
is a complicated process
that involves a long period
that involves
of engineering Fiber-Like Experience Fiber-Like Experience
a long period of engineering
practice, difficult secondary
practice,
construction,
difficult secondary construction,
and high maintenanceand
costs
high
as well
maintenance
as high costs as well as
Thehigh
reason why 5G FWA
Thecan address
reason whythe
5G FWA can addres
complaints caused by complaints
the destruction
caused
of by the destruction
growing
of needs for broadband
growing data
needsaccess is
for broadband data ac
property and decoration.
property
All these
andresult
decoration.
in a All thesemainly
result in
duea to the improvements
mainly due and
to the improvements and
deployment problem in
deployment
the last mile.
problem in the last mile.
breakthroughs that have been made that
breakthroughs on key 5Gbeen made o
have
However, FWA using electromagnetic
However, FWA using
waveselectromagnetic
technologies
waves includingtechnologies
new radio (NR) interface,
including new radio (NR)
instead of cables as the
instead
mediumof cables
for signal
as the medium for
massive
signal MIMO, as wellmassive
as network slicing
MIMO, andas network slic
as well
transmission avoids the
transmission
problems ofavoids
traditional
the problems QoS
of traditional
guarantee. 5G FWA provides
QoS users5G
guarantee. with
FWA provides user
deployment including deployment
digging trenches
including
and digging trenches
fiber-like
andexperience. fiber-like experience.

30 30
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

o Interface New Radio Interface mature channel estimation

maturealgorithm
channel and
estimation algorithm and
multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO)
multi-user
scheduling
MIMO (MU-MIMO) scheduling
rall design of 5G
TheNR
overall
protocol
design
layer mechanism,
of 5G NR protocol layer Massive MIMO
mechanism,
supports
Massive
spatialMIMO supports spatial
n LTE and has
is based
been enhanced
on LTE andand multiplexing
has been enhanced and transmission
multiplexing
of multiple
transmission
users, of multiple users,
At the physical
optimized.
layer, NR
At reduces air layer, NRwhich
the physical leads
reduces airto several-fold
whichincrease
leads toinseveral-fold
5G increase in 5G
verhead by interface
optimizing
overhead
the reference spectrum
by optimizing the efficiency and
reference spectrum
is beneficial
efficiency
to enhance
and is beneficial to enhance
gn and enables
signal
flexible and enables flexible user
designbandwidth experience in user-intensive
bandwidth user experience
high-capacity
in user-intensive high-capacity
on by usingconfiguration
more flexibleby
waveform scenarios.
using more flexible waveform scenarios.
structure. The
andnew
frame
channel
structure.
coding
The new channel coding
ation scheme
andallows
modulation physicalallows theNetwork
the 5G scheme Slicing and QoS
5G physical Network
Guarantee
Slicing and QoS Guarantee
ve more flexibility
layer toand
have
better
more flexibility and better
ce for adapting
performance for adapting to differentNetwork slicing is an important
to different Network slicing
enabling
is an important enabling
scenarios. application scenarios. technology for 5G networks.
technology
Provided
for 5G
that
networks. Provided that
key indicators such as key
spectral
indicators
efficiency,
such as spectral efficiency,
IMO Massive MIMO system capacity and network
system capacity
quality are
andnot
network quality are not
affected, wireless network
affected,
slicing
wireless
places network slicing places
ill be a significant
There
increase
will be in
a significant
the emphasis
increase in the on the utilization
emphasis
efficiency
on theofutilization
air efficiency of air
5G base station
numberantennas
of 5G base
and ports, interface
station antennas time-frequency
and ports, interface
resources
time-frequency
and uses a resources and uses a
enable a large-scale
which willantenna
enable array combination
a large-scale antenna array of flexiblecombination
frame structure
of flexible
and QoSframe structure and QoS
reds of antennas
with hundreds
and dozens
of of differentiation
antennas and dozens of to achieve
differentiation
intelligent scheduling
to achieve intelligent scheduling
orts. Depending
antenna
on the
ports.
accurate and on the of
Depending radio resources.
accurate and Moreover,
of radiodifferentiated
resources. Moreover, differentiated

CPE CPE

ternet Internet gNB gNB

Fiber Fiber Wireless Wireless

Fig. 1. 5G FWA provides three-dimensional

Fig. 1. 5G FWA provides
coverage.
three-dimensional coverage.

