Samsung And KDDI Demo 1.7Gbps 5G Gigabit Wireless Link From A Moving Train

samsung
We've been hearing quite a bit about wireless 5G technology over the past year, but most of those tests have been with stationary in controlled lab environments. However, Samsung and Japanese telecom giant KDDI have demonstrated a working 5G link from a moving platform -- in this case, a passenger train.

Samsung and KDDI carried out the tests last month in the Japanese city of Saitama. The train was traveling at a speed of 100 kph (roughly 62 mph) over a one-mile stretch of track, with Samsung successfully completing downlink and uplink transmissions at 5G speeds.

The equipment used for the test included Samsung’s 5G pre-commercial end-to-end solution, which consisted of a 5G router (CPE), a 5G radio access unit, virtualized RAN and a virtualized core. During the tests, 8K video was downloaded using the CPE. Additionally, a camera mounted at front of the train uploaded recorded 4K video.

KDDI in Tokyo main 1

Peak speeds during the test topped out at 1.7Gbps, which is a great achievement for the tech duo. Samsung hopes to eventually fit production-quality hardware in high-speed trains to blanket customers with far superior internet connectivity than what’s available with today's solutions. Samsung says that this will "pave the way to vastly improved backhaul for onboard Wi-Fi, superior passenger infotainment and increased security and analytics."

“The potential that 5G holds is powerful enough to transform the landscape of our daily lives,” said Youngky Kim, President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “The success of today’s demonstration is a result of our joint research with KDDI, which we will continue to pursue as we explore next generation networks and use cases. This will include research on diverse spectrums and technologies, as well as new business models and applications.”

Samsung and KDDI are aiming for a commercial launch of 5G networks by 2020.

Tags:  Samsung, 5G, KDDI, krx005930
Brandon Hill

Brandon Hill

Brandon received his first PC, an IBM Aptiva 310, in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since. He cut his teeth on computer building/repair working at a mom and pop computer shop as a plucky teen in the mid 90s and went on to join AnandTech as the Senior News Editor in 1999. Brandon would later help to form DailyTech where he served as Editor-in-Chief from 2008 until 2014. Brandon is a tech geek at heart, and family members always know where to turn when they need free tech support. When he isn’t writing about the tech hardware or studying up on the latest in mobile gadgets, you’ll find him browsing forums that cater to his long-running passion: automobiles.

Opinions and content posted by HotHardware contributors are their own.