1. The use of 3300-3800 MHz for 5G Early rollout: opportunities and Challenges
5G Spectrum and Policy Forum
29 June 2017, GSMA MWC Shanghai
Global mobile Suppliers Association
Hu Wang

2. GSA Spectrum Group
The Spectrum Group within GSA is the GSA focus group for policy matters related to the radio frequency spectrum and radio regulatory matters pertaining to the successful evolution of International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) of ITU and associated administrative, operational and technical aspects.

3. 5G Applications and requirements
The MHz band will support a wide range of applications.
Ultra High Definition Video requirements
30-40 Mbit/s (4K), Mbit/s (8K)
20 ms (end-to-end latency)
Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality requirements
50 Mbit/s to 1 Gbit/s
10 ms latency (end-to-end latency)
5G USAGE SCENARIOS AND APPLICATIONS IN MHz RANGE
The MHz range offers an optimal balance between coverage and capacity, which will support a broad range of 5G applications, including: Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) and Ultra-High Definition (UHD) video, smart home, smart manuacturing, health care and drones; the MHz range will provide both mobile connectivity “on the go” and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for domestic and business applications. 3

4. Wide area coverage & deep indoor
Multi layer approach
Various 5G applications and services will require access to appropriate spectrum from within the three layers.
eMBB, URLLC
High Frequencies
Super data layer
Addressing specific use cases
requiring extremely high data rates
Above 6GHz
eMBB, URLLC,
mMTC (no deep coverage)
Medium Frequencies
Coverage & capacity layer
Best compromise with capacity & coverage
2 to 6 GHz
(e.g , , MHz)
Low Frequencies
Coverage layer
Wide and deep indoor coverage
Wide area coverage & deep indoor
(mMTC, eMBB, URLLC)
Below 2GHz
5G USAGE SCENARIOS AND APPLICATIONS IN MHz RANGE
The MHz range offers an optimal balance between coverage and capacity, which will support a broad range of 5G applications, including: Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) and Ultra-High Definition (UHD) video, smart home, smart manuacturing, health care and drones; the MHz range will provide both mobile connectivity “on the go” and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for domestic and business applications.

5. C-Band globally – National & Regional preferences
GHz
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
4.0
4.1
4.2
Korea
Japan
China
USA
Europe (CEPT)
Russia
India
Africa (ATU)
LATAM (CITEL)
MENA (ASMG)
IMT take up within MHz range is increasing:
MHz is now almost globally available, and a large number of countries in all regions are taking action in order to reach MHz of contiguous bandwidth in the MHz range for 5G ( MHz especially).
The largest contiguous bandwidth for IMT below 6GHz.
Already available for IMT / offical plans
Considered for IMT by regulators
Potential for future IMT use
Different LatAm countries have identifed
different blocks within the range
Status and plans for the MHz range in some regions and countries as well as the GSA expectations for the future, based on publicly available information.
THE AVAILABILITY OF THE MHz RANGE FOR IMT
Spectrum availability for IMT within the MHz range is increasing: MHz is now almost globally available, and a large number of countries in different regions are taking action in order to reach MHz of contiguous bandwidth in the MHz range for 5G. This is the largest contiguous bandwidth for IMT below 6GHz.
MHz is the primary 5G band in Europe, and is being investigated by regulators from Middle East and North Africa that developed an Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG) survey on this frequency range.
Operators and regulators in Africa, Asia (including China and India) and Latin America are supporting the harmonization of the newly identified MHz band and the sharing opportunities in the /3700 MHz range.
In the U.S., in addition to the already available MHz range, the Mobile Now Act proposed further studies for a number of bands including MHz and MHz. Furthermore, the MHz band is considered an important candidate in the Republic of Korea for 5G deployments.
Parts of MHz range are being considered for early trials in a number of countries/ regions in the world: trials in the MHz band are being prepared for 2018 in Europe, there are ongoing trials in China ( MHz) and Japan ( MHz), trials are also planned in Australia ( MHz).

6. 3GPP CHANNEL ARRANGEMENTS
3GPP channel arrangements for LTE Evolution and 5G-NR.
The 3GPP is working on the 5G-NR channel arrangements for MHz.
An important first step toward the creation of a 5G ecosystem across the whole range.
It is clear that not all of the MHz range will be available in any country in the foreseeable future, and that the needs of incumbent services (FSS, FS, Radiolocation) should be given careful consideration.
FREQUENCY ARRANGEMENTS FOR MHz
The 3GPP is working on the 5G channel arrangements for MHz: an important first step toward the creation of a 5G ecosystem across the whole range.
It is clear that not all of the MHz range will be available in any country in the foreseeable future, and that the needs of current incumbent services such as Fixed Satellite Service (FSS), Fixed Service (FS) and Radiolocation should be given careful consideration. Regulators will decide which portions of spectrum will be made available at national level, based on incumbent users as well as national priorities and strategies. It is also expected that a given regulator may make different portions of the MHz range available at different times, incrementally building large contiguous blocks.
The GSA supports the availability of the largest possible contiguous frequency range for IMT within the MHz range at national level. As a consequence, many countries will need to plan and carry out actions in order to address the current fragmentation of existing assignments.
3GPP is discussing different options regarding the definition of band MHz for 5G NR [R ] and is expected to reach a decision by June 17:
Specify two different bands, Band X: MHz; Band Y: MHz
Specify GHz as a single band
Specify both above options, i.e. definition of 3 new bands

7. The importance of wide channel bandwidth
5G-NR is being designed to inherently take maximum advantage of wideband channels to deliver improved spectral efficiency, higher capacity and improved user experience.
RF channel Bandwidth
Peak data rates*
Average data rates*
5th percentile data rates*
100 MHz
At MHz
3 Gbit/s
30 bit/s/Hz in DL
0.78 Gbit/s
7.8 bit/s/Hz in DL, dense urban
22.5 Mbit/s
0.225 bit/s/Hz in DL, dense urban
Latency vs. capacity
Reliability vs. capacity
Latency
Mission critical capacity
E.g. 1e-2 BLER
E.g. 1e-4 BLER
E.g. 2x bandwidth for 3x capacity gain
Wider bandwidth
to offset reductions
Wide contiguous spectrum assignments to operators in the order of 100 MHz or more will allow operators to reap the full benefits of the MHz frequency range for 5G.
WIDE CHANNEL BANDWIDTH
The 5G New Radio (5G-NR) is being designed to inherently take maximum advantage of wideband channels to deliver improved spectral efficiency, higher capacity and improved user experience. Wide contiguous spectrum assignments to operators in the order of 100 MHz or more will allow operators to reap the full benefits of the MHz frequency range for 5G.
5G-NR on large bandwidths will reduce terminal front end complexity and power consumption, compared to LTE using multiple 5 to 20 MHz carrier aggregations to exploit a similar large bandwidth.
(*) theoretical 5G data rates per channel bandwidth

8. 64T64R boosts downlink capacity with 16+ layers multi user beamforming
Massive mimo
Average cell DL throughput (Mbps)
64T64R boosts downlink capacity with
16+ layers multi user beamforming
10k
1367 1k
317.6
90cm
100
57.3
30.6
Compatible with
2Rx R8/R9 UE
40cm
40kg 0%
50%
90%
Massive MIMO: more antenna elements, more aggregated energy, more beamforming layers, better cell throughput, better cell coverage,
compatible with 2Rx 3GPP Rel. 8/R9 UEs
Massive MIMO
Antenna geometry
( MHz)
Probability
MASSIVE MIMO
The proximity of the MHz range to existing bands used for mobile provides potential for the reuse of the existing infrastructure in areas where dense networks are deployed, thus delivering enhanced capacity without incurring network densification costs.
The adoption of massive MIMO in the MHz range will boost peak and average downlink cell throughput with affordable complexity; the 64T64R massive MIMO technology is commercially available and has been successfully tested in the MHz band.
To avoid undue constraints on the implementation of the innovative massive MIMO base stations, the regulatory frameworks should embrace innovation and account for the latest developments in 3GPP regarding characteristics of advanced antenna systems, for instance concerning the requirements on unwanted emissions.
The available lower frequencies may be used in combination with MHz 5G-NR to provide additional coverage improvement, facilitating the reuse of existing sites.
Massive MIMO delivers 10x ~ 24x improvement in average cell DL throughput

