5G wireless networks will pave the way for the future. Everything from smart cities to self-driving cars and even virtual reality education. In partnership with the City of Ottawa, the CRC has built an outdoor 5G test site at City Hall to show that 5G mobile devices can communicate using millimetre waves and how to increase 5G coverage without adding transmitters. Watch our short video to learn about this world-leading research and outdoor demonstration.
Transcript: CRC and City of Ottawa 5G Test Site
[Visual]
Ottawa. Our capital and home of the CRC: the Communications Research Centre, Canada's advanced wireless research facility.
[Aerial view of downtown Ottawa, and the Ottawa Canal]
[CRC sign and building]
[Researcher walking in front of CRC building holding a laptop]
[Researcher looking at computer screen]
[Researchers working on equipment in the lab]
Mobile devices and technology are essential for the everyday lives of Canadians, businesses and the digital economy.
[Close up of someone typing on mobile phone]
[Person waiting at a bus stop looking at mobile phone]
[A crowd of people crossing a street]
[Cars on a busy street]
5G wireless networks will pave the way for the future. Everything from smart cities to self-driving cars and even virtual reality education.
[Aerial view of Ottawa overlaid with 5G visual: 5G graphic connected to different wireless devices and services]
[Smart City visual: view of a city overlaid with connecting mesh of devices]
[Self-driving car visual: a person sitting in the driver's seat of a self-driving car, reading a book]
[Virtual reality visual: a person wearing virtual reality headset in a classroom]
These applications will need wireless networks capable of handling billions of devices and incredibly high speeds. This can be done by using hi-frequency millimetre waves. But these waves have difficulty moving through obstacles like buildings and trees.
[4G/5G visual: animated devices appear in rectangle labeled 4G. Larger rectangle to the right labeled 5G is empty. 4G space becomes crowded with many devices. Long 4G-5G rectangle forms to hold all the devices.]
[Sine wave graphic representing millimetre waves with buildings in background, showing that the waves cannot penetrate the buildings]
[Graphics highlight buildings and trees in the Ottawa City Hall courtyard]
That's where CRC innovation takes over.
In partnership with the City of Ottawa, we've built an outdoor 5G test site at City Hall to show that 5G mobile devices can communicate using millimetre waves.
[CRC researchers setting up backpack and checking the millimetre wave transmitter]
[Researchers consult their computers, installed outside]
Here, we are able to test the technology in a real-world environment.
[Researcher holding a tablet starts walking in the courtyard with backpack]
[Associated 5G device graphic appears]
We've created engineered surfaces, made using low-cost printed electronics.
[A large engineered surface mounted on a metal frame is raised to the vertical position.]
[Researcher continues walking with backpack and laptop]
By redirecting the wireless signals off these surfaces, we are able to increase 5G coverage without adding transmitters.
[Animation of the courtyard showing how the engineered surfaces redirect signals from the transmitter, to extend wireless coverage everywhere in the courtyard]
[Researcher walking with backpack and animation demonstrates how the wireless coverage is improved]
This world-leading research will help Canadians benefit from 5G applications.
[Researcher has poor reception, and then good reception thanks to the engineered surfaces]
[Signal strength is shown by an animated speedometer]
We believe strongly that collaboration is central to our innovation economy, that's why we're inviting companies and researchers from across Canada to join us at the City of Ottawa test site.
[Numerous people participating in a meeting at the CRC's Big Data Analytics Centre, with graphics from Ottawa City Hall on the big screen]
[Time lapse view of City Hall with cars moving on the street in front]
[Animated view of City Hall courtyard with full coverage for 5G device as it moves]
[Researcher walking down the courtyard]
Together, we can help forge the solutions that will set Canada apart as a world leader in innovation.
[CRC researcher as he walks away]
Communications Research Centre – finding what is possible and what works
[Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Communications Research Centre joint signature]
[Canada wordmark]