Category: Press Release

Key highlights:

• MFA and 5G-ACIA sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive the adoption of 5G private networks in manufacturing and process industries.
• The MoU establishes a closer channel for exchanging views and joint development of industry white papers, market research efforts, in-person opportunities for ecosystem engagement, and more.

Fremont, CA (USA), Frankfurt/Main (Germany) January 30, 2023 – MFA, the Alliance for private networks, and 5G-ACIA, the globally leading organization for driving and shaping Industrial 5G, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the adoption of 5G private wireless networks in manufacturing and process industries. The MoU strengthens the cooperative relationship and fosters a closer channel for exchanging views and information through the development of joint industry white papers, market research efforts, collaborative event participation, and in-person opportunities for ecosystem engagement.

MFA is championing the global industry adoption of private wireless networks in any available spectrum, providing guidance through Uni5G™ technology blueprints for 5G and MFA’s unique global PLMN-ID, made available to enterprises through the MFA Network Identifier Program. Additionally, MFA provides resources and tools through various channels for industry verticals to simplify their path to optimized, reliable, and secure private networks in locally licensed, shared, and unlicensed spectrum. MFA’s mission is to guide enterprises to deploy their own private networks in any spectrum, and provide the tools and resources needed to facilitate and achieve their digitalization goals.

The mission of 5G-ACIA is to ensure the best possible applicability of 5G technology and 5G networks for connected industries, in particular the manufacturing and process industries. 5G-ACIA will ensure that the interests and particular aspects of the industrial domain are adequately considered in 5G standardization and regulation. 5G-ACIA will further ensure that the ongoing 5G developments are understood by and transferred to the industrial domain. This includes possible integration concepts and migration paths, together with the evaluation of key technologies emerging from 5G standardization bodies.

Mazen Chmaytelli, MFA President
“MFA welcomes the opportunity to partner with 5G-ACIA to jointly advance the global 5G private network adoption in manufacturing and process industries. With this partnership we can combine resources in targeted efforts to accelerate 5G private network adoption for industrial applications.”

Dr. Andreas Mueller, 5G-ACIA Chair
“Private networks play a crucial role for the adoption of 5G in the industrial domain due to special performance, security and business requirements. Therefore, 5G-ACIA has played a pivotal role in the development of private mobile networks ever since. We are very excited to join forces with MFA in order to lay the foundation for a more widespread adoption of private networks in the manufacturing and process industries in future.”

About MFA – the Alliance for private networks:
MFA is an industry alliance supporting private network adoption. MFA provides resources that simplify the path to optimized, reliable and secure private networks in locally licensed, shared, or unlicensed spectrum. MFA enables the ecosystem with its Uni5G™ technology blueprints and its unique global PLMN-ID program. Uni5G, based on 3GPP specifications, identifies the key 5G features needed for enterprises to successfully deploy their own private network. MFA is a 3GPP Market Representation Partner. Learn more at www.mfa-tech.org.

About 5G-ACIA:
The 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA) is the globally leading organization for driving and shaping Industrial 5G. 5G-ACIA members jointly prepare for the disruptive change that 5G will bring, promote a better understanding of industrial needs, and gain insights into a highly attractive emerging market. 5G-ACIA provides a unique platform for OT and ICT companies, academia, and all relevant stakeholders to influence 5G development and deployment, in line with industrial imperatives. The currently more than 90 member organizations make the results of their work directly available to 3GPP, the main standardization body for developing 5G. 5G-ACIA is a market representation partner of 3GPP and has the formal status of a working party of ZVEI e.V. www.5g-acia.org

Key highlights:

• MFA, the Alliance for private networks, introduces new industry resources for enterprises to simplify their path to optimized, reliable, and secure private networks in locally licensed, shared and unlicensed spectrum.
• New tools include technology blueprints for 5G private networks, an interactive map of available spectrum options, a private network tracker, and network identifier program.
• MFA is launching a new newsletter, “MFA Insights: Private Network Report,” to share updates on the latest private network deployments, spectrum availability, white papers, case studies, and more.
• MFA is sponsoring Hannover Messe USA, September 12-17 in Chicago, with featured speaking opportunities in the Solutions Theater and is showcasing technology resources in booth #134661.

September 7, 2022 – FREMONT, CA – MFA, the industry Alliance supporting private network adoption, today announced that it is launching a new resource center on its website for enterprises to gain access to tools that will aid their 3GPP-based private network deployments and to highlight private networks globally. Enterprises can access these tools to simplify their own private network deployments and to learn about available spectrum options in their region.

“The connectivity requirements of enterprises are becoming more complex, with thousands of devices on a network conducting business-critical applications,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MFA. “MFA is a leading industry resource for enterprises looking to understand the benefits and opportunities of 3GPP-based private networks for their business. Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for enterprises to deploy their own private network in any spectrum, and we are providing the tools and resources to help them facilitate that and achieve their digitalization goals.”

As part of its new private networks resource center, MFA is launching a private network tracker in partnership with industry analyst firm, Mobile Experts. The tracker provides insight into the state of private networks across various industry verticals and enterprises as well as regions where private networks are gaining ground.

“As of the end of June 2022, Mobile Experts estimates that more than 2,800 private LTE and 5G networks have been cumulatively deployed,” said Kyung Mun, principal analyst, Mobile Experts. “We also forecast that the private cellular equipment market will grow 12-15% this year to $1.9B and continue to ramp as the industrial device ecosystem scales. We also see that additional regulators are taking their cue from early actions in Germany, Japan, USA and the UK to make available dedicated private 5G spectrum. MFA will be providing ongoing updates on private network deployments globally so enterprises can learn about trends and best practices.”

New monthly newsletter
Enterprises are encouraged to subscribe to MFA’s new newsletter that will feature a monthly update on private networks deployed globally in a variety of industries, as well as feature new white papers, case studies, and resources. Subscribe at www.mfa-tech.org/newsletter.

Uni5G Technology Blueprints available for enterprises
MFA has also made its Uni5G™ Technology Blueprints publicly available for any enterprise to download. The blueprints leverage 3GPP 5G standards to define profiling and classification requirements for private networks. Enterprises can use the blueprints as a tool with their vendor of choice to let them know which select features their devices need to implement. The initial set of blueprints is based on 3GPP Release 15, and the next set of blueprints based on Release 16 and beyond are under development.

Meet us at Hannover Messe USA
MFA will be presenting at Hannover Messe USA in the Solutions Theater located in Building 1, Level 3.

• Monday, Sept. 12, 10:30-11:00AM: Practical Tools to Simplify Your Private Network Deployment by Mazen Chmaytelli, MFA President
• Friday, Sept. 16, 11:15-11:45AM: Deploying a Private 5G Network Doesn’t have to be Rocket Science by Asimakis Kokkos, MFA Technical Specification Group Chair

MFA representatives will also showcase technology solutions and resources in Booth #134661. To schedule a meeting with MFA’s private network experts, contact press@mfa-tech.org.

Resources:

• Download Uni5G Technology Blueprints
• White paper: The MFA Shared PLMN-ID – The ideal solution for your private network development
• View the global spectrum map
• Private network deployment tracker
• Subscribe to our newsletter, MFA Insights: Private Networks Report

About MFA

MFA is an industry Alliance supporting private network adoption. We provide resources that simplify the path to optimized, reliable and secure private networks in locally licensed, shared, or unlicensed spectrum. MFA enables the ecosystem with its free Uni5G™ Technology Blueprints and its unique global PLMN-ID program. Uni5G, based on 3GPP specifications, identifies the key 5G features needed for enterprises to successfully deploy their own private network. MFA is a 3GPP Market Representation Partner. Learn more at www.mfa-tech.org.

Become an MFA member

Join MFA as a contributor or an adopter member to participate in working groups, receive complementary access to MFA’s Private Network Identifier packages, and to augment your company’s marketing activities. Learn more at Join | MFA (mfa-tech.org).

News Highlights:

• Uni5G™ Technology Blueprints based on 3GPP standards will help enterprises select and implement key features that are relevant to their specific 5G private network deployment.
• The initial set of Uni5G Technology Blueprints identified three blueprint families focusing on coverage, reliability, connection density, and latency.
• MFA is enabling 5G private networks in unlicensed, shared and locally licensed spectrum by providing guidance to enterprises seeking to deploy their own networks. Its board members include Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, Nokia, and Qualcomm.

FREMONT, CA – February 23, 2022 – MFA, an international organization dedicated to enabling industry verticals to deploy private cellular networks globally, today announced the completion of the Uni5G Technology Blueprints. This initial set of three blueprint families provides guidance to industry verticals and enterprises on the key functionalities to implement from 3GPP Release 15 to meet their specific requirements for coverage, reliability, connection density, and latency for their deployment. By focusing and implementing selected features from the Uni5G blueprint families, industry verticals can simplify their path to 5G private networks.

“Globally, there is a growing trend for industry verticals such as manufacturing, warehouses and logistics, ports, and more to deploy 4G and 5G private networks to gain the benefits of increased automation and digitalization,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MFA. “However, these industry verticals are not telecom experts and may not know where to start. By creating the Uni5G Technology Blueprints that map the 3GPP features they need for the functionality they want, MFA is providing a valuable tool for these industry verticals to share with device and equipment manufacturers to obtain the features that are required fulfill their objectives.”

The first Uni5G Technology Blueprints release includes three blueprint families that map 3GPP features to requirements for coverage, reliability, connection density, and latency. For example, if a shipping port requires reliability and coverage, it can leverage the Uni5G blueprint to understand which features from Release 15 that it needs to implement for either a basic device or an advanced device. MFA will continue to evolve the Uni5G Technology Blueprints to stay in step with 3GPP releases.

The Uni5G Technology Blueprints are available now to MFA members. To be notified when the blueprints become available publicly, sign up here.

Caroline Chan, VP Network and Edge Group, GM Network Business Incubation Division of Intel Corporation, said: “This is an important and timely contribution to the global scaling of private network solutions across a range of sectors. These blueprints, when implemented on Intel’s proven FlexRAN reference architecture and Intel Xeon processors, can help enterprises simplify the path to deploy key features for their 5G private networks.”

Stephan Litjens, Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, Nokia Cloud and Networking Services, said: “Successful adoption and use of private wireless 5G by industry is largely dependent on the healthy growth of the 5G device ecosystem and automation enablers. Through its pioneering work on Uni5G blueprints, MFA is providing industry with clear guidance on how to achieve this. Uni5G blueprints will be an invaluable tool for verticals and industry players to identify what key features are necessary to optimize and enhance industrial applications that facilitate automation goals.”

Dr. Edward Tiedemann, Senior Vice-President, Engineering, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said: “The emergence of 5G private networks is opening up exciting new opportunities for verticals to connect various equipment. It is great to see MFA putting in place critical support to demystify the process of deploying 5G private networks—first with the network identifier program and now with blueprints that will help the ecosystem align on requirements for different 5G private network use cases.”

Visit MFA at #MWC22
MFA will be showcasing technology solutions in Booth 7B12. To schedule a meeting with MFA’s private network experts, contact mfa@nereus-worldwide.com.

Resources:

• Blog: Uni5G Technology Blueprints – Mapping to 3GPP Release 15
• Website: Uni5G Technology Blueprints
• Video: Uni5G and MulteFire for Manufacturing Use Case
• Video: Uni5G and MulteFire for Ports Use Case

About MFA

MFA is an international organization that is championing the global industry adoption of private networks using MFA-defined MulteFire® specifications for LTE and Uni5G Technology Blueprints for 5G. With Uni5G or MulteFire, enterprises can efficiently deploy their own optimized, reliable and secure private network in unlicensed, shared or locally licensed spectrum. For more information, visit www.mfa-tech.org.

News Highlights:

• MFA makes its unique global PLMN ID available to enterprises for their own 5G private network
• MFA announces new Private Network Subscriber category for enterprises to jumpstart deployment

FREMONT, CA – November 16, 2021 – MFA, an international organization championing the global industry adoption of private networks based upon 3GPP technologies, today announced its Network Identifier Program for enterprises. Enterprises now have access to the MFA’s unique global PLMN ID that they can use when deploying their own private network to ensure that only authorized devices connect to their network. The program reduces complexity and streamlines the network development process for enterprises by eliminating the need for them to separately apply for their own PLMN ID.

“Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for enterprises to quickly deploy their own private network and realize the benefits of greater control over their network, enhanced on-premise data security, and predictable performance,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MFA. “MFA was awarded a unique global PLMN ID by the ITU, and we are creating this new program to ensure all industry verticals have ready access to a PLMN ID that will support their digitalization journey.”

Enterprises and industry verticals including maritime, manufacturing, warehouses, utilities, and venues can select a Private Network ID package or a Neutral Host Network (NHN) ID package that will provide them with all the items they need to deploy a neutral host or private network. For large deployments, enterprises will be able to add-on IDs to meet their requirements for coverage and capacity.

“With access to the global PLMN ID from MFA, network suppliers or operators will have the necessary identifiers to create unique and distinguishable private networks, streamlining the deployment process for their enterprise customers – anywhere in the world they are located,” said Asimakis Kokkos, MFA Technical Specification Group Chair and Head of Technology Ecosystems, Nokia Enterprise Solutions.

