5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK
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FINAL REPORT 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK On behalf of Final report Version 3.0 12.12.2016 Contact: LS telcom UK Saul Friedner Riverside House Spectrum Consulting 2a Southwark Bridge Road Tel: +44 7958 700771 LONDON, UK Email: [email protected] +44 20 3740 6472 [email protected] www.LStelcom.com 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK Version Control Item Description Source LS telcom Client National Infrastructure Commission Report Title 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK Issue Date 12 December 2016 Version Date Description 1.0 10.11.2016 Issued to National Infrastructure Commission 2.0 02.12.2016 Updated with feedback comments and issued to NIC 3.0 12.12.2016 Further refinements and issued to NIC © 2016 LS telcom UK 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK Page 2 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK Table of Content 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................... 6 1.1 Key messages ......................................................................................... 6 1.2 Opening up roadside telecoms infrastructure could pave the way for high speed mobile connectivity to vehicles .................................................................. 9 1.3 A new high capacity trackside infrastructure is the optimum approach to enabling ultra-high speed connectivity for rail passengers ........................................ 10 1.4 Dense deployment of small cell sites is needed for future networks in urban areas 11 1.5 Addressing the coverage gaps in rural areas is needed before new technology can be deployed ............................................................................................... 12 1.6 Summary of the infrastructure requirements analysis .................................. 13 2 DEVELOPMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UK 14 2.1 An overview of fixed and mobile networks ................................................. 14 2.2 Future of wireless networks ..................................................................... 15 2.3 Structure of the report ............................................................................ 16 3 OVERVIEW OF UK TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF 5G .................................................................................. 18 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 18 3.2 Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) ............................................................ 19 3.3 Private and fixed radio networks ............................................................... 32 3.4 Fixed Line Networks (Wholesale) .............................................................. 42 3.5 Wi-Fi Operators ...................................................................................... 48 4 5G TECHNOLOGY READINESS ............................................................. 53 4.1 5G Infrastructure Transition ..................................................................... 54 4.2 Technology readiness .............................................................................. 56 4.3 Capabilities of site infrastructure............................................................... 60 4.3.1 Enabling MNO infrastructure for future wireless networks ............................ 60 4.3.2 Enabling private radio and fixed networks infrastructure .............................. 62 4.3.3 Fixed line networks infrastructure ............................................................. 62 4.3.1 Enabling Wi-Fi infrastructure .................................................................... 63 4.3.2 Utility networks infrastructure .................................................................. 64 4.4 Comparison with international developments.............................................. 65 5 DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS IN THE UK ..................... 66 5.1 Mapping digital infrastructure in strategic geographical areas ....................... 66 5.1.1 Objectives ............................................................................................. 67 5.1.2 Input parameters .................................................................................... 67 5.1.3 General assumptions and key statistics ..................................................... 68 5.1.4 Assumptions for use case cell ranges and service platforms ......................... 69 5.1.5 Infrastructure gap analysis methodology ................................................... 72 5.2 Capital costs and infrastructure requirements for nationwide road and rail routes 73 © 2016 LS telcom UK 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK Page 3 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK 5.2.1 Capital costs and infrastructure requirements for the Strategic Road Network 74 5.2.2 Capital costs and infrastructure requirements for rail routes in GB ................ 77 5.3 Telecommunications infrastructure requirements mapping results – representative populated areas types ............................................................................. 80 5.3.1 Infrastructure densification requirements for UK extrapolation for MNO and other network infrastructure sites ..................................................................... 80 6 THE BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES OF MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT ...................................................................................... 83 6.1 Challenges for enabling infrastructure on roadside ...................................... 84 6.2 Challenges for enabling infrastructure trackside .......................................... 85 6.3 Challenges for the densification of wireless networks ................................... 87 6.4 Challenges of deployment of infrastructure in rural areas ............................. 92 6.5 Possible solutions to the infrastructure challenges ....................................... 94 7 OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS OF INFRASTRUCTURE SHARING TO SUPPORT 5G ....................................................................................... 95 7.1 Opportunities for site sharing ................................................................... 95 7.2 Barriers preventing sharing of infrastructure .............................................. 96 8 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................... 99 8.1 Key messages ........................................................................................ 99 8.2 Opening up roadside telecoms infrastructure could pave the way for high speed mobile connectivity to vehicles ............................................................... 101 8.3 A new high capacity trackside infrastructure is the optimum approach to enabling ultra-high speed connectivity for rail passengers ...................................... 103 8.4 Dense deployment of small cell sites is needed for future networks in urban areas 104 8.5 Addressing the coverage gaps in rural areas is needed before new technology can be deployed ............................................................................................. 105 8.6 Summary of the infrastructure requirements analysis ................................ 106 9 APPENDIX – SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR MAPPING EXERCISE ............. 107 9.1 Mapping results for specific road and rail sections ..................................... 107 9.1.1 Infrastructure requirements for a portion of the Strategic Road Network...... 107 9.1.2 Infrastructure requirements along national rail routes ............................... 108 9.2 Details of capital costs for roadside and rail infrastructure .......................... 109 9.2.1 Further details of capital costs for roadside infrastructure .......................... 109 9.2.2 Further details of capital costs for trackside infrastructure ......................... 110 9.3 Mapping results for extracted urban/suburban/rural areas ......................... 112 2 9.3.1 Enhanced Mobile Broadband in dense urban areas (City of London 4.21km ) 113 9.3.2 Enhanced Mobile Broadband and machine type communications in urban areas 2 (Exeter 33km ) ..................................................................................... 114 9.3.3 Enhanced Mobile Broadband and machine type communications in suburban areas 2 (Cardiff/Newport 178 km ) ..................................................................... 115 9.3.4 Enhanced Mobile Broadband and machine type communications in rural areas 2 (Downham Market 961 km ) .................................................................. 116 © 2016 LS telcom UK 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK Page 4 5G Infrastructure Requirements in the UK 9.4 Coverage checker maps for geographical areas ........................................ 117 9.4.1 Strategic Road Network – Stretch of M4 between Cardiff and Newport......... 117 9.4.2 Strategic rail network – Glasgow to Edinburgh.......................................... 118 9.4.3 Dense urban – City of London ................................................................ 119 9.4.4 Urban - Exeter ..................................................................................... 121 9.4.5 Suburban – Cardiff/Newport ................................................................... 122 9.4.6 Rural – Downham Market ...................................................................... 123 10 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ........................................................................ 125 © 2016 LS telcom UK 5G Infrastructure Requirements