Verizon deploys FDD massive MIMO in California
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Verizon deploys FDD massive MIMO in California

Verizon has partnered with Ericsson to complete its first deployment of Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) massive MIMO (multiple input – multiple output) technology.

The US operator deployed the 4G LTE advanced solution on its wireless network in Irvine, California, to improve both spectral and energy efficiency, increasing network capacity for current devices on the market.

Massive MIMO technology is seen as a key component of future 5G deployments, by offering higher and more consistent speeds for mobile users.

Verizon Wireless chief network officer Nicola Palmer said: “While continuing to drive 5G development, the deployment of Massive MIMO offers very tangible benefits for our customers today.  As we innovate, we learn and continue to lay the groundwork and set the standards for 5G technology.

“Our collaboration with Ericsson on this new deployment continues to drive industry-wide innovation and advancements.”

The massive MIMO deployment involved 16 tranciever radio units driving an array of 96 antenna elements which were supplied by Ericsson. IT runs on a 20MHz block of AWS spectrum, with the higher number of transmitters enabling more signal paths.

Niklas Heuveldop, head of market area North America at Ericsson, said: “Massive MIMO is a key technology enabler for 5G, but already today, 4G LTE service providers and end users can benefit from the superior capacity and network performance this technology enables.  The current trial is an important step in the collaboration we have with Verizon to prepare their network for 5G.”

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