9. Massive mimo – In the field
CMCC Shanghai. Nov. 2016: 2600 MHz, 20 MHz bandwidth, 16 commercial smartphones 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 10 12 13 15 16
Vertical
3D-MIMO
Horizontal 1
25m
73m
75m
55o 14
Japan, Feb. 2017:
the world’s first
MHz
massive MIMO field tests demonstrating 1.4 Gbit/s
with 16 layers massive MIMO and
2 Component Carriers Carrier Aggregation.
~6x

10. Further coverage improvements through low frequencies
The available lower frequencies may be used in combination with MHz 5G-NR to provide additional coverage improvement, facilitating the reuse of existing sites.
Low frequency coverage
5G C-Band UL coverage
5G C-Band DL coverage
DL + UL
UL (low frequency)
Low frequency
5G-NR
C-Band
C-band UL
C-band DL

11. Sharing vs. clearing
The needs of current incumbent services such as Fixed Satellite Service (FSS), Fixed Service (FS) and Radiolocation should be given careful consideration. Depending on the local situation, type of incumbent and the associated deployment density, regulators may consider either spectrum clearing or sharing, or a combination of the two
In general, GSA advocates clearing the bands to be used by 5G, to enable maximum efficiency and coverage of 5G deployments, especially considering the separation distances required between 5G and for example FSS earth stations
Nevertheless, in some instances sharing may be possible, for example where the incumbent stations are few and located in areas where appropriate protection can be provided.

12. sharing
FSS earth stations Known locations
Sharing is difficult when earth stations are densely deployed, clearing the band and/or relocation is necessary.
Possibilities for sharing exist where there are few earth stations deployed, in particular if they are located in rural areas and/or can be shielded. Some FSS earth stations may need to be re-located.

13. (exclusion / restriction / protection zone)
sharing
FSS earth stations at unknown locations
Sharing is not possible in the same geographical area if the earth stations are protected.
When FSS earth stations are deployed in specific areas, sharing may be possible by geographical separation, otherwise clearing is necessary.
FSS
Earth Station
IMT Macro + Small Cell
In urban areas
“Buffer zone”
(exclusion / restriction / protection zone)
Ubiquitous / specific
FSS Earth Stations
outside of urban areas

14. 5G EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY
MHz 5G equipment availability, clear focus in industry.
To enable broader commercialization from 2019:
5G trials and interoperability testing (both LTE Evolution and 5G-NR) in the MHz range will start late in 2017
GSA expects commercial readiness of the 5G-NR ecosystem in 2018

15. EFFECTIVE ASSIGNMENTS, GSA RECOMMENDATIONS
GSA supports the adoption of the widest arrangements within the MHz range.
GSA supports the TDD mode for this spectrum, adopting common synchronization and alignment of UL/DL transmissions between operators.
GSA believes that it would be important to allow operators access to contiguous unpaired nation-wide spectrum assignments in the order of 100 MHz or more.
GSA supports spectrum assignments with technology neutral and service neutral licenses

16. Promoting the Mobile Broadband Technology Roadmap
Global mobile Suppliers Association
Promoting the Mobile Broadband Technology Roadmap
“THE FUTURE OF IMT IN THE MHZ FREQUENCY RANGE”
Download the new GSA White Paper at