Introduction

The use of unlicensed spectrum for delivery of LTE services is developing steadily, and following the completion of the latest release by 3GPP, looks set to begin in the context of 5G networks too. A total of 42 operators around the world have been catalogued as investing in one or more of the various unlicensed spectrum approaches (LAA, LTE-U, LWA or LWIP) technologies in the form of trials, pilots, deployments and launches.

While development of the technology ecosystems around LTE-U and LWA have stalled, those operators planning to start trials or deployments of LAA will be encouraged by the increasing number of devices that are compatible with LAA, and those investing in 5G will be encouraged by the completion of 3GPP standards for use of unlicensed spectrum by 5G New Radio systems.

This report is the thirteenth tracking the progress of the key technologies for using LTE (and now, 5G) in unlicensed spectrum. GSA monitors network trials as well as deployments and the availability of modules and devices.

Please contact research@gsacom.com if you have additional information. GSA makes no guarantees that the information is complete, but reasonable efforts have been made to be comprehensive and accurate.

Technology context

The idea of using unlicensed spectrum to offer mobile services and improve downlink throughput has been around for some years and there are several approaches for enhancing LTE and 5G. In the context of LTE, LAA has emerged as the primary technology choice.

LAA is a 3GPP standard introduced in Release 13 (Rel-13) and involves a licensed LTE band as the primary carrier and carrier aggregation (CA) to add a carrier in unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum for the downlink only. In Rel-14, eLAA added uplink support. High-priority traffic can use the licensed band, while lower priority traffic can use the WiFi channel. The decision on traffic allocation is made by the LAA-enabled base station/small cell and there is no impact on the core network infrastructure. TDD and FDD modes are supported in the standard. Fair coexistence in the unlicensed channel is provided by a region-specific listen-before-talk (LBT) capability to ensure channels are clear before transmission. LBT is mandatory in the EU and Japan. 3GPP Release 15 included improvements to LTE operation in unlicensed spectrum such as enhancements to unlicensed spectrum offloading systems, as well as work on standards for use of LAA/eLAA for the CBRS band in the USA.

An alternative approach, LTE-U is a pre-Release 13 technology pioneered in the USA (notably by Verizon and T-Mobile) that was also been trialled in other countries including South Korea, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. It is similar to LAA with CA: no core network changes and decisions on spectrum use are made by base station/small cell, except that LTE-U uses Carrier-Sensing Adaptive Transmission (CSAT) rather than LBT to determine when the 5 GHz unlicensed WiFi spectrum is in use to maintain fair coexistence. Development of the industry standard was led by the LTE-U Forum. In February 2017, the FCC in the USA authorised LTE-U devices for use in the 5 GHz unlicensed band. LTE-U has an upgrade path to LAA and eLAA.

LWA (LTE Wireless-LAN Aggregation) is a 3GPP Rel-13 standardised technology which aggregates carriers at the PDCP layer and uses the dual connectivity feature from 3GPP Rel-12. LWA supports downlink aggregation only. In Rel-14, eLWA added uplink support. Separate nodes (a WLAN access point and an LTE base station) are used and these can be physically separated or collocated in a single unit. The eNodeB makes the decision on activation of LWA and the use of the bearers. LBT is used to ensure fair coexistence in the unlicensed band. Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum bands can be used.

NR-Unlicensed (NR-U)- 3GPP Release 16 has introduced standards for use of unlicensed spectrum at 5 GHz and 6 GHz for 5G networks. It enables new modes of operation for 5G networks: anchored NR-U (licensed assisted access), using a licensed spectrum band as the anchor for an unlicensed spectrum band (with options to use either LTE or 5G anchors for the new radio using the unlicensed spectrum); and Standalone NR-U, using only unlicensed spectrum to carry the 5G service (with no LTE or 5G NR anchor).

5G & LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum.

©GSA 2020

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The post 5G & LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum: August 2020 appeared first on GSA.

