The publisher just completed its 34th 5G benchmark study. For this endeavor they collaborated with Accuver Americas and Spirent Communications to conduct an independent benchmark study of 5G uplink carrier aggregation (CA), using T-Mobile's commercial 5G network in Seattle, WA, where Nokia is the RAN infrastructure supplier.
Highlights of the Report include the following:
Acknowledgements
This study was conducted in collaboration with Accuver Americas (XCAL-M and XCAP) and Spirent Communications (Umetrix Data). The publisher is responsible for the data collection and all analysis and commentary provided in this report.
Methodology
The publisher used two MediaTek M80 test platforms (provided by T-Mobile) with the M80 5G modem to test the uplink feature, which T-Mobile enabled for the benefit of the study on a few cells within its commercial network. The publisher conducted stationary and drive tests while doing full buffer uplink data transfers. In addition to testing with a single test phone, additional testing was conducted in which each phone was locked to an individual band to determine the incremental benefits of uplink CA versus other device/network configurations.
The Timeline
Uplink CA is most likely in 2024 at which point it will be limited to one layer per band. In 2025, there will be support for uplink CA plus 3 layers, including 2 layers in the mid-band channel (n41 in the case of Tmo). With the test methodology, the publisher was able to show both the expected results for the 2024 CA functionality as well as what we can expect in 2025.
The Results are In
Uplink CA with two layers (one per band) will always outperform a single component carrier without uplink MIMO and almost always outperform a single component carrier with uplink MIMO. Almost all 5G networks and most 5G smartphones do not support uplink MIMO, which we view as a critical mistep by the industry. With uplink CA and 3 layers the performance will always be better than uplink MIMO and substantially better than 1 component carrier with a single layer. The publisher provides the hard numbers in the full report.
Around the Corner
Future topics include 4 component carrier downlink and Open RAN (multiple studies, including scheduler efficiency).
Table of Contents
1.0 Executive Summary
2.0 Key Observations
3.0 Detailed Results and Analysis
3.1 Stationary Test - 2CC Uplink with Intermittent 1CC Data Traffic
3.2 Drive Test - 2CC Uplink with 2 Layers and 1CC Uplink with 2 Layers
3.3 Drive Test - 2CC Uplink with 2 Layers Versus Band n25 Uplink with 1 Layer
3.4 Drive Test - 2CC Uplink with 2 Layers Versus Band n25 Uplink with 2 Layers
3.5 Comparative Results with all Possible Configurations
4.0 Test Methodology
5.0 Final Thoughts
Index of Figures & Tables
Figure 1. 2CC and 1CC Uplink Data Traffic
Figure 2. 2CC and 1CC Uplink RB Allocations
Figure 3. 5G 2CC Uplink Estimated Throughput with 2 Layers
Figure 4. 5G 2CC Uplink Estimated Throughput with 3 Layers
Figure 5. Uplink MCS Versus RSRP - 2CC 2 Layers and 1CC 1 Layer
Figure 6. PUSCH Transmit Power Versus RSRP - 2CC 2 Layers and 1CC 1 Layer
Figure 7. PUSCH Throughput Versus Distance - 2CC 2 Layers and 1CC 2 Layers
Figure 8. Uplink 5G MIMO Layers versus RSRP - Band n25 and Band n41
Figure 9. RSRP versus Distance - Band n25 and Band n41
Figure 10. Uplink 5G MIMO Layers versus Distance - Band n25 and Band n41
Figure 11. Drive Test Route - Unique PCI Values
Figure 12. RSRP Distribution - Band n25 and Band n41
Figure 13. Uplink MCS Versus RSRP - 2CC 2 Layers Versus Band n25 1 Layer
Figure 14. PUSCH Transmit Power Versus RSRP - 2CC 2 Layers Versus Band n25 1 Layer
Figure 15. PUSCH Throughput Versus Distance - 2CC 2 Layers Versus Band n25 1 Layer
Figure 16. 5G 2CC with 2 Layers Versus 5G Band n25 with 2 Layers Uplink Throughput
Figure 17. Uplink MCS Versus RSRP - 2CC 2 Layers Versus Band n25 2 Layers
Figure 18. Uplink Band n25 MIMO Layers Versus RSRP
Figure 19. PUSCH Transmit Power Versus RSRP - 2CC 2 Layers Versus Band n25 2 Layers
Figure 20. PUSCH Transmit Power Versus RSRP - Comparative Results
Figure 21. PUSCH Throughput Versus Distance - 2CC 2 Layers Versus Band n25 2 Layers
Figure 22. 5G 2CC Uplink Theoretical Throughput with 2 Layers and 3 Layers
Figure 23. Average PUSCH Throughput with all Possible Configurations
Figure 24. Distribution of PUSCH Throughput with all Possible Configurations
Figure 25. Band n25 Uplink Theoretical Throughput with 1 Layer
Figure 26. Band n41 Uplink Theoretical Throughput with 1 Layer and 2 Layers
Figure 27. Umetrix Data Platform
Figure 28. XCAL-M
Companies Mentioned
- Accuver Americas
- Spirent Communications
- T-Mobile