New Private Network Subscriber category created to jumpstart deployment

MFA has also created a new Private Network Subscriber category that will grant enterprises one complimentary Private Network ID package that they can use immediately to deploy their own 5G private network in locally licensed spectrum or MulteFire®/4G private network in unlicensed spectrum today.

“For a one-time fee, Private Network Subscribers gain access to a Private Network ID package that is evergreen and does not need to be renewed,” added Chmaytelli. “Our members also will receive complimentary packages that will meet their deployment requirements. The MFA wants to help seed as many private networks as possible, and we’re excited to bring this important program to the entire industry.”

To further enable private network deployments, MFA, a 3GPP Market Representation Partner (MRP), previously announced that it is also developing Uni5G™ Technology Blueprints. These blueprints will provide enterprises with practical guidance on implementing the key features from the 3GPP 5G standards that are relevant to their specific deployment. The first blueprints will be finalized in December 2021.

The Network Identifier program is administered by the MFA Certificate Authority and is available today to MFA members and non-members. For companies interested in joining the program, visit www.mfa-tech.org.

 

Resources:

• White Paper: “5G Private Networks for Maritime Use Opportunities for Digital Port Automation,” Beecham Research
• White Paper: “The Importance of Spectrum Liberalization for Private 5G Networks,” ABI Research
• Video: Uni5G and MulteFire Private Networks for Manufacturing

About MFA

MFA is an international organization that is championing the global industry adoption of private networks using MFA-defined MulteFire specifications for LTE and Uni5G Technology Blueprints for 5G. With Uni5G or MulteFire, enterprises can efficiently deploy their own optimized, reliable and secure private network in unlicensed, shared or locally licensed spectrum. For more information, visit www.mfa-tech.org.

 

News Highlights:

• First MFA certified user equipment is the Nokia Industrial MulteFire fieldrouter 700, available globally for deployment with the certified Nokia MulteFire radio access point and Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) application platform. The combined solution will help jumpstart the ecosystem for private LTE-based networks operating in unlicensed spectrum, including the global 5 GHz band.
• The MFA Certification Program provides end users with confidence that MulteFire® Certified devices have passed interoperability testing and conformance with the specifications.
• With the first MulteFire Certified solution and recent announcement of Uni5G™ Technology Blueprints, MFA will significantly contribute to 4G and 5G private network adoption in unlicensed, shared and locally licensed spectrum.

FREMONT, CA – September 9, 2021 – MFA, an international organization championing the global industry adoption of private networks, is gaining industry momentum with the recent certification of the Nokia Industrial MulteFire fieldrouter 700 and announcement of Uni5G Technology Blueprints. The Nokia MulteFire solution, which is available for deployment with Nokia Digital Automation Cloud, will enable MulteFire LTE-based private network adoption worldwide, unlocking access to unlicensed spectrum. With deployment available globally, it can be used by small and medium enterprises without access to licensed spectrum and it can bring additional capacity as a complementary layer to wireless networks and enable new nomadic use cases to advance Industry 4.0.

In addition to supporting 4.9G/LTE private networks, MFA recently announced its expansion to 5G with Uni5G Technology Blueprints, which help provide guidance to enterprises looking to deploy 5G private networks. MFA is also developing best practices and targeted guides to help industry verticals implement the key 3GPP 5G specification features that are relevant to their specific deployment.

The MFA Certification Program ensures that devices have implemented the MulteFire specifications correctly and are able to interoperate with devices from other manufacturers.

“The Nokia MulteFire solution has passed rigorous interoperability testing at our Authorized Test Lab DEKRA,” said Scott Fischel, MFA Certification Group Chair. “We congratulate Nokia on delivering the world’s first MulteFire Certified end-to-end solution that will provide end-users with confidence that it can meet the robust connectivity requirements offered by MulteFire 4.9G/LTE private wireless.”

“Private 5G and LTE networks are a rapidly growing market and will account for over $5B in global enterprise expenditure by 2025,” said Pablo Tomasi, Principal Analyst, Private Networks, Omdia. “MFA aims to support and accelerate the private 5G networks market through both this certification program and by tackling the issue of replicability and complexity through the delivery of Uni5G Technology Blueprints developed to simplify deployment for different industry verticals.”

The MFA Certification Program is available to MFA members, and it will help facilitate further expansion of the MulteFire private wireless ecosystem. For companies interested in joining the MFA, visit www.mfa-tech.org/become-a-member.