The full Member and Associates report includes Annex 1 with a list of LAA operators and vendors.

LTE and 5G in Unlicensed Spectrum: Trials, Deployments and Devices

Introduction

The use of unlicensed spectrum for delivery of LTE services is developing steadily, and following the completion of the latest release by 3GPP, looks set to begin in the context of 5G networks too. A total of 42 operators around the world have been catalogued as investing in one or more of the various unlicensed spectrum approaches (LAA, LTE-U, LWA or LWIP) technologies in the form of trials, pilots, deployments and launches.

While development of the technology ecosystems around LTE-U and LWA have stalled, those operators planning to start trials or deployments of LAA will be encouraged by the increasing number of devices that are compatible with LAA, and those investing in 5G will be encouraged by the completion of 3GPP standards for use of unlicensed spectrum by 5G New Radio systems.

This report is the thirteenth tracking the progress of the key technologies for using LTE (and now, 5G) in unlicensed spectrum. GSA monitors network trials as well as deployments and the availability of modules and devices.

Please contact research@gsacom.com if you have additional information. GSA makes no guarantees that the information is complete, but reasonable efforts have been made to be comprehensive and accurate.

Technology context

The idea of using unlicensed spectrum to offer mobile services and improve downlink throughput has been around for some years and there are several approaches for enhancing LTE and 5G. In the context of LTE, LAA has emerged as the primary technology choice.

LAA is a 3GPP standard introduced in Release 13 (Rel-13) and involves a licensed LTE band as the primary carrier and carrier aggregation (CA) to add a carrier in unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum for the downlink only. In Rel-14, eLAA added uplink support. High-priority traffic can use the licensed band, while lower priority traffic can use the WiFi channel. The decision on traffic allocation is made by the LAA-enabled base station/small cell and there is no impact on the core network infrastructure. TDD and FDD modes are supported in the standard. Fair coexistence in the unlicensed channel is provided by a region-specific listen-before-talk (LBT) capability to ensure channels are clear before transmission. LBT is mandatory in the EU and Japan. 3GPP Release 15 included improvements to LTE operation in unlicensed spectrum such as enhancements to unlicensed spectrum offloading systems, as well as work on standards for use of LAA/eLAA for the CBRS band in the USA.

An alternative approach, LTE-U is a pre-Release 13 technology pioneered in the USA (notably by Verizon and T-Mobile) that was also been trialled in other countries including South Korea, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. It is similar to LAA with CA: no core network changes and decisions on spectrum use are made by base station/small cell, except that LTE-U uses Carrier-Sensing Adaptive Transmission (CSAT) rather than LBT to determine when the 5 GHz unlicensed WiFi spectrum is in use to maintain fair coexistence. Development of the industry standard was led by the LTE-U Forum. In February 2017, the FCC in the USA authorised LTE-U devices for use in the 5 GHz unlicensed band. LTE-U has an upgrade path to LAA and eLAA.

LWA (LTE Wireless-LAN Aggregation) is a 3GPP Rel-13 standardised technology which aggregates carriers at the PDCP layer and uses the dual connectivity feature from 3GPP Rel-12. LWA supports downlink aggregation only. In Rel-14, eLWA added uplink support. Separate nodes (a WLAN access point and an LTE base station) are used and these can be physically separated or collocated in a single unit. The eNodeB makes the decision on activation of LWA and the use of the bearers. LBT is used to ensure fair coexistence in the unlicensed band. Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum bands can be used.

NR-Unlicensed (NR-U)- 3GPP Release 16 has introduced standards for use of unlicensed spectrum at 5 GHz and 6 GHz for 5G networks. It enables new modes of operation for 5G networks: anchored NR-U (licensed assisted access), using a licensed spectrum band as the anchor for an unlicensed spectrum band (with options to use either LTE or 5G anchors for the new radio using the unlicensed spectrum); and Standalone NR-U, using only unlicensed spectrum to carry the 5G service (with no LTE or 5G NR anchor).

