“Demonstrating this 5G data call end-to-end using my own personal SIM card on Telstra’s mobile network is the closest any provider has come to making a ’true’ 5G call in the real world-environment, and marks another 5G first for Telstra. We continue to work with global technology companies Ericsson and Intel as well as global standards bodies to advance the deployment of commercial 5G capability in Australia,” said Mike Wright, Telstra’s Group managing director of networks.
The call was carried out at Telstra’s 5G Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast Australia using a multivendor setup, in a move the company’s say “takes 5G out of the lab and into a real-world mobile network environment.”
“We’re quickly moving towards 5G commercial reality,” said Fredrik Jejdling, executive vice president and head of networks at Ericsson. “Achieving the first commercial data call with our partners Telstra and Intel shows the progress we’ve made from testing the technology in a lab to a 5G commercial network environment. 5G is open for business and Ericsson is helping customers get it done.”
Using 3.5GHz spectrum the call brought together the core components from multiple companies required for a live commercial 5G network call. It brought together Telstra’s 5G NSA network, licenced 3.5GHz spectrum, Ericsson’s 5G NR radio 6488, baseband and packet core for 5G EPC, a personal Telstra SIM card and the Intel 5G Mobile Trial Platform for the 5G NR UE.
“Along with Ericsson and Telstra, Intel continues to demonstrate its strong 5G technical capability, as showcased by this first 5G data call on commercial infrastructure deployed in Telstra’s network. Intel will continue to collaborate on 5G tests and multiple use cases ahead of Telstra’s planned 5G commercial launch that will bring powerful, low-latency and high-bandwidth experiences to consumers,” added Asha Keddy, vice president and general manager of Intel Next Generation and Standards.
The news follows a successful lab-based data call that took place 6 July by Ericsson and Intel, with Telstra and other early-moving 5G service providers at the Ericsson Lab in Stockholm.