2018-4G+面向5G演进的终端及芯片技术白皮书（英文版）-1mb

5G-oriented Terminal and Chipset Technology White Paper Summary

Core Content

This white paper, published by China Unicom in June 2018, outlines the technological trends and key advancements in the evolution of mobile internet toward 5G. It emphasizes the importance of terminal-RAN-chipset coordination in unlocking the full potential of 5G technologies and enhancing user experience. The paper explores the development of new services, the growth of traffic volumes, and the evolution of 3GPP standards toward 5G. It also presents detailed insights on two key technologies: 4Rx (4-antenna reception) and TM9 (Transmission Mode 9), and proposes collaborative strategies for the development of 5G-oriented terminals, chipsets, and networks.

Main Views

1. New Trends of Mobile Internet Development

• Consumer Market Trends:

  • Growing demand for high-speed, low-latency networks due to the rise of online mobile videos, AR/VR, and mobile gaming.
  • Video quality is rapidly improving, with bit rates increasing from 720p to 1080p and beyond.
  • WTTx services (home broadband via 4G) are becoming increasingly popular, with higher data usage and bandwidth requirements.

• Vertical Market Trends:

  • Traditional industries are undergoing digitalization and informationalization, requiring more flexible and reliable network solutions.
  • Emerging applications such as IoV (Internet of Vehicles), smart manufacturing, and electronic healthcare demand low latency and high reliability.
  • Government and enterprise services, as well as future AI and cloud-based applications, also push for enhanced network capabilities.

• Traffic Volume Trends:

  • The volume of mobile network traffic is expected to increase significantly due to rich content, more users, and higher bandwidth demands.
  • By 2020, global mobile traffic is projected to grow seven-fold, with the Asia-Pacific region experiencing the highest growth rate.

Key Technologies for LTE Evolution Toward 5G

The white paper identifies several key technologies that are essential for the transition from LTE to 5G:

• 4Rx (4-antenna reception):

  • Allows terminals to receive signals from more paths, improving spectral efficiency and user-perceived rates.
  • Supports up to four data streams, enhancing peak rate performance compared to traditional 2x2 MIMO.

• TM9 (Transmission Mode 9):

  • A MIMO-based transmission mode that supports user-specific beams and multi-stream multiplexing.
  • Enhances MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO) and SU-MIMO (Single-User MIMO) performance, increasing network capacity and user throughput.
  • Supports up to eight data streams, and can be used in massive MIMO scenarios to significantly improve network efficiency.

• Low Latency:

  • Introduced in 3GPP Release 15, it reduces E2E latency from 10 ms to 2 ms.
  • Critical for latency-sensitive applications like mobile gaming and remote control.

• Carrier Aggregation (CA):

  • Enables terminals to aggregate multiple LTE component carriers, increasing both uplink and downlink transmission rates.

• High-Order Modulation (256QAM/64QAM):

  • Transmits more bits per symbol, improving air interface efficiency and data rates.

Network Test Results

• 4Rx UEs:

  • Showed 20% to 90% improvement in average downlink user-perceived rates.
  • 40% to 60% improvement in rates near the cell center.
  • 50% to 90% improvement in rates at the cell edge.

• TM9 UEs:

  • Maintained stable network KPIs and user experience when enabled on existing 4T4R networks.
  • Achieved 40% higher perceived rates in 8T8R scenarios compared to TM4.
  • In massive MIMO scenarios, TM9 increased LTE cell capacity by 3 to 5 times and improved single UE peak rates by 30% to 50%.

Industry Progress

• 4Rx:

  • Has become a standard configuration for high-end smartphones and a target configuration for medium- and low-end models.
  • Supported by major chipset vendors, and rapidly adopted in the market.

• TM9:

  • Has matured after years of development, with major chipset vendors (e.g., Qualcomm, Huawei HiSilicon, Intel, MediaTek) launching TM9-capable chipsets.
  • Over 20 UE models are now powered by these chipsets and can be upgraded to support TM9 via OTA (Over-The-Air) software updates.
  • By the end of 2018, the global penetration rate of TM9 UEs is expected to exceed 20%.

Proposals for Collaborative Development

• Collaborative Efforts:

  • The white paper recommends close coordination between terminal, chipset, and network vendors to ensure the rapid deployment of 5G technologies.
  • Emphasizes the role of open labs and continuous dialogue in accelerating the development and standardization of 5G capabilities.

• Strategic Recommendations:

  • Jointly develop core terminal capabilities for 5G evolution.
  • Enhance network-terminal-chipset coordination to improve spectral efficiency and user experience.
  • Accelerate network-side technology deployment, while promoting terminal and chipset capabilities.
  • Improve the penetration rate of terminals supporting new technologies to build a robust 5G industry ecosystem.

Key Contributors

• China Unicom Research Institute and China Unicom Network Technology Research Institute
• China Unicom's 4G+ Terminal Partners
• Supporting Companies: HUAWEI, Qualcomm, MEDIATEK, UNISOC, Samsung, Vivo, MediaTek, and others.

Conclusion

The white paper highlights the critical role of terminal-RAN-chipset coordination in the successful evolution of LTE to 5G. It outlines the importance of 4Rx and TM9 in enhancing network performance and user experience, while advocating for industry collaboration to ensure the smooth transition to 5G. These technologies are expected to play a major role in shaping the future of mobile internet, especially in high-demand scenarios such as mobile gaming, AR/VR, and smart manufacturing.