Unlicensed Spectrum: August 2020 – LTE & 5G Executive Summary

©GSA 2020

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The post Unlicensed Spectrum: August 2020 – LTE & 5G Executive Summary appeared first on GSA.

This Executive Summary report is available for all registered users to download. A detailed report is available for GSA Members and Associates. 

The use of unlicensed spectrum for delivery of LTE services is developing steadily. GSA has identified 13 network deployments/launches concerning the various unlicensed spectrum approaches (LAA, LTE-U, LWA or LWIP) by 11 operators. A total of 42 operators around the world are known to have been investing in one or more of the technologies in the form of trials, pilots, deployments and launches. Most recent focus has been on LAA technology, which is being used in trials designed to deliver Gigabit-speed mobile services.

While development of the technology ecosystems around LTE-U and LWA have largely stalled, those operators planning to start trials or deployments of LAA will be encouraged by the increasing number of devices that are compatible with LAA.

Meanwhile, there is rapidly growing interest and momentum behind the CBRS-shared-spectrum approach in the USA.

This report is the twelfth report tracking the progress of the key technologies for using LTE (and in the future, 5G) in unlicensed and shared spectrum. GSA monitors network trials as well as deployments and the availability of modules and devices.

Please contact research@gsacom.com if you have additional information. GSA makes no guarantees that the information is complete, but reasonable efforts have been made to be comprehensive and accurate.

Key data points

Thirty-eight operators investing in LAA across 21 countries. Nine of these are understood to have deployed or launched LAA in six countries (in some cases on a limited basis).

Twenty-nine other operators are known to have been trialling, planning to deploy or deploying the technology in 18 countries.

Twelve operators have historically announced investments in LTE-U networks. Three limited-scale LTE-U networks have been deployed/launched in three countries; nine other operators are known to have invested in the technology in the form of trials, or pilots in seven countries.

One LWA network has been launched in Taiwan, with two other operators investing in the technology through trials in South Korea and Taiwan.

One eLAA trial in South Korea.

Twenty-one public network or neutral host operators identified as investing in CBRS trials in the USA, plus numerous companies looking at private network use-cases.

One hundred and thirty one devices supporting LAA and 146 devices supporting CBRS Band 48.

©2020 GSA

https://gsacom.com

The post LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum: Exec Summary March 2020 appeared first on GSA.

This report is available for GSA Members and Associates to download. An Executive Summary report is available for all registered web users.

The use of unlicensed spectrum for delivery of LTE services is developing steadily. GSA has identified 13 network deployments/launches concerning the various unlicensed spectrum approaches (LAA, LTE-U, LWA or LWIP) by 11 operators. A total of 42 operators around the world are known to have been investing in one or more of the technologies in the form of trials, pilots, deployments and launches. Most recent focus has been on LAA technology, which is being used in trials designed to deliver Gigabit-speed mobile services.

While development of the technology ecosystems around LTE-U and LWA have largely stalled, those operators planning to start trials or deployments of LAA will be encouraged by the increasing number of devices that are compatible with LAA.

Meanwhile, there is rapidly growing interest and momentum behind the CBRS-shared-spectrum approach in the USA.

This report is the twelfth report tracking the progress of the key technologies for using LTE (and in the future, 5G) in unlicensed and shared spectrum. GSA monitors network trials as well as deployments and the availability of modules and devices.

Please contact research@gsacom.com if you have additional information. GSA makes no guarantees that the information is complete, but reasonable efforts have been made to be comprehensive and accurate.

Key data points

Thirty-eight operators investing in LAA across 21 countries. Nine of these are understood to have deployed or launched LAA in six countries (in some cases on a limited basis).

Twenty-nine other operators are known to have been trialling, planning to deploy or deploying the technology in 18 countries.

Twelve operators have historically announced investments in LTE-U networks. Three limited-scale LTE-U networks have been deployed/launched in three countries; nine other operators are known to have invested in the technology in the form of trials, or pilots in seven countries.

