ZTE Tests Massive MIMO Pre-5G Base Station

ZTE announced pre-commercial field testing of a next gen base station leveraging Massive MIMO (multiple input multiple output) that sets new records in single-carrier transmission capacity and spectral efficiency.

ZTE said its proprietary, pre-5G, multi-user/multi-stream spatial multiplexing technology has demonstrated peak data throughput that is more than three times that of traditional base stations, and average data throughput that exceeds conventional systems by at least five times. Testing is done with conventional 4G handsets.

Based on ZTE’s self-developed baseband processor chipset, the Massive MIMO base station uses a frontal area similar to existing 8-antennas. Integrating antennas, base station units and RFs in one module, ZTE’s Massive MIMO base station uses only one-third of the installation space of traditional systems, lowering operating costs and total cost ownership of operators.

“Being a pre-5G technology, ZTE’s Massive MIMO solution is delivering exponential advances to 4G networks without modifying existing air interfaces, making it possible for carriers to provide a 5G-like user experience on existing 4G handsets in an accelerated timeframe,” said Dr. Xiang Jiying, Chief Scientist of ZTE. “ZTE successfully overcame the challenge of doing multi-user and multi-stream spatial multiplexing in a scattered-signal environment, clearing the main hurdle in the development of Massive MIMO technology.”

http://wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/press_center/news/201501/t20150126_431213.html