Resources:

• Interview: Meet MFA Certificate Authority
• Interview: Meet with MFA Authorized Test Lab – DEKRA
• Video: Uni5G and MulteFire Private Networks for Manufacturing
• Press Release: MulteFire Alliance (MFA) Simplifies Path to 5G Private Network Deployment for Enterprise
• White Paper: “5G Private Networks for Maritime Use Opportunities for Digital Port Automation,” Beecham Research
• White Paper: “The Importance of Spectrum Liberalization for Private 5G Networks,” ABI Research

About MFA

MFA is an international organization that is championing the global industry adoption of private networks using MFA-defined MulteFire specifications for LTE and Uni5G Technology Blueprints for 5G. With Uni5G or MulteFire, enterprises can efficiently deploy their own optimized, reliable and secure private network in unlicensed, shared or locally licensed spectrum. For more information, visit www.mfa-tech.org.

News Highlights:

• MFA expands mission to support 5G private networks by creating Uni5G™ Technology Blueprints, based on existing 3GPP 5G specifications, that will enable enterprises to deploy their own 5G private networks in unlicensed, shared and locally licensed spectrum
• The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has awarded MFA with a unique global PLMN ID which it will make available to enterprises that deploy their own Uni5G or MulteFire (4G) private network
• MFA (previously MulteFire Alliance) has recently rebranded to reflect its expanded scope in facilitating 5G private network deployments

FREMONT, CA – June 22, 2021 – MFA (MulteFire® Alliance), an international organization dedicated to enabling industry verticals to deploy private cellular networks globally, today announced its expanded mission to enable 5G private networks in unlicensed, shared and locally licensed spectrum by providing guidance to enterprises seeking to deploy their own network.

Leveraging existing 3GPP 5G specifications, MFA will deliver Uni5G Technology Blueprints to industry verticals. These blueprints will help enterprises select and implement the key features from the 3GPP standards that are relevant to their specific deployment. MFA will also develop best practices and deployment guides, including industry resources on understanding all available spectrum options for 5G private networks. The first Uni5G Technology Blueprint will be available in Q4 2021.

According to a recent industry report by ABI Research, the total addressable market size for 5G and 4G/LTE private network equipment for Industry 4.0 use cases will reach ~$35B by 2030.

“MFA paved the way for industries to contemplate how they can deploy their own private network in unlicensed spectrum using MulteFire 4G/LTE-based cellular technology with high-performance, built-in security and mobility benefits,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MFA. “Now through our expanded role in enabling 5G private networks, MFA will provide industry verticals with practical guidance on deployment that will meet their unique requirements and determine which spectrum option is right for their site.”

MFA provides a unique global PLMN ID for 5G and MulteFire private networks to industry verticals

MFA has been awarded a global Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) ID by the ITU. MFA is planning to make this PLMN ID available to industry verticals. The PLMN ID is a series of numbers that identifies a specific network and ensures that only authorized devices connect to that network.

With access to a unique global PLMN ID number, industry verticals are able to deploy their own 5G private network in locally licensed spectrum or a MulteFire private network in unlicensed spectrum today.

MFA members and others under MFA authorization are able to bundle the PLMN ID with their network equipment, thus simplifying the deployment process for enterprises by eliminating the need for them to separately apply for a PLMN ID.

“Across all industry verticals, we’re witnessing a drive to increase control, reliability and security through deployment of private networks,” said Chmaytelli. “Enterprises can now leverage locally licensed spectrum using Uni5G technology, and later can use global unlicensed or shared spectrum when 5G NR-U solutions become available. Through our Uni5G Technology Blueprints and our unique global PLMN ID, MFA has simplified the path to 5G private networks and is helping to accelerate the ecosystem.”

To join the MFA, learn more about Uni5G or how to access PLMN ID numbers, or receive notifications on the Uni5G Technology Blueprint, visit www.mfa-tech.org.

Resources: 

• White Paper: “5G Private Networks for Maritime Use: Opportunities for Digital Port Automation,” Beecham Research
• White Paper: “The Importance of Spectrum Liberalization for Private 5G Networks,” ABI Research
• Video: Uni5G and MulteFire Private Networks for Manufacturing

About the MFA

MFA (MulteFire Alliance) is an international organization that is championing the global industry adoption of private cellular networks using MFA-defined MulteFire specifications for LTE and Uni5G technology blueprints for 5G. With Uni5G or MulteFire, enterprises can efficiently deploy their own optimized, reliable and secure private network in unlicensed, shared or locally licensed spectrum. For more information, visit www.mfa-tech.org.