One LWA network has been launched in Taiwan, with two other operators investing in the technology through trials in South Korea and Taiwan.

One eLAA trial in South Korea.

Twenty-one public network or neutral host operators identified as investing in CBRS trials in the USA, plus numerous companies looking at private network use-cases.

One hundred and thirty one devices supporting LAA and 146 devices supporting CBRS Band 48.

©2020 GSA

https://gsacom.com

The post LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum: Member report. March 2020 appeared first on GSA.

The use of unlicensed spectrum for delivery of LTE services is developing steadily. GSA is aware of 12 network deployments/launches concerning the various unlicensed spectrum approaches (LAA, LTE-U, LWA or LWIP) by ten operators and interest in the technologies remains high, with a total of 42 operators around the world known to have been investing in one or more of the technologies. Most recent focus has been on LAA technology, which is being used in trials designed to deliver Gigabit speed mobile services.

Key data points

• Thirty-eight operators investing in LAA across 21 countries. Eight of these have announced LAA network deployments or launches in six countries.
• Thirty operators are trialling, planning to deploy or deploying the technology in 18 countries.
• Eleven operators have announced investments in LTE-U networks. Three LTE-U networks have been deployed/launched in three countries; eight other operators are known to have invested in the technology in the form of trials, or pilots in seven countries.
• One LWA network has been launched in Taiwan, with two other operators investing in the technology through trials in South Korea and Taiwan.
• One eLAA trial in South Korea.
• Seventeen public network operators identified as investing in CBRS trials in the USA, plus numerous companies looking at private network use cases.
• Two hundred and thirty-two devices either supporting LTE in unlicensed spectrum technology or in shared spectrum using CBRS band 48 (including regional variants of devices), from 44 vendors.

GSA has identified eight deployed/commercial LAA networks. The three most recent launches were by Smartone in Hong Kong, TIM in Italy and Turkcell in Turkey.

LAA has been deployed/launched in six countries.

Around the world, various operators are engaged in trials, pilots, or have started deploying LTE in unlicensed spectrum technology. Recent activities have all revolved around LAA.

In addition to those operators that have launched services:

• 30 operators are trialling or deploying LAA technology in 18 countries.
• eight operators have been investing in LTE-U in the form of trials or pilots.
• two other operators are known to have been trialling LWA in South Korea and Taiwan.
• GSA has identified one eLAA trial in South Korea.

©2019 GSA

LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum

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The post LTE in Unlicensed and Shared Spectrum – November 2019 appeared first on GSA.

• 37 operators investing in LAA across 21 countries
• 8 of these have announced LAA network deployments or launches, in 6 countries
• 29 other operators are trialling or deploying LAA technology in 18 countries
• 11 operators have announced investments in LTE-U networks
• 3 LTE-U networks have been deployed or launched in 3 countries; 8 other operators have been investing in the technology in the form of trials, or pilots in 7 countries
• 1 LWA network launched in Taiwan, with two other operators investing in the technology through trials in South Korea and Taiwan.
• 1 eLAA trial in South Korea
• 17 public network operators investing in CBRS trials in the USA, plus numerous companies looking at private network use cases
• 21 commercially available modem-containing chipsets supporting unlicensed access
• 200 devices (including regional variants of devices) either supporting LTE in unlicensed spectrum, or shared spectrum using CBRS, from 39 vendors. Recent growth has been driven largely by CBRS band 48  devices – particularly routers.

Data taken from GAMBoD, the GSA Analyser for Mobile Broadband Data – a unique search and analysis tool that has been developed by GSA to enable searches of mobile broadband devices and now includes new global data on Mobile Broadband Networks, Technologies and Spectrum – NTS.

The LTE Devices database can be searched by supplier, form factor, features, peak downlink and uplink speeds, and operating frequency. The NTS (Networks, Technologies & Spectrum) database can be searched by MBB technology, feature, UE category, downlink speed, spectrum bands used and can be segmented by region. Results are presented as a list or in charts. Charts may be inserted into documents or presentations, subject to accreditation of GSA as the source.

