NEC and NTT Docomo to Jointly Research 5G Technologies

NEC Corporation has reached an agreement with NTT Docomo to jointly conduct trials aimed at the practical use of technologies for a fifth-generation mobile communication standard (5G). The move comes a day after NTT Docomo announced a similar tie-up with Nokia.

5G is a new mobile communication standard representing an advancement in the current 3.9G/ 4G (LTE/ LTE-Advanced) standards currently adopted around the world, the company said in a statement.

5G is the subject of international research efforts seeking to achieve communications speeds of 10Gbps or greater, enabling higher-definition video transmission and a range of additional benefits. Aiming to launch service in 2020, 5G is also expected to address issues such as increased terminal penetration and the sharp rise in traffic by offering more than one thousand times the capacity of LTE, it added.

"NEC and NTT DOCOMO have a long history together as trusted partners and we are delighted to continue and expand our relationship with this trial of 5G," said Shunichiro Tejima, executive vice president, NEC Corporation. "We are confident that NEC will contribute to the early establishment of 5G technology by leveraging our Small Cell and SDN technology and know-how."

In 2020 and beyond, when the high speed and high capacity of 5G is expected to be implemented, mobile communication-based ICT is forecast to be applied throughout a diverse range of services. In this climate, 5G technologies are expected to be used in a wide range of fields, from public safety (communications in times of disaster and emergency) and M2M (Machine-to-Machine) communications to classrooms and the medical practice, the statement said.

As part of these trials to realise 5G capability, NEC and NTT DOCOMO aim to "verify enhanced time-domain beam-forming technologies with a very large number of antennas for Small Cells."

"These technologies are expected to improve Multi User MIMO technology that can cover multiple users simultaneously while reducing interference and enabling 5G advancements that include accelerated communication speeds, improved communication quality and greater capacity," they added.