Network operator BT successfully integrated four carrier components (CC) into a standalone 5G network during a recent test. According to the British operator, this is the first time this technique has been successfully implemented on a European network. Four CC increases the bandwidth and speed of a standalone 5G network.

Carrier aggregation is a networking technique in which multiple carrier components (CC) increase the connection speed. This technique, among others, is used by LTE Advanced (LTE+) network operators. Standalone 5G networks are also improving with carrier aggregation. That is why several organizations are investigating ways to optimally deploy the technology in standalone 5G networks.

One of the researchers is BT. UK operators provide telecommunications services to millions of companies in the UK and Ireland. According to BT, the organization recently achieved a breakthrough in carrier aggregation for standalone 5G. BT successfully integrated four CC (4CC) into EE’s standalone 5G network. Network operator EE was acquired by BT in 2016. 4CC increases the speed and capacity of EE’s standalone 5G network.

Standalone 5G and non-self-supporting 5G

EE’s standalone 5G network is not yet generally available. EE’s 5G services currently run on non-standalone 5G networks, like most mainstream 5G networks today.

Non-standalone 5G means that the core of the network runs on 4G equipment. The connection is slower than the theoretical speed of 5G. Those speeds only appear on standalone 5G networks, where the core of the network runs on 5G equipment.

Standalone 5G is currently more expensive for carriers than non-standalone. As manufacturers continue to develop their network equipment, standalone 5G will become more accessible. Vodafone Germany go know in july that its standalone 5G network is ready to serve an area of ​​15 million people. We expect several carriers to come up with similar news in the coming months.

4CC in standalone 5G

It is unclear when BT and EE will provide their standalone 5G services. In addition, BT shows that the 4CC carrier aggregation is not implemented across the entire network. “This technology will be present in some parts of our network when we launch 5G self-service,” the organization said Registration.

Tip: MWC dedicated to Private 5G and Open RAN