GAMBoD is a resource dedicated to promoting the success and growth of the MBB industry and ecosystem and is fully available to all employees of GSA Executive and Ordinary Member companies and GSA Associates who subscribe to the service.

©2019 GSA

https://gsacom.com

The post LTE in Unlicensed and Shared Spectrum – Snapshot July 2019 appeared first on GSA.

The use of unlicensed spectrum for the delivery of LTE services is developing steadily. GSA is aware of 12 network deployments/launches concerning the various unlicensed spectrum approaches (LAA, LTE-U, LWA or LWIP) by ten operators. General interest remains high, with a total of 41 operators around the world known to have been investing in one or more of the four technologies. Most of the recent activity has revolved around LAA, which is being used in trials and live networks to deliver much faster mobile services.

While development of the technology ecosystems around LTE-U and LWA has largely stalled, those operators planning to start trials or deployments of LAA will be encouraged by the increasing number of devices that are compatible with LAA, with big-name phones recently released by several of the leading vendors.

Meanwhile, there is rapidly growing interest and momentum behind the CBRS shared-spectrum approach in the USA. There are dozens of companies reportedly planning CBRS deployments (including those for private enterprise networks). Looking exclusively at the public fixed and mobile operator community, (including those companies offering neutral host and wholesale solutions to other service providers), GSA has been able to identify 17 companies testing the technology. At the same time there has been very rapid recent growth in the number of CBRS- compatible devices.

This report is the tenth quarterly report tracking the progress of the key technologies for using LTE in unlicensed and shared spectrum. GSA monitors network trials as well as deployments and the availability of chipsets, modules and devices.

Please contact research@gsacom.com if you have additional information. GSA makes no guarantees that the information is complete, but reasonable efforts have been made to be comprehensive and accurate.

Key data points

• Thirty-seven operators investing in LAA across 21 countries.
• Eight of these have announced LAA network deployments or launches in six countries.
• Twenty-nine other operators are trialling or deploying LAA technology in 18 countries.
• Eleven operators have announced investments in LTE-U networks. Three LTE-U networks have been deployed/launched in three countries; eight other operators have been investing in the technology in the form of trials, or pilots in seven countries.
• One LWA network launched in Taiwan, with two other operators investing in the technology through trials in South Korea and Taiwan.
• One eLAA trial in South Korea.
• Seventeen public network operators investing in CBRS trials in the USA, plus numerous companies looking at private network use cases.
• Twenty-one commercially available modem-containing chipsets supporting unlicensed access.
• Two hundred devices (including regional variants of devices) either supporting LTE in unlicensed spectrum, or shared spectrum using CBRS, from 39 vendors.

©2019 GSA

https://gsacom.com

The post Unlicensed & Shared Spectrum Report – July 2019 appeared first on GSA.

• 8 LAA deployments/launches:
• AT&T (US), T-Mobile (US), AIS (Thailand), MTS (Russia), Smartone(Hong Kong), TIM (Italy), Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey (deployed)
• 28 LAA trials and deployments in progress in 18 countries
• The latest include MOTIV and Vimpelcomin Russia, and 3 Indonesia
• 1 eLAAtrial (SK Telecom)
• 3 LTE-U network deployments/launches
• T-Mobile (US) – though it is now switching focus to LAA, AIS (Thailand), Vodacom (South Africa)
• 8 LTE-U trials or pilots in progress
• 1 LWA launch …
• Chunghwa Taiwan
  • … and 2 others trialling the technology (in Singapore and South Korea)
• 1 commercial launch of a private LTE network using CBRS
• 16 operators investing in CBRS trials in the US
• The latest are Altice, CDE Lightband, CoxCommnications, Extenet, Mobilitieand Windstream
• 21 commercially available modem/platform chipsets supporting unlicensed access
• 133 devices announced supporting LTE in unlicensed spectrum or shared spectrum using CBRS (including regional variants)

LTE Fast Facts are taken from the GSA report “LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum: Trials, Deployments and Devices April 2019”available from www.gsacom.com.

