The project will develop the overall 5G radio system design and roadmap recommendation for 5G
Ericsson continues to spearhead 5G system development as coordinator of the new European Union (EU) project, Mobile and Wireless Communications Enablers for the Twenty-twenty Information Society II (METIS-II), to develop the overall 5G radio system design and roadmap recommendation for 5G standardisation.
The main objective of the METIS-II project is lay the foundation of 5G, the next generation mobile and wireless communications system. On a strategic level, METIS-II will provide the 5G collaboration framework within the 5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership (5G-PPP) for a common evaluation of 5G radio access network concepts and a recommended 5G spectrum roadmap. It will also lead to the preparation of concerted action toward regulatory and standardisation bodies.
Valter D’Avino, head of Ericsson Western and Central Europe, said: “Making 5G a global standard is critical for the large scale digitalisation of industries, the Internet of Things and broadband connectivity everywhere. Continuing our leadership of METIS in METIS II we will drive innovation and pre-standards requirements as part of our strong European Research activities in 5G.”
The project centres on a strong international consortium, consisting of 23 partners from all regions with strong 5G R&D initiatives (China, the EU, Japan, South Korea and the US) and involving most of the major international vendors, major operators, and key researchers.
METIS-II will therefore have the unique capability to drive consensus-building globally, to consolidate a full picture of the needs of mobile as well as vertical industries, and to disseminate the results to the relevant bodies, forums, and standardization groups in all regions.
The project is co-funded in the EU H2020 research program and has a budget of Euro 8 million.
As the main driver and coordinator of the METIS-II project together with the global consortium, Ericsson will integrate technologies into a radio access design and provide a platform for concerted action toward regulatory and standards bodies. The METIS II project will utilise the success of METIS, the first integrated 5G project also driven and coordinated by Ericsson.
In addition, Ericsson will take the lead as the technical coordinator of the Millimetre-Wave Based Mobile Radio Access Network for Fifth-Generation Integrated Communications (mmMAGIC) project. This project will develop and design new concepts for mobile radio access technology for deployment in the 6-100GHz range.
Both projects are important in preparing a pre-standardisation consensus in the mobile industry. They provide the different consortia with an opportunity to discuss and evaluate various research ideas before bringing them to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).