Program certifies Nokia small cell and customer premise equipment (CPE) as first MulteFire 1.0 compliant devices

 FREMONT, CA – November 19, 2020 – The MulteFire Alliance (MFA) today announced the launch of its MulteFire 1.0 Certification Program. In addition, the first customer premise equipment (CPE) device has been certified compliant.

With MulteFire technology, organizations can now cost-effectively deploy their own private LTE network and realize the benefits of better capacity, coverage, mobility and built-in security needed for industry 4.0 use cases.

The MulteFire 1.0 specification defines LTE operation in unlicensed and shared spectrum bands, including the global 5 GHz band. The certification program tests eNodeBs together with UEs for conformance with the MulteFire 1.0 specification to ensure an interoperable, global device ecosystem for use in unlicensed or shared radio spectrum. By removing the need for licensed spectrum, MulteFire will help to lower entry cost and accelerate high-speed, secure private wireless networking deployment.

MulteFire technology opens up an entirely new range of private wireless use cases that add to existing deployment scenarios in asset-intensive industries. New opportunities include rapid deployment situations such as field hospitals and emergency response, as well as temporary systems for pop-up events, touring, cultural and sports programs. In addition, MulteFire can also be used to complement existing private wireless deployment in licensed spectrum, for example to add capacity by tapping into the large bandwidth available in the unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum band.

“The MulteFire 1.0 Certification Program is a significant milestone for the Alliance and represents the diligent efforts of our Certification Working Group to bring this program to the industry,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MFA. “We are also excited to share that we have already certified the first MulteFire radio and device solutions from Nokia as compliant.”

“By enabling private wireless connectivity in unlicensed and shared spectrum, we enable even more enterprises to deploy their own private LTE and 5G networks,” said Stephan Litjens, General Manager, Nokia Digital Automation and MFA board chair. “As a founding member of MFA, we’re firmly at the forefront of this initiative – firstly with certification of our own MulteFire CPE offering – and also to accelerate a device ecosystem for the benefit of enterprise digital transformation.”

Through overlapping membership with 3GPP, the MFA is also supporting efforts for 5G NR standalone operation in unlicensed spectrum. A recent ABI Research white paper quantifies the total addressable market size for private network equipment (for industrial manufacturing, ports, logistics, mining, and energy) in LTE and 5G at $32.37B by 2030. ABI also states that by 2030 more than half of industry verticals’ private networks using LTE or 5G will be deployed in unlicensed, shared or dedicated licensed spectrum.

DEKRA Named Authorized Test Lab for MulteFire 1.0

DEKRA, an MFA member and leader in product certification, conducted the certification testing for MulteFire 1.0 and DEKRA Malaga has been named an Authorized Test Lab for the MulteFire 1.0 Certification Program. DEKRA was already named the first Authorized Test Lab for the MulteFire 1.9 GHz sXGP Certification Program launched in Japan at the end of 2019.

“DEKRA is very pleased to continue its partnership with the MFA with the addition of MulteFire 1.0 testing to our services offering, and we are happy to contribute to the success of the MulteFire ecosystem,” said Andrés Moreno, Managing Director, DEKRA Testing and Certification Spain.

The MFA Certification Program is available to all MFA members. Upon device certification, companies will receive the ‘MulteFire Certified’ logo and certification mark for product promotion and marketing purposes. The MFA welcomes membership from all companies that have an interest in private wireless networks. To join the MFA and for more details on membership levels, visit www.multefire.org/join.

For more information on the MFA Certification Program, visit www.multefire.org/certification-program/.

Resources:

• ABI Research White Paper: The Importance of Spectrum Liberalization for Private 5G Networks
• Blog: MulteFire 1.0 Regulatory Analysis White Paper Now Available to MFA Members
• Webpage: Certification FAQ
• DEKRA Press Release: DEKRA recognized as the first Authorized Test Laboratory for the MulteFire 1.0 Certification Program

 About the MFA

The MFA is an international association dedicated to building a global ecosystem in support of the common interests of members, developers and users in the application of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and next-generation mobile cellular technology, such as 5G New Radio, in configurations that use unlicensed or shared radio spectrum. For more information about MulteFire technology, its benefits, or how to become a member of the MFA, visit www.MulteFire.org.

 

FREMONT, CA – October 22, 2019 – The MulteFire Alliance today announced the launch of its MulteFire 1.9 GHz Certification Program. The certification program will ensure that MulteFire devices are interoperable and conform to the MulteFire 1.1 specification. The MulteFire 1.9 GHz Certification Program will test eNodeB devices in the 1.9 GHz band in Japan, verifying that devices in this channel can effectively interoperate and communicate via LTE. The program is open to MulteFire Alliance members and their devices that pass certification may use the “MulteFire Certified” logo and certification mark to promote and give end users confidence their product has passed rigorous interoperability testing.

