Next Generation Wireless (5G and Unlicensed)

Multipath Technologies

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PROJECT LEADERS

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Business objectives

• Investigate different approaches for above-the-core integration for Wi-Fi with 5G

• Demonstrate and test the above-the-core capability using Google Android and OS/iOS11 functionality

• Document best practices and recommended approach

Project information

In WBA’s white paper, ‘Unlicensed Integration with 5G Networks; there was a consensus on three broad approaches of how to integrate Wi-Fi with 5G: 1) Access Centric, 2) Core Centric and 3) Above the Core integration. The market has seen significant adoption of ‘above the core’ approaches yet there is no industry body leading the definition of a common architecture. (3GPP has focused on access and core centric integration)

The market is dependent on the support of the device ecosystem and both Apple and Google have been championing integration of Wi-Fi and Cellular since 2014/15 with MP-TCP and MP-QUIC respectively – now opened to the developer community. This results in:

• Handover mode supported for applications requiring high reliability

• Interactive mode supported for applications requiring low latency

• Aggregation mode supported for applications that want to benefit from combined link capacities

Target Audience

Target Audience includes WBA members, Wi-Fi advocates, industry analysts, Wi-Fi operators, Cellular Operators, networking equipment providers and app developers.

TARGET OUTCOMES:

Outlines the approaches for the core integration and includes results from proof of concept with demonstrations of Google Android OS and Apple iOS11 capabilities.