31 31
Special Topic Special Topic

network slicing comesnetwork

true through
slicingflexible
comes true through flexiblesub-6G and mmWave
sub-1G, sub-1G, sub-6G
to fully and
support
mmWave to fully
re-configuration of radio
re-configuration
network parameters.
of radio network parameters.
commercial deployments
commercial
of FWA around
deployments of FWA arou
The current test madeThe
by ZTE
current
shows
testthat
made by ZTE shows that
the world. the world.
5G offers a user experience
5G offers
rateaofuser
1 Gbps
experience rate of 1 Gbps
(100 times that of 4G) (100
and times
a peakthat
dataofrate and a peak Satisfying
4G) of Multiple Needs
data rate of Satisfying Multiple Needs
20 Gbps (20 times that20ofGbps
4G). This
(20 times
implies
that
that
of 4G). This implies that
making full use of every
making
bit offull
spectral
use ofresource
every bit of spectral
5Gresource
FWA provides mobile
5Goperators
FWA provides
with the
mobile operators w
available in a 5G network
available
improves
in a the
5G network
data improvesopportunities
the data to expand
opportunities
into the home
to expand
and into the home
speed, capacity, latency,
speed,
reliability,
capacity,
efficiency
latency,and
reliability,enterprise
efficiency broadband
and market
enterprise
without
broadband
the need
market without t
coverage to a new level,
coverage
so thattothe
a new
needlevel,
for so that the need afor
to build fixed-line network.
to build
Introducing
a fixed-linehybrid
network. Introducin
last mile access can belast
completely
mile access
satisfied.
can be completelyservice
satisfied.
products into the
service
homeproducts
and enterprise
into the home and ent
market in the form of FWA
market
bundled
in theeMBB
form of FWA bundled eM
Choice of Bands Choice of Bands services, and binding home
services,
broadband
and binding
to voice
home broadband
and video services are the
andmost
videoeffective
servicessolution
are the most effectiv
Which frequency bands
Which
should
frequency
be usedbands
for should to
beattract
used for
users and increase
to attract
the monthly
users andaverage
increase the month
a 5G FWA network? Verizon
a 5G FWA
uses network?
28 GHz and
Verizon uses 28 GHz and
revenue per user (ARPU).
revenue
In thisper
way,user
users
(ARPU).
can In this way, us
39 GHz bands to deliver
39 5G
GHzHome
bandsservices,
to deliver 5G Homecut
services,
costs, and operatorscut
cancosts,
enhance
and operators
user can enhance u
but views from the industry
but views
are not
fromexactly
the industry are not exactly increase network
stickiness, stickiness,
revenue
increase
and gain
network revenue an
the same. In fact, the 5G
theFWA
same.
solution
In fact,has
theno
5G FWA solution
morehas no share.
market more market share.
specific requirement for
specific
frequency
requirement
bands. The
for frequency bands. The traditional FWA
FWA allows fixed-line
allowsoperators
traditional
to fixed-line ope
frequency bands usedfrequency
by FWA need
bands
to used
be by FWA need to bedeploy wirelessrapidly
rapidly broadband
deploy
networks
wireless broadband netw
strongly related to band
strongly
strategies,
related
user
toand
band strategies,based
user and
on their existingbased
transmission
on theirnetworks,
existing transmission ne
business development,business
and existing
development,
network and existing
so network
that they can quicklysoattract
that they
users
canand
quickly attract users an
conditions of operators.
conditions of operators. occupy the market. Utilizing
occupy the
the
5Gmarket.
network,
Utilizing the 5G net
The transmission distance
The of
transmission
sub-6 GHz distance of sub-6
FWAGHz
services can be launched
FWA services
to enable
can be launched to enable
(below 6 GHz) primarily
(below
depends
6 GHz)
on path
primarily
loss depends on path lossaccess for households,
broadband broadband access
enterprises
for households, ente
and indoor penetrationand
loss.
indoor
As sub-6
penetration
GHz loss. As sub-6
and GHz
individuals in different
and individuals
scenarios. With
in different
the scenarios. W
meets the needs of both
meets
coverage
the needs
and of
capacity,
both coverageexisting
and capacity,
transmission resources,
existing transmission
FWA and FTTxresources, FWA an
it can reach an ideal compromise
it can reach between
an ideal compromise between
can complement each can
other.
complement each other.
peak rate and coverage.
peak
Therefore,
rate andsub-6
coverage.
GHz isTherefore, sub-6
FWA GHz is emergingFWA
can help operators
can help
quickly
emerging operators qu
more suitable for suburban
more or
suitable
rural areas
for suburban
where or ruralenter
areas where
the regional market
enter
forthe
its small
regional
investment,
market for its small in
MBB services are needed.
MBB services are needed. rapid deployment and rapid
short deployment
return on and short return on
Millimeter wave (mmWave)
Millimeter
spectrum
waveabove
(mmWave) spectrum abovelaying a sound
investment, investment,
foundation
laying
foratheir
sound foundation
6 GHz provides ultra large
6 GHzbandwidth,
provides ultra
larger
large bandwidth, larger
future network expansion.
future network expansion.
capacity and higher speeds.
capacity
Butand
in addition
higher speeds.
to But in addition to
path loss and indoor penetration
path loss and
loss,
indoor
mmWave Summary
penetration loss, mmWave Summary
is also affected by trees,
is also
radio-wave
affectedscattering
by trees, radio-wave scattering
and rain attenuation. Despite
and rainthe
attenuation.
lack of Despite the lackFWA
of has become one of
FWA
dominant
has become
broadband
one of dominant b
continuous coverage, mmWave
continuous
is coverage,
a better mmWave is aaccess
bettersolutions for lastaccess
mile access
solutions
andfor
haslast
also
mile access and
option for short-distance
option
FWAfor
(below
short-distance
200 FWA (below
been200
considered one ofbeen
the earliest
considered
mature
oneuse
of the earliest ma
meters). meters). cases in the 5G era. ZTEcases
has successfully
in the 5G era.
deployed
ZTE has successfully
At present, fourteen countries
At present,
andfourteen
regions countries and regions
wireless broadband services
wireless
based
broadband
on TDD services based on T
in the world have made
in 5G
the plans
worldon
have
themade 5G plans networks
on the in many countries
networks
and in
hasmany
accumulated
countries and has acc
sub-6 GHz bands, while
sub-6
six countries
GHz bands,
andwhile six countries
regions richand regions experience.
deployment rich deployment
Incorporating
experience.
its Incorporat
have planned 5G on the
have
bands
planned
above
5G6 on
GHz.
the bands above 6 GHz.experience into
successful successful
the increasingly
experiencemature
into the increasin
To meet the requirements
To meet
of different
the requirements
countries of different countries
5G system, ZTE can respond
5G system,
quickly
ZTE
to can
the needs
respond quickly to t
and regions, ZTE has released
and regions,
a fullZTE
range
hasofreleased a full
ofrange of
fixed wireless broadband
of fixed
andwireless
offer tailor-made
broadband and offer ta
new-generation 5G base
new-generation
stations operating
5G base
on stations operating on solutions.products and solutions.
products and

32 32
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

toAI
Boost
to Boost
5G Mobile
5G Mobile
etwork
Network
Operations
Operations
r Future
for Future

modes, 5G service experience

ith the cloud and NFVith the cloud and NFV modes, 5G
willservice
also tend
experience will also tend
transformation of telecom to be diverse and personalized,
transformation of telecom to be diverse
suchand
as personalized, such as
networks, integration of
networks,
5G integrationimmersive
of 5G experience,immersive
real-time interaction,
experience, real-time interaction,
and IoT, and development
and IoT, and accurate
of and development of perception
andofaccurate
emotionsperception
and of emotions and
ustrial applications,
diverse industrial
the operations intentions. The network's
applications, the operations intentions.
supportThe
for network's
the support for the
networks will
of telecom
face unprecedented experience will subvertexperience
networks will face unprecedented the traditional
will subvert
model the traditional model
in the 5G era.
challenges
These challenges and usher in new challenges.
in the 5G era. These challenges and usher in new challenges.
mplex networking,
involve diverse
complexservices
networking, diverse services
nalized experience.
and personalized experience. Therefore, the challenges
Therefore,
of network
the challenges of network
Tang Liang Tang Liang
x networking. Coexistence
Complex networking.
of 2G, operations
Coexistence of 2G, that come operations
with the 5Gthat
era come
will bewith the 5GWireless Solution
era will be Manager Wireless Solution Manager
of ZTE TDD&5G Products of ZTE TDD&5G Products
and 5G networks
3G,brings
4G and 5G networks bringssignificant.
difficulties difficulties The advanced
significant.
automatedThe operations
advanced automated operations
ork synergy and
in interoperability, are gradually forming are
network synergy and interoperability, a gap
gradually
with theforming
traditional
a gap with the traditional
es in fault demarcation in fault demarcation operations
difficultiesand and based on expert
operations
experience.
based on expert experience.
under the hierarchical
location under the hierarchical Automated
decoupling decoupling and intelligent
Automated
network
and
operations
intelligent network operations
ture, and also challenges
architecture,ofand
unified will
also challenges ofbe the just need inwill
unified thebe5G
the
era.
just
Artificial
need in the 5G era. Artificial
e scheduling and
resource
operations
scheduling intelligence
due toand operations due to (AI) technology
intelligence
has intrinsic
(AI) technology has intrinsic
amic change ofthe
cloud
dynamic
and virtual advantages
change of cloud and virtual in solving advantages
high-volumeindata
solving
analysis,
high-volume data analysis,
ks. networks. cross-domain feature mining,
cross-domain
and dynamic
feature mining, and dynamic
services. The single
Diverse
man-to-man strategy generation, and
services. The single man-to-man strategy
will create
generation,
new modes
and will create new modes
nication mode communication
has gradually evolved and capabilities
mode has gradually evolved for 5Gand
network
capabilities
operations.
for 5G network operations.
ull-scenario communication
into a full-scenario Inmode
mode communication
that the future,
that based onInthe
thecloud
future, based on the cloud
man-to-man, involves
man-to-machine,
man-to-man, infrastructure,
and man-to-machine, and the network
infrastructure,
that combines
the network
5G, that combines 5G,
e-to-machine communications.
machine-to-machine AI and IoT
The communications. Thewill gradually
AI and
become
IoT will
the gradually
intelligentbecome the intelligent
s scenarios willbusiness
be morescenarios will be morecenter
complicated of digital society
complicated center
and promote
of digitalintelligent
society and promote intelligent
s bring about differentiated
and thus bringSLA interconnection
about differentiated SLA of all things.
interconnection of all things.
ments such as high
requirements
bandwidth, As the world’s leading As
such as high bandwidth, telecom
the world’s
solution
leading telecom solution
connections, ultra-high reliability ultra-highprovider
massive connections, reliabilityand 5G leader,
provider
ZTE hasand
actively
5G leader, ZTE has actively
latency, and the
andassociated
low latency,
complex combined
and the associated the AI technology
complex combined
withthe
5GAItotechnology
carry with 5G to carry
k management.network management. out automation and intelligence
out automation
in related
and intelligence
fields in related fields
lized experience.
Personalized
Relying onexperience.
5G Relyingcovering
on 5G 5G wireless, cloud,
covering
slicing,
5G wireless,
bearer and
cloud, slicing, bearer and
k capabilities and
network
abundant
capabilities operations
businessand abundant services. Moreover,
business operations
ZTEservices.
has alsoMoreover, ZTE has also