©2019 GSA

The post LTE Fast Facts: Unlicensed Spectrum Update May 2019 appeared first on GSA.

The use of LTE in unlicensed and spectrum for delivery of LTE services is developing steadily. GSA is aware of 12 network deployments/launches concerning the various unlicensed spectrum approaches (LAA, LTE-U, LWA or LWIP) by ten operators. But interest in the technologies remains high with a total of 40 operators around the world known to be investing in one or more of the technologies. In particular LAA technology is being used in trials designed to deliver Gigabit speed mobile services.

In addition to this, there is growing ecosystem interest and momentum behind the CBRS-shared spectrum approach in the USA. There are dozens of companies reportedly planning CBRS deployments (including those for private enterprise networks). Looking exclusively at the public fixed and mobile operator community, (including those companies offering neutral host and wholesale solutions to other service providers), GSA has been able to identify 16 companies testing the technology.

Those operators planning to start trials or push through on plans will be encouraged by the increasing number of devices that are compatible with or made for LAA and LTE-U networks, with big-name phones being released by several of the leading vendors, as well as the emergence of devices that are compatible with CBRS.

This report is the eighth quarterly report tracking the progress of the key technologies for using LTE in unlicensed and shared spectrum. GSA monitors network trials as well as deployments and the availability of chipsets, modules and devices.

Please contact research@gsacom.com if you have additional information. GSA makes no guarantees that the information is complete, but reasonable efforts have been made to be comprehensive and accurate.

Key data points:

• Thirty-six operators investing in LAA across 21 countries. Eight of these have announced LAA network deployments or launches in six countries.
• Twenty-eight operators are trialling or deploying the technology in 18 countries.
• Eleven operators have announced investments in LTE-U networks. Three LTE-U networks deployed/launched in three countries; eight others have been investing in the technology in the form of trials, or pilots in seven countries.
• One LWA network launched in Taiwan, with two other operators investing in the technology through trials in South Korea and Taiwan.
• One eLAA trial in South Korea.
• Sixteen operators investing in CBRS trials in the USA, one announcement of the commercial launch of a private LTE network using CBRS.
• Twenty-one commercially available modem-containing chipsets supporting unlicensed access.
• One hundred and thirty-three end-user devices either supporting LTE in unlicensed spectrum technology, or shared spectrum using CBRS (including regional variants of devices), from 29 vendors.

GSA Reports are compiled from data stored in the GSA Analyser for Mobile Broadband Devices/Data (GAMBoD) database, which is a GSA Member and Associate benefit. For more information on accessing the GSA GAMBoD database please contact GSA at info@gsacom.com

Content can be used or copied providing GSA is referenced as the source.

©2019 GSA

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The post LTE in Unlicensed and Shared Spectrum – April 2019 appeared first on GSA.

Eleven operators have announced investments in LTE-U networks. Three LTE-U networks deployed/launched in three countries; eight others are investing in the technology in the form of trials, or pilots in seven countries.

One LWA network launched in Taiwan, with two other operators investing in the technology through trials in South Korea and Taiwan.

One eLAA trial in South Korea.

Eleven companies investing in CBRS trials in the USA, one announcement of the commercial launch of a private LTE network using CBRS.

Twenty commercially available modem-containing chipsets supporting unlicensed access.

One hundred and twenty devices supporting LTE in unlicensed spectrum technology, or CBRS (including regional variants of devices), from 29 vendors.

Download the full 4G unlicensed spectrum report.

©2019 GSA

Content can be copied providing GSA is referenced as the source.

The post LTE in Unlicensed and Shared Spectrum: Trials, Deployments and Devices appeared first on GSA.