Based on the MoU, which was inked in Hong Kong on Nov.5, the two companies will undertake joint evaluation and research into the requirements of a 5G network environment investigating the 5G network architecture needed to deliver the ambition of superlative data connection speeds with low latency. Joint activities will include key air interface technology, performance evaluation and prototype verification.
Enrique Blanco, Telefonica Group CTO (Chief Technology Officer), said “We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with Huawei to cooperate on the next generation of mobile communications technology. 5G will have massive impact on the telecommunication industry and in society as a whole. Telefónica doesn´t want the 5G networks start-up to be a specific single event, but rather a process which we want to begin right now.”
David Wang, President of Huawei Wireless Product Line, said: "Telefónica has profound understanding of needs from the most valuable and profitable markets and subtle insights into the future trends of these needs. Huawei now is investing a tremendous research effort into the 5G key enabling technology. Our collaboration with Telefónica is at the very heart of this commitment: to help build better connected societies, businesses and economies, and ensuring 5G success is essential in achieving this.”
Huawei has been researching 5G since 2009, and holds a global leading position in the definition and promotion of 5G. Huawei has made significant, innovative breakthroughs in 5G full-spectrum access, new air interface technology, end to end network architecture and has accumulated a wealth of experience in lab and field tests. Huawei has also engaged in strategic cooperation with many of the world's top operators, including China Mobile, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Japan's NTT DoCoMo, Korea operators LG U+, KT amongst others. Huawei will team up with more partners in the industry to build the emerging 5G ecosystem and push forward the development of 5G. Based on Huawei's continuous innovation and investment in the past few years, especially the key technology breakthroughs in new 5G air interface, Huawei was awarded the "Biggest Contribution to 5G Development" in June of this year.