NSN and China Mobile Research Institute expanded their partnership, to “further their cooperation on research and standardisation of advanced mobile broadband technologies in LTE as well as in 5G”.

The vendor established its partnership with China Mobile’s R&D arm in 2010, and the new agreement is said to “outline key focus areas for future mobile networks”.

Among the areas on the agenda are joint research, standardisation, and prototype development activities in “advanced technologies such as 5G, LTE deployment optimisation, cloud-based radio access network (C-RAN), the innovative “Nanocell” concept for next-generation small cell deployments, coexistence of 2G/4G and core virtualisation”.

Bill Huang, general manager of CMRI, said: “Significant reduction of the unit cost of bandwidth is the key to success of future mobile networks.”

Through their existing partnership, the companies have worked on “TD technologies and standards”, including TD-LTE global market development.