ZTE Corp. and China Unicom recently made a 5G call using ZTE’s 5G prototype smartphone in a Shenzhen 5G field trial.
The test also demonstrated the verification of services such as Wechat group voice call, online video and web browsing. Additionally, it verified 5G key technologies such as massive MIMO, 5G NR, non-standalone (NSA) dual connectivity, FlexE transport technology and 5G Common Core.
The companies claimed the call was the world’s first commercial test in the NSA mode and is compliant with 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 15. NSA mode is seen as the first wave of 5G networks and devices that will be supported by existing 4G infrastructure.
Shenzhen, China, is one of the first 5G pilot cities for China Unicom. The city is verifying its 5G network equipment’s networking capabilities, special services, roaming and interconnection as well as existing services in phases. The goal is to build a foundation for further 5G network deployments.
The test used ZTE’s 5G radio access network, core network, transport network and intelligent device all connected to the ZTE 5G prototype smartphone.
