Preparing for a 5G Future

Millimeter Wave RF planning for RAN Evolution Beyond 4G

Orchestrating network performance

According to the Global mobile Supplier’s Association (GSA) there will be over 560 LTE networks launched around

the world by the end of 2016, serving 1.453 billion subscribers (Source: GSA Evolution to LTE Report, 10/16).

The initial goals for the LTE standard were improved spectral efficiency, a simpler architecture built on internet

protocol (IP) and greatly reduced latency. The standards defining 5G are expected to be ratified in 2018.

Expectations for 5G

While we don’t know for certain what is going to be in the 5G standard, it’s universally accepted that the next generation of telecommunications will have to support greater data demanded by global wireless subscribers. Ericsson predicts by 2021 – when many expect 5G to be commercially available – global smartphone traffic will be 12x the amount consumed in 2015. As of today, there is no single “killer app” that is driving development. Expectations for 5G include delivery of greater capacity, with improved latency and reliability to meet requirements of all users – both human and machine-to-machine. To achieve these goals there are certain elements of the 5G radio access network already under consideration:

zz Use of new “millimeter wave” frequencies up to 100 GHz (i.e., much higher than those used for 2-4G networks)

zz Adoption of massive MIMO antenna techniques to deliver signals at millimeter frequencies including beamforming and MU-MIMO with massive antenna arrays

zz Requirements for greatly reduced latency for some IoT applications (e.g., autonomous cars) and needs of first responders in critical communications delivery

The World Radiocommunication Conference that is tasked with synchronizing global telecommunications bands meets only every 3-4 years. The next meeting is not scheduled until 2019. In the interim, various national regulatory bodies (e.g., the FCC in the United States) are releasing millimeter spectrum for test systems. This means vendors and operators working on pre-standard scenarios will need to assess and simulate equipment at various frequencies in their RF planning software (i.e., assess the propagation characteristics of frequencies at 28 GHz, 50 GHz vs. 71 GHz, etc.).

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Figure 1 – 5G market driver: comparing data demand from 2015 to 2021 in the Ericsson Mobility Report.

Operators and the vendor community are not waiting for the 5G standard to be finalized before working on new technologies. Korean operators have targeted the 2018 Olympics for their 5G deployment, with US, Japanese and European operators actively working on new technologies as well. The actual elements that make their way into standardized 5G networks still remain to be seen.

From a regulatory perspective, 5G standardization is scheduled for 2018. Many technological advances being considered for 5G will be added to existing 4G networks before standardization occurs. This has already started to happen in what the industry is calling LTE-Advanced Pro. An accurate 5G planning application allows for unique considerations of millimeter wave technology in RF network equipment prototype development and standardization activities. It will also let operators simulate the use of non-standardized equipment in their 4G networks.

Preparing for a 5G Future

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Figure 2 – Competing requirements for 5G (IMT-2020) compared to its 4G predecessor (IMT-advanced).

Items Considered for 5G zCentimeter/millimeter wave frequency bands

zMassive MIMO (including beamforming and MU-MIMO)

zUltra-lean carriers

zAccess and backhaul integration

Figure 3 – Operators will be working on and deploying “pre-standards” technologies until 2020. Release 15 will include 5G standards.

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Engineers have planned networks using RF design software since the first digital networks in the 1990’s. Typical 4G networks and earlier technologies have been designed with propagation models that are adapted to sub-6 GHz spectrum bands. Advanced propagation models that support diffraction, reflection and refraction based on ray tracing or ray launching technologies have been utilized in dense urban areas (e.g. cities) for the last five years. These models have evolved to a point where they can be used in everyday planning and optimization. Unfortunately, most of these propagation models do not work at the frequency ranges being envisioned for 5G. It’s assumed that propagation distances will be dramatically less at millimeter frequencies. Early investigations suggest this is largely the case, however recent studies have shown that non line of sight (NLOS) signals can contribute to propagation distances – and potential related interference.

How are the propagation distances expected to be maximized between transmitter and receiver using millimeter waves? Part of the answer involves advanced antenna techniques such as massive MIMO. Single User MIMO (SU-MIMO) and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), as well as beamforming, will be used to improve network coverage and capacity. 5G cells will nevertheless need to be closer to each other compared to 2G/3G/4G networks, to compensate for the fact that wireless signals attenuate very quickly in the millimeter wave spectrum.

Atmospheric effects on millimeter frequencies include absorption by gases as well as rain attenuation (i.e., rain fade). Gas absorptions are typically caused by oxygen and water vapor, with a minimal attenuation effect. Rain fade is the largest contributing factor to signal loss at higher frequencies. Another key variable to be considered for millimeter wave propagation is vegetation. It is important to leverage geographical data that accurately depicts trees and forests, and to compute the associated propagation loss correctly.

Challenges for Millimeter Wave Planning

Figure 5 – Signal attenuation caused by fog and rain at different frequencies.

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Figure 4 – The untapped potential of millimeter frequencies will support the global deployment of 5G.

5G4G Large millimeter wave bandwidth opportunity

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Preparing for a 5G Future

Planet is the first RF planning platform to deliver support for 5G millimeter waves. Accessible through the Planet 3D Design package, the Planet 3D model supports frequencies up to 100 GHz. With Planet it is possible today to run predictions in different frequencies to see the net effect on coverage.

Flexible Deployment OptionsPlanet has multiple deployment models to fit users’ needs and budgets. New options include public and private cloud implementations – with leased 3D building data and 2D DEMs and clutter – that let customers add new user licenses and privileges in real time. Of course, traditional desktop, client-server and enterprise deployment models are still available.

Advanced Simulation CapabilitiesThe real value of any simulation software is its ability to reproduce the real world. The Metro Design Package supports NLOS with the P3M model. Atmospheric loss calculations, including rain fade, are fully supported.

Propagation Modeling at Millimeter FrequenciesIn combination with the advanced simulation capabilities offered, Planet is able to provide a reliable simulation of millimeter wave propagation for frequencies up to 100 GHz. While assumptions can be made about the expected propagation attenuation from frequencies in use today (900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz) to proposed millimeter wave frequencies, the impacts of MU-MIMO and SU-MIMO will also have a dramatic impact. For 5G to live up to its potential requires a great deal more spectrum to be made available around the world; this will be achieved by utilizing the millimeter waves above 30 GHz. Performing simulations in advance within Planet at these millimeter frequencies helps avoid disappointing results in the field.

Continuing InnovationPlanet R&D and product management keep a close eye on the standards discussions around 5G. Working closely with innovating operators and vendors, the software continues to evolve. 5G millimeter wave planning is available today, but the needs of operators integrating 5G features into their LTE networks will be addressed in the future.

Planet 5G Millimeter Wave Capabilities

Planet 5G Use Cases z Evaluate millimeter wave cell coverage

zAssess massive MIMO coverage and capacity gains

z Investigate cable/MSO fiber vs. 5G fixed wireless access (FWA)

zDimension new equipment requirements

Preparing for a 5G Future

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Figure 6 – The Metro Network Design Package includes millimeter wave planning capabilities.

Preparing for a 5G Future

Figure 7 – Evaluate the propagation characteristics of different frequency bands. These plots compare millimeter waves against a traditional 1900 MHz frequency using the Planet 3D model.

1.9 GHz 28 GHz

39 GHz 60 GHz

Dense Urban Environments in 3D Planet offers an extensive small-cell planning capability. Small cells are expected to play a growing role in getting capacity closer to the subscriber. Building on existing small-cell planning functionality in Planet, the millimeter wave capabilities will allow for nominal designs and CAPEX plans for HetNet designs.

Expert Customer Support 24x7Our global support team is ready to help around the clock. As a provider of planning software with a leading research group for new wireless technologies, InfoVista is the ideal partner for your 5G technology investigations.

Preparing for a 5G Future

5G for Last Mile?One promising use case for 5G is delivery of last mile connectivity to residential users for cable/MSO operators with existing networks. RF planning software will allow for scenario planning by operators as they make their long-term capital investment plans.

Cable operators can do their business case assessments for 5G as a last mile alternative to fiber

About InfoVistaInfoVista is the leading provider of cost-effective network performance orchestration solutions for a better connected and collaborative world. Our award-winning solutions empower communications service providers and large enterprises to ensure a high-quality user experience by achieving optimal network performance and guaranteeing business-critical application performance. InfoVista’s expertise and innovations provide a new level of actionable network, application and customer intelligence, visibility and control across all services, all technologies, and all domains of both the fixed and mobile networks. Using our solutions, eighty percent of the world’s largest service providers and leading global enterprises deliver high-performing and differentiated services, plan and optimize networks to match application and service demands, and streamline network operations while keeping total cost of ownership as low as possible.

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Orchestrating network performance

Wireless operators and the vendor community that serves them are not waiting for the 5G standard to be finalized (in 2018) before working on new technologies that will make their way into the next-generation standard. There are still many discussions ahead on what will ultimately be included. However, many items related to the radio access network are certain to be added, including: the use of millimeter wave frequencies for the new technology, massive MIMO and ultra-lean carriers.

For operators considering LTE-Advanced Pro features in anticipation of 5G, an advanced planning tool is essential. Planet supports millimeter wave RF planning today and provides the ideal platform for wireless ecosystem members contemplating 5G features for their network of tomorrow.

Summary