4iG Group introduces 6 GHz band to CEE
April 19, 2024
4iG Group has announced it has tested 5.5G technology in operation using 6 GHz spectrum in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in collaboration with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (in Hungarian: ‘BME VIK’).
The new technology can deliver up to ten times faster download speeds than the fastest 3.5 GHz solution installed on existing base stations – important for environmental and cost efficiency reasons. In laboratory measurements, a team of engineers from the 4iG Group and researchers from BME VIK recorded data rates in excess of 10 Gbps. Enterprise application of the technology will bring the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 solutions and cloud applications into a new era. The equipment deployed at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics is primarily for research purposes to support the professional development of network solutions in the future, and researchers. In addition, with the help of 4iG’s subsidiaries in the Western Balkans, the trial period will provide researchers of the technical universities of Tirana and Podgorica the opportunity to experience and study the new technology.
“The testing of the cutting edge 6 GHz mobile technology is in line with 4iG Group’s innovation plans and digitalisation goals”, said Pál Zarándy, 4iG Group Mobile and 5G Strategy Director. “The transition to 5G technology is an entry point into the telecommunications market for 4iG, which has a strong IT background, as it will enable the use of state-of-the-art data transmission solutions in addition to providing the backbone infrastructure.”
4iG Group joined the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), a global industry alliance founded by telecommunications companies to make radio communications networks more open and efficient in 2022. The alliance provides an open platform for the development and operation of 5G-based radio network infrastructures.
Dr Charaf Hassan, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME VIK), commented: “The 6 GHz technology demonstration is an important step towards the goals set out earlier in the 5G vision. The new frequency band adopted by the ITU will contribute to the development of advanced 5G-based industrial applications, smart factories, and a connected economy. The 6 GHz radio data transmission system is experimental right now, however, the events at this year’s Mobile World Congress (Barcelona) and the increased industry interest in the new technology indicate that 6 GHz could soon be deployed in mobile networks, making gigabit mobile internet a reality for users.”.
“The digital economy now accounts for at least 25 per cent of total GDP, and the use of advanced technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and 5G has become a key breakthrough for economies,” added Gergely Fábián, State secretary for industrial policy and technology at the Ministry of National Economy, at a press conference to launch the technology.