AT&T, Ericsson, and MediaTek have completed the first in-field trial in North America of enhanced mobility features for 5G networks. The test focused on Ericsson Low-Latency Mobility with Layer 1/Layer 2 Triggered Mobility, commonly referred to as LTM. The trial took place on AT&T’s 5G infrastructure, which utilizes Ericsson’s Radio Access Network technology.
The primary objective of the trial was to measure improvements in network performance during handovers, which occur when a device moves from one cell tower to another. According to the results, the new LTM feature reduced handover interruption time by up to 40 percent. Additionally, data interruption during these cell changes was decreased by up to 25 percent compared to legacy Layer 3 mobility methods.
These technical improvements are designed to support applications that require low latency and high reliability. The companies indicated that the technology could facilitate latency-sensitive uses such as extended reality, physical artificial intelligence, industrial internet of things devices, and real-time edge-cloud AI workloads.
The trial represents a step toward commercializing 5G Advanced capabilities. 5G Advanced is described as the next stage of wireless technology that builds upon initial 5G standards with upgrades for higher speeds, wider coverage, and lower delay. The successful completion of this field trial demonstrates the potential for these networks to handle more complex and demanding digital services.
Details regarding the specific locations within the Plano area where the testing occurred were not provided. Further information on when these features might become available to the general public or commercial clients was also not included in the initial reports.
