T-Mobile US has revealed that it is working with multiple global vendors as it works towards the introduction of Standalone (SA) 5G architecture. The cellco lists its ‘world first’ achievements as follows:
· The first SA 5G data session between commercial modems from two suppliers on a production network, in association with Cisco, Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia and Qualcomm Technologies;
· The first low-band SA 5G voice call using Evolved Packet System (EPS) fallback to VoLTE with Cisco, Ericsson, MediaTek and Nokia;
· The first low-band voice-over-new radio (VoNR) call on a production network with Cisco, Ericsson, MediaTek, and Nokia (note: VoNR allows for voice calls to run over 5G); and
· The first video-over-new radio (ViNR) call on a production network with Cisco, Ericsson, Nokia and Qualcomm (note: ViNR allows for high quality video calls to run natively, instead of using an OTT application).
According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, T-Mobile switched on a millimetre wave (mmWave)-powered 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) network in June 2019, before launching a 600MHz 5G NSA service in December 2019. The operator expects its SA 5G network to go live later in 2020.