The steady increase in Internet of Things (IoT) applications has driven a demand for highly scalable and reliable wireless networks. This is notable with the progress being made with 5G, the fifth generation of wireless technology that seeks to foster in a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.
What is billed as the first non-cellular 5G network is due to go live. This is the DECT 2020-NR based Wirepas 5G Mesh. The aim is to provide a lower-cost 5G IoT to enterprise networks. The developers – Wirepas – specialise in connectivity software that enables decentralized, scalable, high-density, and long-range network applications.
The first public demonstration of a DECT NR+ standard compliant network is to take place. NR+ became the first non-cellular standard to meet the 5G requirements in 2021. NR represents ‘New Radio’ and it has become the global standard for a unified, more capable 5G wireless air interface.
Since 2021, the standard has been endorsed by many leading energy, manufacturing, and smart building players. With NR+, the development requires minimal radio and network planning and the operation is free from interference. Tests indicate that NR+ is a versatile radio standard.
The technology can reach one-millisecond latency between devices which opens the possibility for low latency systems to consider wireless operation for the first time.
Furthermore, the DECT NR+ standard meets the IMT-2020 requirements for massive ‘Machine Type Communications’ like Wirepas and for ultra-reliable and low latency communications. IMT-2020 is a standard and set of specifications for 5G networks established by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The first public outing of the technology will take place at the Mobile World Congress starting February 27, 2023. The event is happening in Barcelona, from 27 February to 1 March.
The system will be tested out using a dedicated, free-to-operate, global 1.9 GHz frequency band. The demonstration will be conducted with Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF91 Series. This takes advantage of Nordic’s existing low-power nRF91 Series architecture with the Wirepas’ 5G Mesh (technology designed to provide high bandwidth communications to on-street devices using the 5Ghz spectrum).
An important concept is with the decentralized device-based decisions, which enables the technology to be deployed’ anywhere by anyone’. The network runs autonomously with low maintenance effort with no additional need for separate network infrastructure deployment.
