MWC Roundup: 5G, Indoor Wireless, Network Densification on Display

5G continues to be the buzz at wireless industry trade shows around the world, including at Mobile World Congress last week in Barcelona. While 5G prototype handsets and products captured the attention of many attendees, 5G capabilities were also on display throughout the exhibit floor as well as on stage. On Wednesday, a packed auditorium of attendees watched a surgeon from Hospital Clinic Barcelona standing on the stage at the show direct a gastrointestinal surgery taking place three miles away via a 5G connection.

On the exhibit floor, wireless infrastructure companies showcased the products that will make these kinds of 5G capabilities a reality.

Distributed antenna systems provider Zinwave announced a new system architecture that fully supports 5G networks and Open-RAN capability for future indoor deployments. The new architecture allows the company to provide its customers with complete, 5G-ready indoor connectivity networks on a single layer with minimal deployment time regardless of the spectrum band. The company said support for 5G is a natural evolution of its all fiber, all-active at the edge DAS solution.

“The new all fiber ultra-wideband 5G architecture and inclusion of O-RAN is the latest example of how Zinwave’s trailblazing in the wireless industry ensures our customers are ready for future changes and technologies from day one,” said Slavko Djukic, Chief Technology Officer at Zinwave. “Zinwave has a track record of anticipating tomorrow’s industry trends and accounting for them in today’s solutions.”

See Zinwave’s MWC recap here: https://www.zinwave.com/das-solution-blog/mobile-world-congress-post-show-recap

HUBER+SUHNER showcased mobile network densification solutions at Mobile World Congress. The H+S Cube Optics CUBO converter, which features a new 25 Gbps transponder for 5G networks, provides compact, cost-saving and robust transport capacity management to solve fiber exhaust challenges at front haul connections. The company also displayed the latest portfolio enhancement of its MASTERLINE cable systems that combine AC and DC power with high-count multifiber into a customized hybrid connectivity solution for microcell upgrade projects. HUBER+SUHNER also introduced a new addition to its SENCITY antenna family, offering a unique design and one-hand plug-and-play installation ideal for small cell rollouts.

“As mobile network architectures develop and operators prepare for 5G, HUBER+SUHNER can offer a unique portfolio covering the many aspects of mobile network evolution with respect to horizontal and vertical connectivity,” said Fritz Landolt, COO of Fiber Optics, Mobile Communication and Industry at HUBER+SUHNER. “This includes our modular and customized cabling solutions for macro and small cells, efficient fiber management solutions for the central office as well as compact and technically unique solutions to address fiber capacity challenges between cell site and central office.”

CommScope highlighted its work in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service space as well as network connectivity solutions for smart cities at MWC. CommScope’s Mark Gibson, Director of Business Development, discussed spectrum sharing in the 3.5 MHz and the future of spectrum management. He noted CommScope is developing a sensor network to detect radar operation in collaboration with Google, and it has been chosen by AT&T as its SAS provider. Gibson said CommScope expects its SAS certification to be complete within the next three months, after which it will move on to live field trials. See more from Gibson here:

Jan Honig, Director of Smart Cities, EMEA, for CommScope discussed the importance of fiber and wireless solutions as well as convergence for 5G smart city deployments. The company showcased its smart pole solutions for 5G densification at the show. See an interview with Honig from the MWC show floor here:

Boingo was also busy at the show, participating on panels and interviews about topics ranging from 5G indoor wireless to smart venues and private LTE. See some of the company’s tweets from the show: