5GHz unlicensed spectrum is typically used for wireless LAN (WLAN) networks and the two companies have trialled license-assisted access (LAA), a technology designed to expand LTE-compatible spectrum to unlicensed spectrum bands.
This provides complementary access for an LTE network and the test also revealed that LAA can operate in 5GHz bandwidth, leading to a mobile capacity approximately 1.6 times greater than the standard specification for WLAN.
“We aim to contribute to the standardisation of this technology, which inherits the highly advanced features of LTE, to further enhance the global user experience with wireless broadband,” said Seizo Onoe, EVP and CTO at NTT DoCoMo.
The standardisation of LAA is expected to be discussed later this year by the third generation partnership project (3GPP).