“The launch of the MulteFire Alliance 1.9 GHz Certification Program in Japan marks a critical step forward in the development of new wireless networks with LTE technology operating standalone in unlicensed and shared spectrum bands,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MulteFire Alliance. “We’re excited to officially begin certification of MulteFire devices in Japan and have plans to expand the program to enable certification of MulteFire devices to additional geographic regions around the world.”

1.9 GHz Certification Supports Business-Critical Applications in Japan
MulteFire in 1.9 GHz supports industrial IoT, utilities, transportation and more. The MulteFire Release 1.1 specification which added support for the 1.9 GHz band, also known as sXGP in Japan, takes advantage of the massive device ecosystem in 3GPP Band 39.

“The XGP Forum has long-supported the development of 1.9 GHz in Japan and we see this as the next evolutionary step in the continuing of the legacy LTE ecosystem,” said Yoshiya Iribe, secretary general, XGP Forum. “Vendors in Japan now have the ability to reduce system costs and achieve quick time-to-market.  Only small modifications at the eNodeB side are needed to obtain co-existence with existing DECT and PHS systems in the same band. The 1.9 GHz Certification Program will give end users confidence that their devices will work.”

DEKRA Named 1.9 GHz Authorized Test Lab (ATL)
DEKRA, a MulteFire Alliance member and world-leading expert organization providing product certification and technical reports, will serve as the first authorized test lab for the MulteFire Alliance 1.9 GHz Certification Program. DEKRA offers regulatory, conformance, interoperability, performance, usability, field, and other services for all the key wireless technologies. DEKRA has a large network of testing and certification laboratories with presence in Japan and other key regions. The MulteFire Alliance Authorized Test Lab is located in Yokohama, Japan.

“Being the first Authorized Test Lab (ATL) of MulteFire Alliance enhances our position as a leading provider of test services for private LTE,” commented Fernando E. Hardasmal, Executive Vice President and Head of Service Division Product Testing at DEKRA. “Since 2017, DEKRA has supported the MulteFire Alliance’s efforts in delivering MulteFire technology in unlicensed spectrum bands for private LTE networks.”

For more information on DEKRA, contact info.japan@dekra.com or visit www.dekra-product-safety.com.

Resources:

• Certification FAQ
• MulteFire in 1.9 GHz White Paper
• MulteFire Release 1.1 Technical Overview White Paper
• Release 1.1 Specification

About the MulteFire Alliance

The MulteFire Alliance is an international association dedicated to building a global ecosystem in support of the common interests of members, developers and users in the application of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and next-generation mobile cellular technology, such as 5G New Radio, in configurations that use unlicensed or shared radio spectrum. For more information about MulteFire, its benefits, or how to become a member of the MulteFire Alliance, visit www.MulteFire.org.

MulteFire Works will showcase live technology demonstrations of MulteFire in 1.9 GHz

TOKYO – January 30, 2019 – The MulteFire Alliance, an independent, diverse and international member-driven consortium that is defining and promoting MulteFire® technology – LTE technology operating standalone in unlicensed bands – today announced that MulteFire technology is ready for commercial deployment in Japan. The Alliance will host a celebration event – MulteFire Works – on February 13 from 4:00-7:00pm in the Silver12 Ballroom at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. During the event, MulteFire Alliance member companies will demonstrate MulteFire use cases for Enterprise. The event is open to anyone with an interest in MulteFire technology; register here.

“MulteFire technology operating standalone in the 1.9 GHz band brings new capabilities to our enterprise subscribers, and it will help enable us to connect billions of new IoT devices,” said Yoshioki Chika, MulteFire Alliance Board Member and Senior Director of SoftBank’s Solution Strategy Office. “We hope that the industry will join us for this evening reception to see the live demos and celebrate this milestone moment for MulteFire.”

The recently completed MulteFire Release 1.1 specification added support for the 1.9 GHz band, also known as sXGP in Japan, takes advantage of the devices ecosystem in 3GPP Band 39.  MulteFire is now ready for commercial deployment in Japan with support from the XGP Forum and an ecosystem of TD-LTE devices in places today. The standardization of sXGP was completed in January 2018 as the first unlicensed LTE in Band 39.