33 33
Special Topic
actively participated in the development of
relevant standards and contributions to open
source technologies.
A 5G network serves as the fundamental
infrastructure that can support digital
development of various industries and provide
differentiated services for all industry scenarios.
To support a variety of industry applications
and business scenarios in a flexible and
on-demand manner, the 5G network will be
built with cloud service-based architecture
(SBA) to meet the future long-term development
needs. 5G RAN implements CU/DU separation.
The CU can support cloud or dedicated hardware
deployment, flexibly adapting to various
scenarios. The service-based architecture allows
for a converged core of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G
networks, meeting the needs of smooth
evolution, collaborative development and
long-term coexistence.
5G cloud and service-based architecture is
the foundation to support various industry
applications and business scenarios. Enabling
efficient, flexible, low-cost, easy operations with
openness and innovation will be the core
competitiveness of operators in the 5G era. This
is also a key trend of 5G network intelligence
and its main requirements involve:
Flexible radio and cloud resource
management: The 5G network needs to
support on-demand allocation of radio air
interface resources including spectrum, frame
structure, physical layer, and high-level
processing flow. It needs to implement
software and hardware decoupling, dynamic
allocation of processing resources, and agile
creation and adjustment of network
Customer Industrial
services applications
Fig. 1.
Architecture of MEC vCDN
RSE
2G/3G CU vCN-U
ZTE 5G AI solution.
VM/Container/BM
DU/CU
4G Access nodes
5G
34
capabilities. Dynamic allocation of cloud and
bearer network resources, intelligent
management of global strategies, and
automated management of end-to-end slices
are also required.
Air interface coordination and site
collaboration: It is necessary to optimize the
interference and site collaboration in dense
5G networks. There is also a pressing need
for designing a more efficient and more
intelligent mobility management mechanism
in ultra-dense 5G networks.
Flexible function deployment and edge
computing: AR/VR, industrial internet, and
internet of vehicle (IoV) have placed higher
requirements on communication latency,
reliability, and security. The 5G network
moves some functions from the core layer
to the edge to form edge computing
capabilities. By shortening link distance and
improving intelligence of the edge network,
operators can save backhaul bandwidth,
reduce network latency and intelligently
ensure user experience.
Enhanced network intelligent management:
5G network requires multi-system coexistence
and coordination, cloud-based hierarchical
decoupling and fault location, SBA-based
holographic perception, and on-demand
scheduling of bearer resources. This greatly
increases complexity and difficulty in network
management and optimization. It is therefore
necessary to introduce AI to improve
automation and intelligence of network
management, reduce artificial interference,
save costs, and thus enhance network QoS
and user experience.
Third-party
cooperations SE
Next-generaton OSS
LSE vCN-U LSE SE/LSE
MEC vCDN vCN-C vCN-U
MANO
MANO
MANO
CU SDN-C SDN-C
VM/Container/BM VM/Container/BM
Edge DC Regional/Core DC

Smart NEs Smart slices Smart operations
Alarm model Log model Traffic model
Real-time SE (RSE)
5G gNB/FPGA
Faced with the challenges of 5G development
and the needs to introduce intelligence, the
combination of AI and telecom networks will
be ubiquitous in 5G networks. An intelligent
5G network can be achieved by introducing
algorithm models and intelligent engines into
different levels of the network, as shown
in Fig. 1.
Based on the cloud and service-based
architecture, 5G network has distinct differences
at different network levels. The upper layer is
more centralized and has higher requirements
for cross-domain analysis and scheduling
capabilities such as E2E slice orchestration and
management and global cloud resource
coordination that rely on the centralized smart
engine (SE) for centralized global strategy
training and reasoning. The lower layer closer
to the end side focuses on intelligence
enhancement of professional subnets or single
network elements. Access network, bearer
network, and core network introduce Lite SE
(LSE) to enhance intelligence of subnets or
the sub-slice domain such as management
strategies and smart operations. Edge devices
such as MEC and 5G gNB introduce real-time
SE (RSE) to achieve real-time or quasi-real-time
intelligence at the edge.
The AI algorithm model and smart engines
at various levels can be deployed based on
the hardware computing environments in 5G
networks. The combination of engines, model
components, and application algorithms with
different network functional entities enables 5G
network intelligence.
The basic hardware environments where AI
capabilities are deployed in a 5G network can
FEB 2019
Application layer
Network Traffic
forecast optimization APP Plug-ins
Fig. 2. 5G AI
Model layer capability
AI
Traffic forecast model User behavior model architecture.
Field UE performance KPI/PI
forecast model model related model
Engine layer
Lite SE (LSE) Smart engine (SE)
PC server/Blade server GPU cluster HW
be centralized GPU clusters, general-purpose
servers or blade servers, or 5G base stations. The
intelligent capability layer (AI layer) contains the
engine layer, model layer and application layer
(Fig. 2).
Engine layer: It supports smart engines at
different levels including centralized AI and
big data SE, LSE, and real-time or
quasi-real-time SE, as well as visual modeling
component AI Explorer and machine
learning, and deep learning framework,
flexibly meeting the needs of different
deployment scenarios.
Model layer: It supports abundant
general-purpose capability model
components in a 5G network, such as alarm
correlation model, capacity prediction model,
user behavior model and traffic model,
flexibly supporting the calls of the
application layer.
Application layer: It is oriented to 5G
intelligent applications, flexibly supporting a
variety of application scenarios such as
intelligent prediction, RF fingerprinting,
intelligent slicing, and root cause analysis.
The combination of various AI capabilities can
be integrated into ZTE 5G products including 5G
NR, 5G cloud core, 5G UME, VMAX and BigDNA
to meet specific needs of network deployment.
ZTE’s AI-assisted intelligent networks will help
operators plan their networks more scientifically
with more accurate fault location capabilities,
lower operation costs, and business capabilities
that better meet user needs, so that they can
survive the fierce competition in the coming
5G era.
35
Special Topic Special Topic

