Intel and the China-based smartphone manufacturer ZTE have recently partnered for 5G IT baseband units. The companies used the Mobile World Congress to show off the world’s first 5G IT baseband unit (BBU).
Intel and ZTE unveil industry-first 5G IT baseband unit
In the official release, it was revealed that IT BBU is the first network function virtualization (NFV) 5G radio access network or software-defined networking (SDN) solution. It is compatible with 2G/3G/4G/Pre5G and is based on Intel’s architecture. The network supports cloud-RAN, distributed-RAN and high integration, large capacity, and multi-mode flexible networking features. It means that this virtualization solution is strong enough for scalability in future deployments, notes The Tech Portal.
Referring to the partnership with Intel, ZTE Senior Vice President Jianguo Zhang said, “Intel technologies power the cloud and billions of smart, connected computing devices, so we are very pleased to be partners in the field of 5G and our deep cooperation will support our two companies’ long-term development.”
ZTE said the data throughput on the 5G Sub6GHz base stations can reach 10 Gbps. The Chinese company said it has successfully completed 5G single-point technology and prototype verification, and now, it has entered the 5G solution verification and product R&D phase, notes ZDNet.
Baseband signals are processed in baseband units in telecom systems. The BBU is mostly popular for its small size, low power consumption, and modular design. It is placed inside the components space and is responsible for communication through the physical interface, notes The Tech Portal.
ZTE unveils Gigabit phone
Also on Sunday, the Chinese company revealed its new Gigabit phone in Barcelona at MWC event. The phone boasts speeds of up to 1Gbps and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile platform with an integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE modem.
In addition, the Gigabit utilizes a combination of 4×4 MIMO antenna technology, 256-QAM modulation, and carrier aggregation to achieve LTE download speeds, which is up to 10 times faster than first-generation LTE devices, notes ZDNet.
The Gigabit phone uses the independently-developed Pre5G Giga+ MBB solution and smart devices, which the Chinese firm said makes the smartphone three times more powerful at improving data processing capability over current networks. ZTE says its new handset improves users’ lifestyles by allowing instant cloud storage, fast cache of ultra Hi-Fi music and movies, entertainment upgrades and 360-degree panoramic virtual reality video.