“The commercialization of MulteFire in Japan is here,” said Yoshiya Iribe, Secretary General, XGP Forum. “There are more than 1 billion mobile terminals that are already supported by the 1.9 GHz band of MulteFire Release 1.1 and several companies have launched eNodeBs that will enable MulteFire deployments. We applaud the MulteFire Alliance’s efforts to deliver a new wireless technology that supports business-critical applications for industrial IoT, utilities, transportation, and more, and we are excited to share the technology benefits at MulteFire Works.” 

MulteFire Works Technology Demonstrations

The MulteFire Works event will feature live demonstrations in 1.9 GHz, as well as technology demonstrations for the global unlicensed 5 GHz band. Participating companies include Athonet, Baicells, DEKRA Japan, Nokia, Qucell, Quortus and Sanjole.

Register for MulteFire Works here.

Resources:

• Video: MulteFire Release 1.1 Commercialized in Japan
• White Paper: MulteFire Release 1.1 Technical Overview

About the MulteFire Alliance The MulteFire Alliance is an international association dedicated to building a global ecosystem in support of the common interests of members, developers and users in the application of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and next-generation mobile cellular technology, such as 5G New Radio, in configurations that use unlicensed or shared radio spectrum. For more information about MulteFire, its benefits, or how to become a member of the MulteFire Alliance, visit www.multefire.org.

Release 1.1 specification adds support for new features and spectrum bands, including the 1.9 GHz unlicensed band

FREMONT, CA – December 4, 2018 – The MulteFire Alliance, an independent, diverse and international member-driven consortium that is defining and promoting MulteFire® technology – LTE technology operating in unlicensed bands – today announced the completion of its Release 1.1 specification that is optimized for IoT. Adding support for eMTC-U and NB-IoT-U, as well as support for additional spectrum bands, the Release 1.1 specification delivers more robust wireless network capabilities for Industrial IoT and Enterprises to meet their specific requirements for performance, latency, security and mobility.

“The Release 1.1 Technical Specification is a significant achievement offering an optimized specification for IoT and support for additional spectrum bands,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MulteFire Alliance. “This milestone could not have been reached without the dedication and commitment of the Technical Specification Group members who have worked tirelessly to evolve MulteFire technology to meet the needs of industrial IoT and enterprise.”

“MulteFire 1.0 is a novel technology that was designed to create new wireless networks by operating LTE-based technology standalone in unlicensed or shared spectrum bands,” said Asimakis Kokkos, chair, Technical Specification Group, MulteFire Alliance and head of Industry Environment Strategy, Nokia. “MulteFire 1.1 takes the potential of this technology even further by improving on the performance of MulteFire 1.0 for the global 5 GHz unlicensed band, and by adding new capabilities and support for additional spectrum bands.”

Specification Highlights

The MulteFire Release 1.1 specification includes the following features:

• Added Additional Spectrum Bands Focusing on IoT and Expanded IoT Services with Low Power Wide Area Support
  • Adds eMTC-U support for moderate data rate applications in the global 2.4 GHz unlicensed band
  • Adds NB-IoT-U support for narrowband applications in the regional 800/900 MHz unlicensed bands
  • Adds MulteFire 1.9 GHz support (for the unlicensed part in 3GPP defined Band 39), also known as sXGP in Japan, which is ready for commercial deployment in Japan with support from the XGP Forum and an ecosystem of TD-LTE devices in place that support Band 39 today
• Enhanced MulteFire 1.0 Broadband Services in the Global 5 GHz Unlicensed Band
  • Delivers more robust mobility in up to 50 km/h speeds with the addition of Autonomous UE Mobility (AUM) which performs autonomous handover without explicit network command
  • Allows for faster uplink data transmissions with Grant-less Uplink (GUL), whereby the UE can start transmitting immediately
  • Supports improved downlink coverage with Wideband Coverage Enhancements (WCE)
  • Adds Self-Organizing Networks (SON) capabilities

A new white paper, Release 1.1 Technical Overview, provides more details and is available to download at www.MulteFire.org/white-papers.

The Release 1.1 specification will be published to MulteFire Alliance members in January 2019 and will be made available for download by anyone with an interest in MulteFire technology by mid-year. For information on joining the MulteFire Alliance, visit www.MulteFire.org/join.

About the MulteFire Alliance

The MulteFire Alliance is an international association dedicated to building a global ecosystem in support of the common interests of members, developers and users in the application of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and next-generation mobile cellular technology, such as 5G New Radio, in configurations that use unlicensed or shared radio spectrum. For more information about MulteFire, its benefits, or how to become a member of the MulteFire Alliance, visit www.multefire.org.