Verizon.
Ericsson.
MediaTek.
Three well-known names in tech, respectively. One common denominator (though we could certainly list more) is that each company strives to build connections and game-changing products and services that empower innovators and make smart technology more accessible. By redefining connectivity and future-proofing enterprise operations, these companies are driving forces in 5G, telecommunications, advanced multimedia solutions, etc.
So, let’s talk about some of the latest news that connects (pun intended) all three of them:
Verizon, Ericsson and MediaTek announced that they’ve successfully completed data and “Voice over New Radio” (VoNR) sessions over Verizon’s 5G network, utilizing Ericsson’s new RedCap compatible software and MediaTek’s RedCap Testing platform.
Without undue technical jargon, here are the two main takeaways:
- This new technology provides a path for lower-complexity and lower-cost NR devices, which include (but of course aren’t limited to) consumer wearables, mobile medical devices, and fitness trackers.
- It also allows enterprise IoT solutions (which include video surveillance, smart grids, and industrial sensors) to run far more efficiently on Verizon’s 5G network.
A key subpoint to this? Plenty of these aforementioned devices and systems (many of which have audio functions that require voice connections) typically both transmit and receive smaller amounts of data than smartphones or wireless routers do. Therein lies a benefit; the development and deployment of smaller, lighter devices (i.e. with a longer battery life and lower-complexity levels) is now possible over the Verizon network.
Each company also provided a quote regarding this advancement.
From Adam Koeppe, SVP of Network and Technology at Verizon:
“The network transformation we have undergone over the past few years has brought us to this place of having a highly sophisticated and customizable network that readily provides a range of capabilities needed for a variety of devices. That evolution of this new, light software (coupled with the technologies deployed throughout our robust 5G network) will allow us to provide the best-possible experience for our customers in an efficient manner and will drive the 5G ecosystem with low-cost, energy-efficient devices.”
From Graham Osborne, Vice President and Head of Customer Unit Verizon, Ericsson North America:
“Pioneering both data and VoNR calls on both low-bands and mid-bands on Verizon’s 5G standalone network demonstrates the capability of Ericsson RedCap as a software to boost a whole new range of use cases for both consumers and enterprises. This over-the-air demonstration in a live C-Band environment with Verizon and MediaTek is critical to building an ecosystem that will bring multiple types of 5G devices to market.”
And from Dr. HC Hwang, General Manager of Wireless Communication Systems and Partnerships at MediaTek:
“This successful collaboration with Verizon and Ericsson marks another milestone in our development of our 5G RedCap platform. The technology paves the way for cost-effective and power-efficient use cases such as wearables, IoT devices, AR glasses and more, all without taxing current 5G networks that need to accommodate higher performance systems and products.”
Overall, this advancement is expected to help expand the 5G ecosystem and its many use cases (and with more efficient resource allocation), particularly for the Internet of Things.
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