Progress
Progress
of 5Gof 5G
Standards
Standards
in 3GPP
in 3GPP

obile internet has overturned

obile internet has overturned
At the 82nd plenary session
At the of
82nd
3GPP
plenary
RAN session of 3GP
traditional business models
traditional
of business that
models
justofended, 3GPP that
decided
just that
ended,
the3GPP
R15 Late
decided that th
mobile communications.
mobile
In 2020
communications.
Drop In 2020be frozen Drop
would in March
would
2019
be and
frozen
thein March 2019 a
and beyond, mobile internet
and beyond,
will mobileR15
internet will Drop would
Late ASN.1 R15 Late
be ASN.1
completed
Drop in
would be comple
promote further upgrades
promote
in the
further
way human
upgrades in the way
Junehuman
2019. The R15 Late
June
ASN.1
2019.
Drop
The will
R15contain
Late ASN.1 Drop w
society interacts with information,
society interacts
providing
with information, Option7,
providingOption4 and Option7,
NR-NR dual
Option4
connectivity.
and NR-NR dual con
users with ultimate service
users experience
with ultimate
such
service
as experience
R15 issuch
the as
first versionR15
of 5G
is the
commercial
first version of 5G commerc
augmented reality, virtual
augmented
reality, ultra-high
reality, virtual reality, ultra-high
standards and has synergy
standards
with the
and R16
has synergy with the R1
Cai Xiaoliang definition videos, mobile
Cai Xiaoliang definition
cloud, autonomous
videos, mobile cloud, autonomous
standards. R15 supports
standards.
eMBB andR15URLLC
supports
in eMBB and UR
5G Solution Marketing driving,
5G Solution and smart
Marketing city.driving,
As newand
services
smartcontinue
city. As new services continue
three 5G scenarios, and
three
the 5G
massive
scenarios,
machine
and the massive m
Manager at ZTE Manager at ZTE
to emerge, there is a pressing
to emerge,
need
there
for is
newa pressing need for new
communication (mMTC)
communication
scenario will be
(mMTC)
defined
scenario will b
mobile technologies that
mobile
will technologies
be faster, smarter
that will be faster,
in thesmarter
follow-up study.inR15
thefocuses
follow-up
on study.
the 5GR15 focuses on
and more efficient. and more efficient. NR interface (waveform,
NRcoding,
interface
parameters,
(waveform, coding, param
5G has completely subverted
5G has completely
4G technicalsubverted 4Gframe
technical
structure, and large-scale
frame structure,
array antennas)
and large-scale array a
standards and there needs
standards
hugeand
technical
there needs huge technical
and network architecture
and(NSA,
network
SA, architecture
and CU/DU (NSA, SA, an
updates. The ITU sets requirements
updates. The ITU
thatsets
3GPPrequirementsseparation)
that 3GPP in the eMBB
separation)
scenario. in the eMBB scenario.
must propose pre-standard
must propose
5G beforepre-standard
2018 and 5G before 2018 and
put forward the first formal
put forward
commercial
the first Release
5G formal commercial 5Gof 3GPP R15 Standards
Release of 3GPP R15 Standards
standards in 2020. 3GPP
standards
faces the
in pressure
2020. 3GPP
of faces the pressure of
tight time and heavy tasks
tight in
time
formulating
and heavy5Gtasks in formulating 5G plenary session
The 80th Theof80th
3GPPplenary
RAN was
session of 3GPP R
standards. standards. held in San Diego in June
held 2018,
in Sanwhere
Diego in June 2018, where
participants witnessedparticipants
the birth ofwitnessed
two the birth of two
5G Standardization in5G
3GPP
Standardization in 3GPP milestones in the 5G standardization
milestones in the
process.
5G standardization p
The first milestone wasThe
that
first
3GPP
milestone
completed
was on
that 3GPP com
According to the 3GPPAccording
plan, 5G standards
to the 3GPP
areplan, 5Gtime
standards
5G NRare
specifications
timefor
5GR15
NR SA.
specifications
The new for R15 SA. T
completed in two phases.
completed
The firstinphase
two phases.
of The firstspecifications
phase of will deploy
specifications
5G NR withwill
5Gdeploy
core 5G NR with 5
3GPP 5G R15 standards
3GPP
was 5G
completed
R15 standards
in Junewas completed in June
networks, supporting end-to-end
networks, supporting
new features
end-to-end new
2018. In this phase, 5G2018.
standalone
In this phase,
(SA) standards
5G standaloneincluding
(SA) standards
network slicing
including
and more
network
granular
slicing and more gr
were completed, enhanced
were completed,
mobile broadband
enhanced mobileQoS
broadband
models. In addition
QoStomodels.
5G NR specifications
In addition to 5G NR spe
(eMBB) and ultra-reliable
(eMBB)
low-latency
and ultra-reliable
(URLLC) IoTlow-latency
for (URLLC)
R15 NSAIoT
released in
forDecember
R15 NSA released
2017, 3GPP
in December 201
were supported, and network
were supported,
interface and
protocol
network interface protocol the firsthas
has completed phase
completed
of global
the5G
first phase of globa
was completed. The second
was completed.
phase of 3GPP
The second
5G phasestandards
of 3GPP 5G
and is readystandards
for commercial
and is ready for commercial
R16 standards are expected
R16 standards
to be completed
are expected
in to be deployment
completed inin 2019. deployment in 2019.
March 2020. In this phase,
Marchthe2020.
complete
In this5G
phase, the complete
The 5G
second milestone The
is the
second
approval
milestone
of 5G is the approv
standards will fully meet
standards
all ITU requirements.
will fully meet all ITU requirements.
Phase-2 projects that will
Phase-2
haveprojects
a significant
that will have a signi

36 36
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

3GPP R16 specifications.

