Local 5G to Accelerate DX— NEC UNIVERGE RV1000 Series enables system construction at affordable
price range —Koichiro Fujimoto
Executive Professional, Technology Evangelist
Digital Network Business Division, NEC Corporation

1. Introduction
With the spread of digital transformation (DX), Local
5G, which enables private use of 5G next-generation wirelesstechnology, has gained wide attention. Radio waves have thus
far been allocated for use only by telecommunication carriers
with the appropriate technological capabilities. The Japanese
government, however, has decided that it is necessary to attract
private investments and create social value in order to makeeffective use of radio resources, and has thus engaged new industry
players.
However, due to the complexity of the technology, thesystem cost has remained high, preventing the widespread useof radio resources. To solve this problem, NEC delved into thefundamental question about what makes a Local 5G system easy
for companies and municipalities to use. From this research, it
developed a new Local 5G system called the NEC UNIVERGE
RV1000 series, which enables system construction at an affordable
price range. Here, I will discuss the current state of Local 5G,
which is vital in accelerating DX, the features of the new productseries, and its potential to promote the uptake of Local 5G.

2. The birth of Local 5G aimed at
democratizing radio use
Following the computerization of information, theuse of digital data has accelerated since the late 1990s alongwith the spread of the Internet, and the use of digital data has
become commonplace both in corporate activities and in ourdaily lives. However, apart from the hotspot usage of Wi-Fi
and similar technologies, the unrestricted use of data using
wireless technology is mainly through public network systems
provided by telecommunications carriers via smartphones andother mobile devices. For example, companies and municipalities
have been unable to build their own wireless networks to meettheir specific needs. The capital investment for mobile phone
networks of telecommunication carriers, which had developed as
an advanced tool originally intended for mobile communication
between people, has been planned based on population density.
Therefore, even today, base stations have not been sufficiently
installed in uninhabited areas including mountainous and coastal
regions. Likewise, radio signals cannot penetrate and be used inlarge and closed spaces such as factories of private companies,
making it practically difficult to use them for business purposesin such locations. Also, even if equipment can be installed, as

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long as the network is public, it is provided under technicalspecifications in accordance with its service stipulations. Thus, it
is difficult to provide network functions tailored to use as a private
network, for example, in accordance with the needed applications
for communication, transmission speed, and type and number ofterminals.
In particular, in terms of network characteristics tailoredto communication needs, it is imperative to go beyond thetechnical specifications of 4G/LTE, which has developed as amobile phone network. We therefore compiled the ITU Vision
Recommendations as technical guidelines that ITU-R should
aim for in pursuing the standardization of 5G, in accordance withthe generational shift that is said to occur once every 10 years(Figure 1). In particular, the three characteristics of 5G; namely,“ultra-high speed,” “ultra-low latency,” and “massive connectivity,”
have been defined as three different scenarios, and the story drawn
is to achieve the three in parallel. 5G specifications have beenformulated through 3GPP in accordance with this story. However,a common misconception is that these three scenarios are achievedat the same time. In reality, instead of providing all the featureswith one wireless resource, the idea is to create a scenario andallocate wireless resources for each desired service. In other words,
the technical scenario for implementing 5G should coincide withthe technical specifications in the three directions.
Along with progress in the 3GPP specifications, Japan started
5G field trials in 2017 through the Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications (MIC) 5G Comprehensive Demonstration
Tests. Initially, demonstrations were carried out mainly bytelecommunications carriers and related manufacturers withthe technical know-how in mobile communications. Later on,
the tests developed into problem-solving type demonstrations
aimed at social implementation and were carried out under theleadership of players from various industries and municipalities.
As a result of the MIC demonstrations and the progress indiscussions of 5G use cases by experts from industry, government,and academia, expectations have grown significantly for its
use outside of residential areas, including in construction sites,farms, forests, and private factory buildings. Fortunately, asaforementioned, 5G can be applied in multiple technical scenarios,
paving the way for discussions of the allocation of wirelessresources other than the public networks used for smartphones
for general consumers. MIC defined the term “Local 5G” topromote the democratization of radio use. And, in December■ Figure 1: ITU Vision Recommendations: Objectives and Framework for 5G Development

2018, the Local 5G Study Group of the New-generation Mobile
Communications System Subcommittee under the Information
and Communications Council started discussions on its
standardization. In December 2019, millimeter-wave (28 GHzband) Local 5G was institutionalized, and a new wireless field
called “Local 5G” was officially established. Further, in December
2020, Local 5G (4.6 GHz to 4.9 GHz) in the Sub-6 band, a userfriendly, low frequency band, was institutionalized and launched
into full-scale use, leading to its applications in a wider range ofuse cases.

3. The challenge of utilizing technology
designed for telecommunication carriers
for the general public
As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, Local 5G wasinstitutionalized in Japan as 5G that can be used not only bytelecommunications carriers but also by companies andmunicipalities to meet various needs. For example, Local 5G
radio waves can be used in factories within buildings as a private,wireless on-premises network. In addition, unlike for Wi-Fi andother wireless signals that do not require a license as an exception
for weak radio waves, by allocating 5G radio waves as a licensing
station, Local 5G enables emitting stable radio waves that cover alarge area of the premises.
However, using wireless technologies in Japan requires
operating them in accordance with the rules established by MIC.
Even for Local 5G, a license is needed after technical verification
based on the purpose of use. Also, emission of radio waves for

operations must be performed by licensed radio engineers, andeach user entity must assign nationally certified radio engineers
within the organization to obtain a Local 5G license.
Moreover, 5G systems are equipped with mechanisms
for terminal authentication as intended originally for mobilecommunications, as well as mechanisms to enable mobility overa wide area. Therefore, the systems are relatively large, thereby
requiring significant capital investments.
NEC has developed a Local 5G system that uses thetechnologies it has developed for base stations designed
for telecommunications carriers, an area for which it has anaccumulation of technical strengths and know-how. Leveraging
this technology as an innovator, NEC has been promoting valuecreation through Local 5G via co-creation with companies
carrying out advanced initiatives in major construction
and manufacturing industries. Even in the early stages, thesecompanies were able to make relatively large investments to secure
human resources, improve efficiency, and solve pressing safety
and environmental issues. These initiatives have been going on
for more than five years, and significant progress has been madetoward practical use of the system.

