5G makes its debut on Chinese high-speed trains, the so-called MagLev trains, which can travel up off the track thanks to magnetic levitation.
ZTE partnered with China Telecom to test 5G on Shanghai’s Maglev high-speed train. They reported that during the test, commercial 5G terminals were stable and able to support various high-bandwidth applications. The test measured communications within a train travelling at up to 500KM/h.
ZTE’s technology allowed passengers to have easy access to high-speed data, to work via video conference, to watch ultra-HD videos and to play interactive games.
Source: Maglev trains spread in China
Providing high-quality network coverage for high-speed trains has always been a challenge for both operators and equipment vendors. Issues include buildings, trees and train carriages. To solve these problems, ZTE and China Telecom have made breakthroughs in several areas, including using proprietary ’doppler frequency shift channel compensation’ technology to reduce wireless channel deterioration caused by high-speed movement. Moreover, ZTE claims to be the first in 5G industry to use the 8T8R multi-RRUs system for high-speed railway coverage
Shanghai Maglev is the world’s first commercial high-speed Maglev line as well as the fastest commercial high-speed train in the world. It means that their 5G network solution could be applied to various high-speed railways worldwide.
This is a great opportunity for the global market and for technology vendors, like ZTE. ZTE has already signed 25 commercial contracts for 5G in the major markets, like Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and it invests the 10% of its annual revenue in research and development.
Maria Vittoria Seu – MCO
