ASTRI and Sunnada Network jointly demonstrate a series of latest LTE and 5G technologies at the Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona

[Hong Kong, 27 February 2018] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), together with Fujian Sunnada Network Technology Co. Ltd. (Sunnada Network) (Hall 5, Stand 5G70), are demonstrating a series of latest next generation network technologies including Long Term Evolution (LTE), Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), and 5G network infrastructure and solutions at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.

The key technologies demonstrated include:

Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) virtualisation with live migration

It allows running virtual base stations to be moved between different physical machines with minimal service interruption to users. This technology enables network operators to reduce capital expenditures and have increased flexibility in their networks through dynamic allocation and migration of computational resources.

5G Ultra Reliable and Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) C-RAN Base-Station

This solution is based on the latest 3GPP New Radio (NR) standard which was completed in December 2017. The demonstration shows the end-to-end system consisting of reference design of 5G C-RAN base-station and 5G user terminal (UE) running URLLC traffics. The ultra-low latency round trip signalling along with video stream traffic can be observed based on 3GPP 5G standard compliant signal, which is monitored with testing equipment from Keysight Technologies and Rohde & Schwarz. This solution is useful for public network deployment, such as autonomous driving, augmented reality. It can also be customised for task-specific requirements in other markets applications such as wireless industrial robots and automated guided vehicles.

Control and User Plane Separation in EPC Nodes (CUPS) towards 5G core network technology

This technology enables flexible network deployment and operation. The user plane of ASTRI’s CUPS supports up to 20Gbps throughput with cost effective INTEL® XEON® D based hardware platform.

Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Throughput Optimisation and Orchestration Prototype

ASTRI’s SD-WAN optimisation technology can significantly increase the effective Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) throughput by over 200 times (under over 600ms round-trip-time (RTT) and 1% packet loss in network condition)

Sunnada Network’s CEO Mr Haven Huang said, “Along with our newly established Hong Kong-based subsidiary Anktion Limited, Sunnada Network collaborates increasingly closely with ASTRI for 4G and 5G R&D. The results of our joint efforts should strengthen our market position in the Hong Kong and overseas markets.”

Dr Justin Chuang, ASTRI’s Vice President for Next Generation Network, said: “We are very pleased to collaborate with Sunnada Network and its subsidiary Anktion Limited to develop C-RAN and mobile core/edge technologies towards 5G. Once launched and made available in the market, these technologies will bring significant benefits to the entire industry. We expect our long-term cooperation to bring even more ground-breaking technologies to add strong, practical value in the 5G era.”

ASTRI started its collaboration with Sunnada Network on the development of TD-LTE small cell and small cell gateway solutions back in 2011. The commercial TD-LTE small cells with LTE and WLAN functionality have been developed in over 10 countries and regions. ASTRI will continue to work closely with Sunnada Network, jointly developing next generation wireless communications technologies and providing private and public network solutions that support industry users.

Sunnada and ASTRI are performing the joint demonstrations at Sunnada booth (Hall 5, Stand 5G70) at the MWC which is being held at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain, from 26 February to 1 March 2018.

About ASTRI

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competences in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, Mixed Signal Systems IC, Advanced Digital Systems, Opto-electronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Intelligent Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technologies, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org.

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