Leading tech innovators ZTE, AIS, and MediaTek have taken a significant leap forward by unveiling 5G-A UE Aggregation technology in Bangkok. Their live demonstration showcased how this technology will revolutionize mobile networks, catering to the demands of advanced digital experiences like extended reality and the metaverse.
How 5G-A UE Aggregation Technology Breaks Performance Limits
Traditional mobile devices often struggle with limited power, spectrum, and channel capacity, especially as applications become more resource-intensive. The newly introduced UE Aggregation tackles these problems by allowing Remote User Equipment (UEs) to collaborate with Relay UEs. Through this partnership, relay devices share their unused resources to boost the uplink performance of remote devices. The core technology focuses on three key aspects:
- Power Aggregation: Relay UEs forward signals to strengthen connectivity in weak coverage areas.
- Bandwidth Aggregation: Unused spectrum from relay devices increases uplink throughput for nearby remote devices.
- Channel Aggregation: Simultaneous independent links enable multi-path transmissions, ensuring reliability and redundancy.
Real-World Testing: Improved 4K Streaming and Network Speeds
The live trial occurred at the A-Z Innovation Center using AIS’s 5G network and ZTE’s advanced infrastructure. MediaTek supplied prototype terminals designed specifically for UE Aggregation. Tests simulated real-world usage, comparing single-device setups with the new aggregation technology. Key findings included:
- Uplink speeds for edge users increased up to threefold with aggregation enabled.
- Traditional single-device connections struggled with stable 4K live streaming, leading to frequent breaks and dropped frames.
- With UE Aggregation, mobile devices delivered a smooth, high-quality 4K stream with no noticeable frame loss.
Future Prospects for 5G-A UE Aggregation in Emerging Industries
UE Aggregation has been standardized in 3GPP Release 18 and is scheduled for further enhancement in future releases. Advancements will bring support for multi-path routing, sophisticated relay architectures, and intelligent path optimization. These developments will benefit emerging sectors such as industrial IoT, vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and extended reality (XR).
With the successful demonstration of 5G-A UE Aggregation technology, ZTE, AIS, and MediaTek are preparing the industry for faster, more reliable, and robust mobile communications. As 5G-A evolves, this innovation promises to unlock new possibilities for businesses and digital experiences worldwide.
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