impact on 3GPP Some
R16 specifications.everyone
Some two years ago,
everyone
but with
two
theyears ago, but with the
cus on further
projects
improving
focus mobile
on further improving
completion
mobile of R15 standards,
completion
3GPPofmade
R15 standards,
5G 3GPP made 5G
performance,
broadband
while more
performance,
projects while more
possible
projects
in a short time.
possible
The 5GinR15
a short
standards
time. The 5G R15 standards
ed on the flexible
will be framework
based on the
of flexible framework
not only
of provide usersnot
with
only
higher
provide
datausers
rates with higher data rates
to extend 5G
Release
support
15 to
forextend
new use
5G support for
andnew
bandwidth
use but also
andmeet
bandwidth
communication
but also meet communication
expansion of
cases.
5G chiefly
The expansion
depends of
on5G chiefly needs
depends
of different
on industries
needs ofthrough
different
an industries
open through an open
also includes
5G LTE
NR evolution.
and also includes LTE evolution.
and flexible design. 5Gand
willflexible
be an integrated
design. 5G will be an integrated
platform for diverse industries.
platform for diverse industries.
ribution to ZTE’s
5G Standards
Contribution to 5G Standards It is difficult for 5G to It
arouse
is difficult
such for
a great
5G to arouse such a great
interest in the industryinterest
if it only
in increases
the industry if it only increases
a total of 800 ZTE
experts
has adevoted
total ofto
800 experts devoted
networkto
rates. The charm
network
of 5Grates.
is to The
transform
charm of 5G is to transform
andardization
telecom
work. Among
standardization
them, work. Among them, 5G experience
the industry. the industry.
that consumers
5G experience
can that consumers can
200 are 5G more
experts
than
who
200are
arefully
5G experts whoclearly
are fully
foresee in the short
clearlyterm
foresee
is indeed
in the short term is indeed
the major involved
international
in the
standards
major internationaldouble
standards
speeds. This has
double
also been
speeds.
verified
This has
in also been verified in
ns and promotion
organizations
platforms
andsuch
promotion
as platforms
some such as or field tests.
5G labs some 5G5G spectrum
labs or field tests. 5G spectrum
IEEE, NGMN,ITU,
ETSI,
3GPP,
OpenFog,
IEEE, NGMN,
CCSA, ETSI, OpenFog, CCSA,is more thanefficiency
efficiency five timesis that
moreofthan
4G, its
five times that of 4G, its
5GIA and 5GAA.
IMT-2020,
ZTE has
5GIA
submitted
and 5GAA. ZTE haspeak
submitted
data rates reach peak
gigabits
dataper
rates
second,
reachand
gigabits per second, and
international
over
proposals
4,700 international
to 3GPP andproposals its
to network
3GPP andenergy efficiency
its network
exceeds
energy
100efficiency
times exceeds 100 times
e the editorhas
in three
become5G the
key editor in three 5Gthat
key of 4G. that of 4G.
ns and the specifications
vice chair in 3GPP
and the
RAN3.
vice chair in 3GPP RAN3.
5G has a greater impact
5Gon
hasthe
a greater
industry.
impact on the industry.
of 2017, ZTE
By had
the end
accumulatively
of 2017, ZTE had accumulatively
According to the WhiteAccording
Paper on 5G Economic
to the White Paper on 5G Economic
ver 2000 5G-related
achieved patents
over 2000
and5G-related
most patents and most
and Social Impact of CAICT,
and Social Impact
by 2030, theofdirect
CAICT, by 2030, the direct
ere core patents.
of them
As were
an active
core patents. As an active
contribution of 5G willcontribution
bring aboutof
6.35Gtrillion
will bring about 6.3 trillion
r to 5G standards,
contributor
ZTE has
to 5G
proposed
standards,
a ZTE has proposed
yuan of total aoutput, 2.9
yuan
trillion
of total
yuanoutput,
of economic
2.9 trillion yuan of economic
5G originalnumber
core technologies
of 5G original
in core technologies in
value added and 8 million
valueemployment
added and 8 million employment
DPC coding,terms
ultra short
of LDPC
frame,
coding, ultra short opportunities,
frame, while the
opportunities,
indirect contribution
while the indirect contribution
NOMA, high M-MIMO,
frequency,NOMA,
new waveform,
high frequency, new
of 5Gwaveform,
will bring aboutof
10.6
5G trillion
will bring
yuanabout
of total
10.6 trillion yuan of total
me structure,
unified
and network
frame structure,
slicing. and network slicing.
output, 3.6 trillion yuan
output,
of economic
3.6 trillion
value
yuan of economic value
oding: ZTE wasLDPC
the first
coding:
to propose
ZTE was the first added
to propose
and 11.5 millionadded
employment
and 11.5 million employment
mpact LDPC matrix
the compact
framework.
LDPC
Thematrix framework. The
opportunities. opportunities.
l has been accepted
proposal
in 3GPP.
has been accepted in 3GPP.
Internet of vehicles, mobile
Internet
health
of vehicles,
and mobile health and
ort frame: ZTE Ultra
proposed
shortthe
frame:
mini-slot
ZTE proposedindustrial
the mini-slot
internet usedindustrial
to only exist
internet
in concepts
used to only exist in concepts
mption mechanism.
DL preemption
The proposal
mechanism.
has Theorproposal has intelligent
preliminary or preliminary
application intelligent
scenarios. application scenarios.
andardized in R15.
been standardized in R15. Their potential cannotTheir
be maximized
potential cannot
until 5Gbe maximized until 5G
O: ZTE proposed
M-MIMO:
M-MIMOZTE
based
proposed
on M-MIMO based to
appears onsupport them.
appears to support them.
dback of TDD reciprocity.
CSI feedback of TDD reciprocity. 5G is not only the evolution
5G is not
of only the evolution of
ZTE establishedNOMA:
the NOMA
ZTE established
project the NOMA project
communications technologies,
communications
but also technologies,
the but also the
ully in 3GPP, introducing
successfullythe
in 3GPP, introducing the
revolution of business revolution
models. Network
of business models. Network
hogonal multiple
non-orthogonal
access scheme
multiple
to accessarchitecture
scheme to and core network
architecture
haveand
undergone
core network have undergone
sical layer. the physical layer. tremendous changes in
tremendous
the 5G era,changes
which can
in the 5G era, which can
quency: ZTE determined
High frequency:
the hybrid
ZTE determined the hybrid
better meet the needsbetter
of vertical
meetindustries.
the needsThis
of vertical industries. This
modeling. Thechannel
channelmodeling.
modelingThe
haschannelismodeling hasimportant
one of the is signs
one ofofthe
5G important
revolution.signs of 5G revolution.
cluded in the ITU
been
reference
includedframework.
in the ITU reference framework.
Therefore, expanding the
Therefore,
5G ecosystem
expanding
to allow
the 5G ecosystem to allow
veform: ZTE proposed
New waveform:
the FB-OFDM
ZTE proposed the FB-OFDM
more vertical industries
more
to join
vertical
the work
industries
related
to join the work related
for effective intersymbol
scheme for interference
effective intersymbol
to interference
promoting 5G development
to promoting
and to
5Gexert
development and to exert
sion. suppression. their potential is also the
theirdirection
potentialofisthe
alsowhole
the direction of the whole
industry. 5G standardsindustry.
are settled,
5G but
standards
this is are settled, but this is
just a vision or5G
even
wasajust
hypea vision
for or even a hype
only for
the beginning. only the beginning.

