Verizon engineers achieved amazing 5G download speeds by using carrier aggregation and virtualised technologies. The remarkable 5.5 Gbps download speed was reached in a lab using Samsung and MediaTek technology and, according to Verizon, equates to downloading 266 Taylor Swift albums in one minute or streaming more than 3,000 Hulu episodes in one hour.
Consumers are increasingly using video calls, streaming, cloud gaming, and 5G-powered factories instead of just phoning, thus demand for mobile networks is fast growing, according to Verizon. It claims that it is attempting to achieve such incredible 5G speeds because mobile data traffic is predicted to double from present levels by 2030, with over 5,000 exabytes of data expected to reach modems by then.
The 5G download speed record test was designed as a proof of concept to demonstrate what Verizon’s newly acquired C-band spectrum will enable it to achieve with its next-generation network.
The test aggregated 350 MHz of PCS, 850 MHz, AWS, CBRS, and C-band spectrum in Verizon’s 5G lab environment and ran data through Samsung’s virtualised RAN and MediaTek’s next-generation 6CC connectivity platform, whose chipsets are increasingly powering popular flagship phones like the Oppo Find X8 series.
To accomplish both fast speeds and low latency, next-generation networks should use virtualisation technology, allowing carriers like Verizon to react to changing client requirements in real time. This is where Samsung’s virtualised RAN and 5G Standalone core came into play, indicating that the future generation of Samsung phones, such as those in the Galaxy S series, would be able to take use of this quickly growing virtualisation technology. According to the Vice President of Business Strategy of Samsung Electronics America:
We are thrilled to be part of this industry-leading achievement alongside Verizon and MediaTek, bringing increased performance and greater possibilities to consumer devices. As the vRAN market leader, Samsung has long been harnessing the power of virtualization and 5G to elevate networks around the globe. 5G Standalone adds exciting potential to the mix, including enhanced scalability and flexibility, helping operators like Verizon make their network vision a reality.
Verizon, Samsung, and MediaTek took advantage of carrier aggregation by combining six separate channels of sub-6 GHz midband spectrum to achieve a record-breaking 5.5 Gbps throughput, boded well for Samsung’s upcoming devices and those with MediaTek chipsets on its network, which provides the widest coverage in the United States.
