Vodafone Idea partners Nokia to conduct 5G trials using E-band

Vodafone Idea has partnered with Nokia to trial 5G services through E-band in areas where it is challenging to deploy fibre.

As part of the trial, the two companies had connected small cells and macrocells with “fiber-like” speed through the E-band (60GHz to 90GHz) spectrum. For the trial, Nokia and Vodafone Idea used Nokia Wavence backhaul solution along with cross polarization interference cancellation (XPIC) technology.

During the trial, the two companies achieved 9.85 Gbps of backhaul capacity using E-band microwave in 80GHz spectrum.

Vodafone Idea is currently conducting 5G trials in India using the trial spectrum in the 3.3GHz-3.6GHz band and mmWave band (24.25GHz-28.5GHz).

Vi has been allocated mmWave high bands like 26 GHz by the DoT, along with the traditional 3.5 GHz spectrum band for 5G network trials.