37 37
Success Story Success Story

Wireless
Wireless
Coverage
Coverage
for for
HongKong-Zhuhai-Macao
HongKong-Zhuhai-Macao
BridgeBridge

A A
s Chinese President Xi sJinping
Chinese President Xi cumulative
Jinping number of users
cumulative
reached
number
378,000.
of users reached 37
announced the opening
announced
of the the opening
Theofnumber
the of single-day
Thetraffic
number andofusers
single-day traffic and us
HongKong-Zhuhai-Macao
HongKong-Zhuhai-Macao
Bridge Bridge
reached a peak of 2.76Treached
and 16,800
a peak
respectively
of 2.76T and 16,800 resp
(HZMB) on October 23,(HZMB)
2018, the
on October 23,on
2018, the 27. All indicators
October on October
on site27.
were
All indicators
within on site we
55-kilometer bridge crowned
55-kilometer
one ofbridge
the “seven
crowned one the
of the “seven
design range. the design range.
wonders of the modern
wonders
world” of
wasthe
officially
modern world” was officially
After eight years’ consecutive
After eight
construction
years’ consecutive constru
put into operation. ZTEput
teamed
into operation.
with the ZTE teamed with
andthe
investment of overand
RMBinvestment
100 billion,ofthe
over RMB 100 billion
Guangdong arm of China
Guangdong
Mobile toarm
provide
of China
a Mobile to provide a HZMB is the
55-kilometer 55-kilometer
first “SuperHZMB
Project”
is the first “Super Pr
Shang Boxing Shangcomprehensive
Boxing solution
comprehensive
for customized
solution
wirelessfor customized wireless
integrated with bridges,
integrated
tunnels and
with bridges, tunnels and
network
Wireless Solution Manager Wireless coverage
Solution Manager for the
network
world’s
coverage
longestfor the world’s longest
artificial islands. artificial islands.
at ZTE at ZTE
sea-crossing bridge. sea-crossing bridge. The complex structure The
poses
complex
a big structure poses a big
On the first day of opening,
On thethefirst
peakdaynumber
of opening, the peak number
challenge on continuous
challenge
coverage
onofcontinuous
bridge coverage of b
of 4G network users of of
the4G
HZMB
network
exceeded
users of
5,000,
the HZMB exceeded
network 5,000,
signals. network signals.
the wireless connectionthe
rate
wireless
exceeded
connection
99.6%, and
rate exceededThe
99.6%, andbelongs to special
bridge The bridge
linear
belongs to special linear
the VoLTE connection rate
the exceeded
VoLTE connection
99.7%. rate exceededcoverage
99.7%. scenarios andcoverage
is locatedscenarios
in the South
and is located in the
The on-site VoLTE user experience
The on-site VoLTE
was good.
user experience was of
Coast good.
China where typhoon,
Coast of thunderstorm,
China where typhoon, thunder
Whether in the bridge steel
Whether
frame
in structure
the bridgeorsteel
the frame structure or the and other
high temperature high temperature
extreme weather
and other extreme w
6.75-kilometer submarine
6.75-kilometer
tunnel, the mobile
submarine
4G tunnel, the mobilerage
regularly 4G in this region.
regularly
Manyrage
wireless
in this region. Many wirel
download and upload rate
download
reach up
andtoupload
50 Mbps
rate reach upsignals
to 50 Mbps
in Hong Kong and
signals
Macaoin Hong
form mutual
Kong and Macao form m
and 18 Mbps respectively
andat18a Mbps
high speed
respectively
scene, at a high interference
speed scene,on the bridge.
interference on the bridge.
recording the world’s advanced
recordinglevel.
the world’s
As of the
advanced level. As of the
Faced with this challenge,
Faced
ZTEwith
andthis
China
challenge, ZTE and C
bridge’s first month of operation
bridge’s first
onmonth
November
of operation
23, onMobile
November
have23,
a clear aim,
Mobile
that is,have
to build
a clear
a aim, that is, to build
the cumulative traffic was
the 67.4T
cumulative
and the
traffic was 67.4T andubiquitous,
the powerful and
ubiquitous,
easy-to-manage
powerful and easy-to-mana