4. Changes in use cases and breakthroughs inLocal 5G adoption
In FY2020, MIC conducted Development Demonstrations
for Realizing Local 5G Services to Solve Local Issues. In thefollowing year, dropping the “local” in “local issues,” it continued
the initiative as Development Demonstrations for Realizing

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5Local 5G Services to Solve Issues to promote the utilization ofLocal 5G as a social implementation aimed at solving “issues” invarious companies and municipalities. Local 5G is anticipated tobe used in many areas of society, including in primary industries,
medical care, disaster prevention, sports, and local communities.
However, as mentioned in the preceding section, Local 5G
systems are still admittedly expensive and technically difficult
to deploy. Meanwhile, along with a growing understanding of
its features and benefits in comparison with Wi-Fi and otherwireless technologies, corporate use cases for relatively general IT
applications, such as use in offices and business activities, must
be expanded also for general businesses. We have received much
feedback that there is a need for a system that is easy to deploy andwidely affordable in order to expand use cases and make Local 5G
a viable option for those companies. It has become clear that there
is a need for transformation, including the characteristics of theequipment used and the cost aspects, to make a breakthrough inachieving changes in use cases and for the uptake of Local 5G in awide range of new applications.

5. Development of base stations to make thebenefits of Local 5G more accessible
In response to these changes in usage scenes and market
needs, from around the second half of FY2019, NEC has
concluded that it is crucial to plan and develop a widely affordable
Local 5G system that meets market needs, starting with theconcept creation, in order to enable many users to enjoy thebenefits of Local 5G in anticipation of its uptake. To fully leverage
the strengths of wireless technology, NEC carried out studies bytapping members who have technical expertise in the developmentof equipment designed for telecommunications carriers, as well as
engineers who have experience and knowledge on networks of user
companies and municipalities.
Discussions were held on a wide range of topics, including theidentification of the functions necessary to construct closed private
networks from the vast functions of 5G standard technologies
and the proposal of the optimal system size and architecture.
In addition, communication performance, quality, size, ease ofinstallation, cost, environmental performance, maintenance andoperation, and the selection of detailed components were also
tackled. These comprehensive studies resulted in the developmentof the NEC UNIVERGE RV1000 series (Figure 2), whichenables the construction of a Local 5G system at an affordable
price range. Both RV1200 for the Sub6 band and RV1300 for themillimeter-wave band were commercialized and announced inJanuary 2022 and were widely welcomed by various quarters.
The RV1000 series includes all-in-one compact base stations
that house the Local 5G base station radio unit (RU) and control
units (CU/DU) in a single enclosure. In addition to reducing unit
cost, it reduces the overall system implementation cost, as wellas the period and labor needed for construction and installation.
Its compact size and light weight also improve f lexibility of■ Figure 2: Widely Affordable Local 5G System: NEC UNIVERGE RV1000 Series6New Breeze Winter 2024

installation in various locations and significantly reduce power
consumption. In particular, RV1200, which supports the Sub6band, is compatible with all standardized frequencies (4.6GHz to 4.9 GHz). While equipped with all functions as a basestation, it is housed in a small case weighing only 3 kg anddownsized to A4 paper-size. Its IP66-compliant high dustproof
and waterproof performance enables installation both indoors
and outdoors. In addition, it can cater to users who want to startsmall. After verifying the possibility of Local 5G use with a single
base station, users can then scale out seamlessly to a large-scale
system with more than 100 units simply by adding base stations.
These features make it possible to take advantage of the highquality communication properties of Local 5G in a wide range ofenvironments while enabling installation with similar ease as WiFi access points. Thus, the RV1000 series models have enabled us
to meet the recent market needs while proactively developing andproposing practical use cases that take advantage of the benefits ofLocal 5G going forward.

6. Expectations for the spread of Local 5G
Modern society is facing various social issues such as thedeclining birthrate and aging population, environmental issues,and the COVID-19 pandemic that started three years ago in
2020. In particular, COVID-19 has brought about the needfor remote communication and contactless business activities,
which highlighted the delay in the use of digital technology inJapan. Therefore, accelerating DX is imperative, and there ishigh anticipation for the spread of Local 5G as the infrastructure
for DX. Japan has established a Digital Agency. Further, underthe “Digital Garden City” Initiative launched in 2021, theJapanese government has listed “early deployment of 5G” as animportant goal for digital infrastructure development. As a digital
infrastructure to realize a sustainable society and solve local issues,
the implementation of Local 5G is a top priority as one of themost important issues the government is aiming to address.
At NEC, we believe that it is of considerable significanceto be able to respond to these social issues. We will thus aim to
implement a variety of use cases by providing a Local 5G system
under a new concept at the right timing in response to the need forestablishing the relevant social infrastructure in the future. As asocial value innovator, our goal is to contribute to the utilization ofDX in all sectors to create a prosperous society by continuing ouractivities in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Cover Art
Yuigahama, from Famous
Views of Tokaido Road

Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
Source: National Diet Library,NDL Image Bank(https://rnavi.ndl.go.jp/imagebank/)

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