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5G Test Network+ (5GTN+)

5GTN+ project is part of the Finland’s 5thGear project, researching the 5G technologies. The ultimate target is to look actively for new business potential in building and managing networks, creating optimized architecture to different application areas, and to find a service creation working model for new end-user services.

Branch: Digitalisation

Duration: 01.01.2017 – 28.02.2019

Region: National

Financed by: TEKES technology development center

Project Manager: Marjo Heikkilä

Background

5GTN+ project is part of the Finland’s 5thGear project, researching the 5G technologies. The ultimate target is to look actively for new business potential in building and managing networks, creating optimized architecture to different application areas, and to find a service creation working model for new end-user services. 5GTN+ project focus is expanded from pure technology driven project to include more service and application driven research targeting to support bringing spearhead technology and applications from different vertical application areas to real use.

Research on wireless technologies is changing from pure radio connectivity challenges towards intelligent radio access and networking concepts with revolutionized applications and services enabled by context awareness, mobile edge computing and big data analytics.

The requirements for 5G vary by application, but will include data rates ranging from very-low-rate sensor data to very-high-quality video content delivery, low latency requirements, low energy consumption, and high reliability and data security. All of these should be achieved at the same or lower cost than with today’s technologies. The application scenarios range from typical mobile broadband to machine-to-machine communication, real-time positioning of user devices in and out, real-time control with low latency, and low data rate, massive-sensor networks with a large number of nodes, to name just a few.

The architecture of future mobile networks are expected to be flexible enabling tailoring and optimization according to the target deployment environment. This is foreseen particularly in 5G system development which is expected to revolutionize everything seen so far in wireless-enabled applications. 5G is assumed to make everyday lives smoother and safer as well as drastically improving the efficiency of businesses. The first standard version is expected to be ready by 2020, and ongoing research activities are supporting that.

Centria’s team has a long experience deploying new technologies in field test environment. The team has performed several technologies, algorithm, testing tool, system, and application level demonstrations in the projects mentioned above. Centria team has world-class knowledge and practical skills for testing and configuring, as well as maintaining and building mobile network. This project is built upon the expertise created in CORE++ within Tekes 5thGear program and also CORE and CORE+ programs. 

The environment has evolved according to the demands of each trial. The field test environment is a heterogeneous network build with commercial hardware and software components. Field test environment is located in Ylivieska town in Bothnia area, Finland. Network covers Ylivieska city center area with macro cells. Centria campus area is covered with pico cell network. Heterogeneous environment consists of:

  • 2.3 GHz TD-LTE macro cells
  • 3.5 GHz TD-LTE macro cell
  • 2.3 GHz TD-LTE small cell
  • 2.3 GHz TD-LTE indoor pico cells
  • 3.5 GHz TD-LTE small cells
  • WiFi network.

Several public trials have been performed in Centria’s field test environment in previous CORE/CORE+/CORE++ projects, these trials include:

  • World first trials in LSA (2013) and SAS/CBRS (Globecomm 2015)
  • LTE vertical beamforming
  • Public safety development and trials
  • Novel mobile network tools
  • Map management
  • Network congestion avoidance tool
  • Coexistent and interference measurements
  • Smart traffic demonstrations.

Main research of this project is to continue developing the 5G test network towards a platform for service and application driven environment, boosting cooperation and enabling synergy benefits for the whole ecosystem. Developing and evaluating 5G technology focusing on results that can be turned to real products to allow a forerunner position for national industry in 5G technologies and services.

This project provides the test network environment to serve as a testbed for parallel research projects. Strengthening the cooperation between research projects, related organizations and other test networks. Testbed partner companies to smoothly start utilizing test network services.

 By the end of 2018 at least the following results are expected:

  • At least one business vertical solution trialled
  • New functionalities introduced to test network, enabling connectivity alternatives and end-user services
  • 5G competence significantly improved
  • Experience on 5G spectrum usage and assessment of new operator business models
  • Partner companies outside consortium have joined using the test network to support innovation development.

At the beginning of year 2017 Centria started new Tekes funded digitalization projects CORNET, IMAGE 5G and 5GTN+ for the development of new digital information collection and transmission solutions for the industrial and labor market needs. Latest 5G access technologies will increase the capacity and efficiency of data transfer, which will give boost to the Industrial Internet applications. Wireless data transfer technologies, in turn, will bring opportunities for example in aerial photography and measurement expertise. CORE++ project has ended at the end of March 2017 and the new 5G projects will continue in the same field deepening Centria’s research and development expertise in the field. More news about Centria’s new 5G projects can be found in Centria’s online publication called Centria Bulletin.

Related publications:

S. Yrjölä, V. Hartikainen, L. Tudose, J. Ojaniemi, A. Kivinen, and T. Kippola, “Field trial of Licensed Shared Access (LSA) with enhanced LSA controller power control concept algorithms,” WInnComm 2016, Reston, Virginia, March 15-17, 2016.

M. Palola, M. Matinmikko, J. Prokkola, M. Mustonen, M. Heikkilä, T. Kippola, S. Yrjölä, V. Hartikainen, L. Tudose, A. Kivinen, J. Paavola & K. Heiska, “Live field trial of Licensed Shared Access (LSA) concept using LTE network in 2.3 GHz band,” IEEE DySPAN, McLean, VA, 1-4 April 2014.

M. Matinmikko, M. Palola, H. Saarnisaari, M. Heikkilä, J. Prokkola, T. Kippola, T. Hänninen, M. Jokinen & S. Yrjölä, Cognitive Radio Trial Environment: First Live Authorized Shared Access-Based Spectrum-Sharing Demonstration,” IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, vol.8, no.3, pp.30-37, Sept. 2013.

M. Palola, T. Rautio, M. Matinmikko, J. Prokkola, M. Mustonen, M. Heikkilä, T. Kippola, S. Yrjölä, V. Hartikainen, L. Tudose, A. Kivinen, J. Paavola, J. Okkonen, M. Mäkeläinen, T. Hänninen & H. Kokkinen,”Licensed Shared Access (LSA) trial demonstration using real LTE network,” Trial workshop at CrownCom 2014, Oulu, Finland, 4 June 2014. Presentation

M. Matinmikko, M. Palola, H. Saarnisaari, M. Heikkilä, J. Prokkola, H. Tuomivaara, T. Kippola, M. Jokinen & T. Hänninen, ”CORE – Cognitive Radio Trial Environment,” in Proceedings of Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF) meeting 30, Oulu, Finland, 23-25 April 2013. Presentation

M. Palola, M. Matinmikko, J. Prokkola, M. Mustonen, M. Heikkilä, T. Kippola, S. Yrjölä, V. Hartikainen, L. Tudose, A. Kivinen, J. Paavola, K. Heiska, T. Hänninen & J. Okkonen, ”Description of Finnish Licensed Shared Access (LSA) Field Trial Using TD-LTE in 2.3 GHz Band,” IEEE DySPAN, McLean, VA, 1-4 April 2014.


Contact

Marjo Heikkilä

TKI-päällikkö