BT, the first operator in Europe to add four access channels in an independent 5G network

Madrid, 22 (European press)

The company said in a statement that BT, in cooperation with Nokia, has become the first operator in Europe to add four access channels (4CC) in its active 5G Autonomous (SA) commercial network.

The announcement marks the path in the 5G evolution of mobile operator BT, which will allow for a “better customer experience”, as well as new capabilities for businesses. “As we move to a standalone 5G network, this technology is critical to giving our customers the best experience,” said Greg McCall, general manager of BT Services Platforms.

To achieve this breakthrough, BT worked with Nokia to successfully combine four low-band and mid-band radio channels (at 2.1, 2.6, 3.4, and 3.6 GHz), using the Nokia 5G Wireless Access Network network technology in the US spectrum.

The test was conducted in two stages. It was first conducted at the BT Radio Lab in Bristol and then moved offshore to a radio mast at BT’s Adastral Park in Suffolk, UK, where the team successfully achieved four access channels in independent 5G. services. It is the first time in Europe that a 4CC network operator has investigated 5G SA using commercial channels in and out of the lab.

Most of the current 5G networks are non-standalone (NSA), which means that 5G is dependent on the existing 4G infrastructure. The extension of the new 5G channels on an independent network represents a “big leap” in the evolution of the 5G infrastructure, as it combines several transmission bands into a single connection. Each new channel added enables greater capacity and speed on customer devices.

“Our agreement with Nokia is further evidence of building the most advanced networks for our customers,” said Greg McCall. Plus, he added, this technology shows what’s possible for devices in the future in terms of channel span compatibility, which is an “essential part of the customer experience.”

Senior Vice President of Radio Access Networks, Mark Atkinson, said he was “delighted” to deepen the relationship with BT. “Nokia and BT have a long history of investing in cutting-edge technologies and this experience is another example of what our companies can achieve together.”