38 38
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

full-coverage
ge wireless network wireless
for HZMB on solution
to network for HZMB to verificationonincluding
solution the
verification
use of including the use of
and smoothensure
use ofsafe
the and smooth
network special technologies,
use of the network
when when special
the technologies,
requirements for the requirements for
crossing
e sea. However, the sea.
deploying ultra-long
However, deploying
a wireless a wireless ultra-long
coverage, and coverage,
the design and the design of special
of special
n the world’snetwork on the world’s longest sea-crossing
longest sea-crossing bows. ZTEtocreatively
bows. ZTE creatively proposed employ theproposed to employ the
bridge
ot an easy task. The istwo
notsides
an easy craneset
task. The two sides
set up onup craneRRU
the land to carry on the land to
in order to carry RRU in order to
a joint
ect team of over project
100 teamexperts
technical conduct
of over 100 technical experts conduct
an efficient field an the
trial on efficient field trial on the bridge.
bridge.
to solve
e problems one the problems one by one. This ensured completeThis
by one. ensured and
compliance complete compliance and
In respect
ct to the equipment to the equipment model,
model, the constructionone-time
one-time construction completion.
completion.
project
opted ZTE’s TDD LTEadopted ZTE’sRRU
multi-mode GPS isRRU
TDD LTE multi-mode GPS is a signal
a clock synchronization clock synchronization
used signal used
and
TE high-power FDD
RRU forLTE
thehigh-power bypurpose
purpose ofRRU for the a conventional
of by a conventional
4G network, but it may4Gbenetwork, but it may be
supporting
varied modes varied
of network artificially
modes of network
coverage artificially
coverageinterfered during interfered
special periodsduring special periods
while addressing
essing the storage such as major festivals.such
the storage enhancement
enhancement as majorpotential
To prevent festivals. To prevent potential
om eMBB inresulting
future. from eMBB in future. social
social security problems, GPSsecurity
signals problems,
need to GPS signals need to
As the
waters of the Pearl waters
River of the
estuary Pearl River be
where estuary whereZTE usedbewireless
improved. improved.
GPSZTE
andused wireless GPS and
HZMB
cated are wide, theis bridge
locatedwill
arebe wired
wide, the bridge willIEEE1588
be wired IEEE1588
V2 to provide V2 to provide stable clock
stable clock
subjected
to various harsh to varioussuch
environments synchronization
harsh environments such signalssynchronization signals to ensure stable
to ensure stable
winds, huge as strong
waves, winds,
heavy huge
rains, operation
waves, heavy
and rains, and operation of
of wireless equipment onwireless equipment on the bridge.
the bridge.
hat impose lightning
stringent that impose stringent requirements
requirements The bridge
The bridge network signal network signal coverage
coverage
on equipment.
ent. ZTE customized ZTE customized theprovided
the fastened provided
fastenedby ZTE can not by ZTE
only meet thecan not only meet the existing
existing
t in case of component in case All
extreme weathers. 4G network
of extreme weathers. 4G network coverage
All coverage requirements but also requirements but also
the components
nents are specially treated toare taketointo
specially treated
protect protect take intoevolution
account the smooth account the smooth evolution of the
of the
from high equipment from
humidity and 5Gsalinity.
high humidity and
salinity. 5Gthe
network coverage in network
future.coverage
By meansin the future. By means
Onthe
mber 15, 2018, September 15, super
subtropical 2018, the subtropical super and CloudofRAN
of 5G-Ready 5G-Ready and ZTE’s
solutions, Cloud RAN solutions, ZTE’s
typhoon
Hawthorn” was in the was registerednetwork
“Hawthorn”
registered network enables GSM/FDD/NB-IoT/eMTC/TDD
in the enables GSM/FDD/NB-IoT/eMTC/TDD
northeastern
rn part of the part
South China of HZMB
Sea. multi-mode,
the South China Sea. HZMB multi-mode,
multi-band integrationmulti-band
and integration and
center and was in the the
withstood center
testand deployment
withstood the
of the deployment
test of thewhile adopting while adopting the architecture
the architecture
16-level typhoon.
phoon. All communication of shared
All communication
equipment MEC and CUofserver
equipment shared
forMEC and5G.
future CU server for future 5G.
on the normally,
dge was operating bridge was operating normally,
providing huge challenge It
It is aproviding forisboth
a huge challenge for both telecom
telecom
municationstable communication
guarantee for the operators
guarantee for the operators
and equipment andtoequipment
vendors provide vendors to provide
real-time
pdate of disaster update ofand
information wireless
disaster information and wireless
coverage for the supercoverage for the super HZMB project
HZMB project
up disaster the
relieffollow-up disaster
work. The relief work. The wireless
wireless
coverage
cheme for HZMB scheme
provided byfor
ZTEHZMB provided by ZTE ZTE’s equipment ZTE’s equipment
onvincinglyhas beeninconvincingly
proven practice. proven in practice. room on the room on the
Zhuhai-Macao Zhuhai-Macao
To address
ess the linear coverage the linear
scenario of coverage scenario of
Artificial Island Artificial Island
located theHZMB, ZTE located
equipment rooms the equipment rooms on the
on the
cao ArtificialZhuhai-Macao Artificial
Island and West Island and West Artificial
Artificial
Island
de the bridge, beside the
extending the bridge,
range ofextending the range of
RRU to
er 10 kilometers. over 10 kilometers.
Considering because
space, Considering space, because
of its extremely of its extremely
high requirements for high requirements for
deploymentfuture 5G deployment
and fiber delivery
and fiber core
core resources, resources, deliveryquality
capabilities, network capabilities, network quality and user
and user
dopted “twoZTE also adopted
directional core”directional experience.
single“two experience.
single core”The success Theproject
in this super success in this super project
solution,
hereby saving 75% ofthereby shows
saving 75% of fiber
fiber core. core. shows
that China’s mobile that China’s
coverage mobile coverage technology
technology
In collaboration
boration with China Mobile, ZTEwith has reached
China Mobile,
spent ZTE spent haslevel
the highest reached the highest level of performance
of performance
43 months
in formulating in formulating a comprehensive
a comprehensive andworld.
and specifications in the specifications
ZTE will in the world. ZTE will
customizedsolution
wirelessofnetwork customize and developcustomize
customized wireless network and develop more innovative
more innovative
or HZMB. Incoverage for the
fact, during 43 In fact, duringtechnologies
HZMB. the 43 technologies
in the future, providinginintegrated
the future, providing integrated
months,
only took three it only
months to took three monthstelecom
complete to complete telecom
solutions as well solutions
as quality and as well as quality and
base(from
n construction station construction
September reliable products
to (from September to reliable products
for overseas wireless for overseas wireless
December
2017), and the 2017),
rest time was and the rest timecommunications.
spent was spent communications.

39 39
Press Clipping Press Clipping

HowHow
ZTE’sZTE’s
Common
Common
CoreCo
Will Help
Will Telcos
Help Telcos
to Evolve
to Evolve
from fro
Existing
Existing
Networks
Networks
to 5Gto 5
Source: RCRwireless Source:
Juan Pedro
RCRwireless
Tomás November
Juan Pedro6,Tomás
2018 Novem

