Sign in Subscribe

What is the role of Unlicensed Spectrum in 5G deployment?

Last updated on 


Unlicensed spectrum plays a significant role in 5G deployment by expanding network capacity, improving coverage, and enabling new use cases. Unlicensed spectrum refers to portions of the radio frequency spectrum that are open for use by anyone without requiring a specific license. In the context of 5G, unlicensed spectrum is primarily used in two ways: License Assisted Access (LAA) and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). Here's a detailed technical explanation of the role of unlicensed spectrum in 5G deployment:

License Assisted Access (LAA):

  • LAA is a 5G technology that allows operators to aggregate licensed spectrum with unlicensed spectrum (e.g., the 5 GHz band), providing additional bandwidth for data transmission.
  • In LAA, the operator's licensed spectrum serves as the primary carrier, and unlicensed spectrum is used as a secondary carrier to augment data rates.
  • Advanced techniques such as carrier aggregation and listen-before-talk (LBT) protocols are employed to ensure fair sharing of the unlicensed spectrum and minimize interference.

Carrier Aggregation (CA):

  • LAA utilizes carrier aggregation to aggregate the licensed and unlicensed carriers, resulting in higher data rates and increased capacity.
  • The UE can simultaneously communicate with both licensed and unlicensed bands, effectively utilizing the combined bandwidth for data transmission.

Enhanced Network Capacity:

  • Leveraging unlicensed spectrum through LAA significantly enhances network capacity, allowing operators to handle a higher number of concurrent users and bandwidth-demanding applications.
  • It helps meet the growing data traffic demands in densely populated urban areas and high-traffic locations.

Improved Throughput and Latency:

  • By aggregating licensed and unlicensed spectrum, LAA increases the data throughput, leading to faster downloads, uploads, and reduced latency for users.
  • This is particularly beneficial for applications requiring low latency, such as real-time gaming and augmented/virtual reality.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS):

  • CBRS is another application of unlicensed spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band, also known as the CBRS band.
  • CBRS allows for shared access to the spectrum, enabling a variety of use cases including private LTE networks and fixed wireless access.

Private Networks and Enterprises:

  • Unlicensed spectrum provides an opportunity for enterprises to deploy private cellular networks using 5G technologies.
  • Private networks using unlicensed spectrum can be tailored to specific business needs, ensuring enhanced connectivity and coverage within specific locations.

Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets):

  • Unlicensed spectrum integration, especially in dense urban areas, facilitates the deployment of HetNets, combining macrocells with small cells to optimize network performance and coverage.

Offloading Traffic from Licensed Bands:

  • Utilizing unlicensed spectrum helps offload traffic from licensed bands, alleviating congestion in licensed frequency bands and improving overall network performance.

In summary, unlicensed spectrum in 5G deployment, through technologies like License Assisted Access (LAA) and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), significantly contributes to enhancing network capacity, improving throughput, reducing latency, enabling private networks, and optimizing network performance by effectively leveraging additional bandwidth from the unlicensed spectrum.