TE’s Common Core is already

TE’s Common Core is already
offers benefits to operators,
offers end-users
benefits toand
operators, end-users
helping mobile operators
helping
globally
mobile operators globally
partners. Operators can
partners.
build a Operators
5G-oriented
can build a 5G-ori
to evolve from existingtonetworks
evolve from
to existingcommon
networksnetwork
to for all
common
generations
network
of access
for all generations o
target 5G networks, Jason
target
Tu,5G
Chief
networks, Jason Tu, Chief The network
technologies. technologies.
can be working
The network
as can be wor
cientist of NFV/SDN Products
cientist at
of ZTE,
NFV/SDN
told Products at ZTE, told
a standard EPC/EPC+/5GC
a standard
with fixed
EPC/EPC+/5GC
access with fixed a
RCR Wireless News. RCR Wireless News. on the unified architecture
on thewith
unified
minimum
architecture with minim
Commenting on the main
Commenting
features of
onZTE
the main features of The
costs. ZTE network willcosts.
allowThe
newnetwork
4G and/or
will allow new 4G a
Common Core and how
Common
this technology
Core andcan
how this technology can to be developed
5G services 5G services
and generate
to be developed and gene
help carriers evolve towards
help carriers
5G, theevolve
executive
towards 5G, the
newexecutive
revenue for operators.
new revenue for operators.
said that the ZTE Convergent
said thatCommon
the ZTE Core
Convergent Common Core
Meanwhile, end users Meanwhile,
can have a smooth
end users can have a sm
for 2G/3G/4G/5G fixedfor
network
2G/3G/4G/5G
providesfixed
a network provides
access ato any networkaccess
to enjoy
to their
any network
services to enjoy their s
complete, 5G-orientedcomplete,
cloud-native
5G-oriented
core cloud-nativewith
coreunified authentication
with unified
independent
authentication
of independe
solution, which can besolution,
introduced
which
to build
can beanintroducedaccess
to build an
technologies. Besides,
access technologies.
ZTE Common Besides, ZTE Com
independent 5G core or
independent
upgrade the
5Gexisting
core or upgrade the existing
Core will always provide
Core
service
will always
continuity
provide service conti
EPC network. EPC network. when handover between
when
anyhandover
access between any access
“It is one unified network
“It isthat
onecan
unified
not only
network that can not only occurs, the
technologies technologies
executive said.
occurs, the executive said
work as EPC/EPC+/5GCwork
or any
as EPC/EPC+/5GC
combination ofor any combination
Tu also of
highlighted that
Tu ZTE
alsoCommon
highlighted that ZTE Comm
them to support non-standalone
them to support
or standalone
non-standalone or standalone
Core provides end-to-end
Corenetwork
providesslicing
end-to-end
to network slic
5G, but also adapt fixed
5G,access
but also
to the
adapt
5G fixed
Core.access to collaborate
the 5G Core.with partners
collaborate
to pave with
the path
partners to pave the
It provides the best way
It provides
to save investment
the best way
onto save investment
to 5G. on to 5G.
4G expansion and smooth
4G expansion
evolutionand
to 5G,
smooth
” Tu evolution “ZTE
to 5G,” Tu
Common Core is “ZTE
basedCommon
on a fullCore is based on a fu
said. “With the introduction
said. “With
of 5Gthe
andintroduction
the of 5G three-layer
and the decouplingthree-layer
architecture
decoupling
which architecture wh
long-term coexistencelong-term
of 2G/3G/4G
coexistence
networks,of 2G/3G/4G networks,
follows standards of NFV/SDN
follows standards
and open-source
of NFV/SDN and ope
operators are facing the
operators
challenge
areoffacing
complex
the challengecommunities.
of complex It is ablecommunities.
to smoothly integrate
It is able to smoothly int
and diverse network architecture
and diverseand
network
risingarchitecture and
withrising
hardware and software
with hardware
from multiple
and software from mul
costs,” he added. costs,” he added. vendors in the ecosystem
vendors
suchinasthe
HP,ecosystem
Dell, Red such as HP,
The executive said thatThe
ZTEexecutive
Commonsaid
Core
that ZTE Common Core
Hat, and VMware,” he said.
Hat, and VMware,” he said.

40 40
 FEB 2019 FEB 2019

Jason Tu Jason Tu
Chief Scientist of NFV/SDN
Chief Scientist
Products
of NFV/SDN
at ZTE Products at ZTE

“ZTE Common Core “ZTE

offers
Common
benefitsCore
to operators,
offers benefits
end-users
to operators, end-users
and partners. Operators
and partners.
can build
Operators
a 5G-oriented
can build
common
a 5G-oriented common
network for all generations
network forof access
all generations
technologies.
of access
The technologies. The
network can be working
network ascan
a standard
be working
EPC/EPC+/5GC
as a standardwith
EPC/EPC+/5GC with
fixed access on thefixed
unified
access
architecture
on the unified
with minimum
architecture
costs,”
with minimum costs,”
said Jason Tu, Chief
said
Scientist
Jason of
Tu,NFV/SDN
Chief Scientist
Products
of NFV/SDN
at ZTE. Products at ZTE.

n Core also reduces

CommonCapex
Core
foralso reduces CapexAccording
existing to the executive,
for existing According
the introduction
to the executive, the introduction
rk upgrades.EPC network upgrades. of artificial intelligence/machine
of artificiallearning
intelligence/machine
and learning and
nvergent Common
“ZTE Core
Convergent
productCommon
is Coreend-to-end
product is network slicing
end-to-end
will enable
network slicing will enable
ully compliant
notwith
onlyEPC,
fullybut capable with EPC, intelligent
compliant but capableoperation and
intelligent
agile deployment
operation and
of agile deployment of
g new 5GC of
features.
providing
Licenses the network.
new 5GC features. Licenses the network.
G/3G/4G/5G/Fixed
betweencan
2G/3G/4G/5G/Fixed
be shared or can be ZTE CloudStudio
shared or solution
ZTE isCloudStudio
in charge ofsolution is in charge of
flexibly,” theconverted
executive flexibly,
explained. the end-to-end network
” the executive explained. theslicing
end-to-end
management
network slicing management
migration costs
“Thecan
totalbemigration
saved because and the
costs can be saved Slice/NS/VNF lifecycle
because and the management
Slice/NS/VNF lifecycle
to management to
es one step ittoonly
migrate
takestoone
thestep
target achieve
to migrate to the orchestration
the target achieve
and the
management
orchestration and management
ore networkcommon
instead of
core
multiple of network services. Based
network instead of multiple of network
on AI technology
services. Based on AI technology
he added. upgrades,” he added. and an automation software
and anframework,
automationitsoftware framework, it
n Core also allows
Common
telcosCore also allows telcosprovides
to reduce end-to-end CI/CD
to reduce provides
(continuous
end-to-end CI/CD (continuous
to its simplified
Opexnetwork
due to its simplified networkintegration/continuous
topology, topology, integration/continuous
delivery) capabilities delivery) capabilities
to Tu. “All network
according
functions
to Tu. “All
apply for telecommunication
network functions apply for
networks
telecommunication
and has large
networks and has large
management
the topology, the unified topology,data
unified management the processing
unified capabilities
data processing
for telecomcapabilities for telecom
ace, and theuser
unified
interface,
platform, operations to achieve operations
and the unified platform, full networktoautonomy
achieve full network autonomy
n a significant
resulting
reduction Opex,” reductionwithout
in ainsignificant in Opex,manual
” intervention.
without manual intervention.
he said. Through the use of ZTE
Through
CloudStudio
the use of ZTE CloudStudio
work functions “All
in 2G/3G/4G/5G/Fixed automatic network slicing
network functions in 2G/3G/4G/5G/Fixed automatic
solution,
network
operators
slicing solution, operators
ployed automatically
can be deployed automatically viacan
via intelligent reduce the operation
intelligent can and
reduce
maintenance
the operation and maintenance
cing and cloud
network
native
slicing
architecture. manpower, while the O&M
and cloud native architecture. manpower,
efficiency
while
canthe
beO&M efficiency can be
can shortenOperators
time duration
can shorten
of improved,
time duration of and the on-line
improved,
serviceand
time
thetoon-line service time to
eployment and
network
speeddeployment
up the market
and speed up the can be shortened,
market
Tu said.
can be shortened, Tu said.
nt of new services.
deployment
This improves ZTE Common Core is now
of new services. This improves ZTE Common
conducting
Core
a field
is now conducting a field
l efficiency significantly even for significantly trial
operational efficiency eveninfor
China’s Guangdong
trial in
Province
China’s and
Guangdong
expects Province and expects
great number
cases
of industry
of a great
slicing,
number to slicing,
” of industry launch” its commercial
to launch
versionits
during
commercial
the firstversion during the first
he added. quarter of 2019. quarter of 2019.

41 41