5G NR Dynamic Spectrum

Sharing
NES Architect, Keysight
Binu Mathew
Agenda
5G NR DYNAMIC SPECTRUM SHARING

Drivers for
Spectrum DSS DSS
Sharing & Techniques Signaling
Introduction to
DSS

DSS Summary
Challenges

2
Drivers for Spectrum Sharing &
Introduction to DSS

3
Deployment of 5G in Sub-6 GHz Spectrum Bands
DRIVERS FOR SPECTRUM SHARING

MHz LTE + 3G Early 5G Future

• 5G NR supports both Sub-6 GHz (FR1) and
mmWave (FR2). However, for macro cellular 3500 5G 5G
coverage, sub-6 GHz bands are preferred.
2600 LTE LTE
• Spectrum is scarce in the sub-6 GHz frequency
bands, particularly, in low & mid bands. 2100 3G+LTE LTE
• In order to roll-out 5G for macro coverage in LTE/5G
1800 LTE LTE
sub-6 GHz, conventional options for Mobile
Network Operators (MNOs) are to either: 900 2G+3G 2G+3G
• Re-farm existing 3G/LTE bands to 5G, or
• Buy/License new 5G spectrum 800 LTE LTE LTE
• Solution: 3GPP have explicitly included 700 LTE/5G LTE/5G
harmonious co-existence of LTE with 5G NR in
the NR specifications such that Sub-6 GHz 600 LTE/5G LTE/5G
spectrum can be shared between LTE and 5G.
4
What is DSS ?
INTRODUCTION TO DSS

Dynamic Spectrum Sharing

“Dynamic” is the key Real
Network
Traffic

Dynamic sharing
• Split between LTE and NR radio LTE-NR split is dynamically changed to match traffic requirements
resources can be changed at any time
• Advantages: Can adapt to traffic
NR
demands
LTE
• Disadvantages: More complex frequency

Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (LTE-NR)

time
5
DSS: Benefits for Operator Ecosystems
INTRODUCTION TO DSS

NR (15 kHz)

• DSS allows for coexistence between LTE (15 kHz) NR (30 kHz)
NR (15 kHz)

and NR (15 or 30 kHz) in the same spectrum

frequency
LTE (15 kHz) time

• From Network perspective, LTE and NR share the

same time/frequency resources such that LTE (15 kHz)
+
LTE/NR/LTE+NR UE all can co-exist for Tx/Rx NR (30 kHz)

• MNOs can avoid statically splitting the spectrum

between LTE and NR, or deploying expensive LTE (15 kHz) LTE (15 kHz)

frequency

frequency
methods such as Spectrum Re-farming of existing time time

LTE bands, or buying new 5G spectrum

• Faster, cost-effective 5G NR rollout, with easier NR (30 kHz) NR (30 kHz)

frequency

frequency

frequency
LTE to NR transition such that NR coverage can time time time

be provided on existing LTE bands without

LTE (15 kHz) LTE (15 kHz)
affecting LTE devices in the field +
NR (15 kHz)
+
NR (15 kHz)

frequency
frequency
time time
6
DSS Techniques

7
 NR Rate Matching Patterns LTE Transmission

DL DSS: NR PDSCH Rate Matched for LTE

DSS TECHNIQUES
LTE PDCCH/PCFICH/PHICH

• LTE UEs rely on following Signals and Channels; NR

LTE CRS
1 rate matching pattern
NR PDSCH DMRS (RE granularity)

NR PDSCH Data

should not interfere with these LTE transmissions:

• Control region (i.e. PDCCH, PCFICH and PHICH) NR PDSCH Transmission NR with Rate Matching LTE+NR Transmission

• LTE-CRS (i.e. Cell Reference Signals)

Type-A (0 DMRS addPos)

• PSS/SSS/PBCH (i.e. Broadcast and Synchronization)
• Schedule NR PDSCH to start after control region

frequency

frequency
• Can be done with NR PDSCH mapping type A and B time time

• Configure NR PDSCH to not transmit on resource

Type-A (1 DMRS addPos)

elements reserved for LTE CRS
• Using LTE CRS Rate Match Pattern (RE granularity)

frequency

frequency
• Only for data since NR DMRS not rate-matched for LTE-CRS time time

• Configure NR PDSCH to not transmit on resource

Type-A (3 DMRS addPos)

elements reserved for LTE PSS/SSS/PBCH
• Using Rate Match Patterns with RB granularity

frequency

frequency
time time

8
 LTE Transmission
MBSFN subframe

DL DSS: NR Tx in LTE MBSFN Subframes

24 subcarriers
DSS TECHNIQUES MBSFN region
(empty)

• LTE MBSFN subframe is an important enabler for DSS LTE PDCCH/PCFICH/PHICH

LTE CRS

• MBSFN subframes are supported by legacy LTE UEs NR PDSCH DMRS non-MBSFN
region

• LTE transmissions using TM9 and TM10 can still occur in NR PDSCH Data

MBSFN subframes
NR PDSCH Transmission LTE+NR Transmission
• MBSFN subframes allow for dynamic sharing of the spectrum 1 slot (500 μs) 1 slot (500 μs)

in the MBSFN region

• Network can decide on subframe-by-subframe basis to assign

Type-B (0 DMRS addPos)

MBSFN region to either NR or LTE

• LTE MBSFN subframes are divided in two regions:

• Non-MBSFN region

frequency
• Transmission of LTE-CRS and Control Channels time

• MBSFN region
• No LTE-CRS or Control Channels in this region

Type-B (1 DMRS addPos)

• LTE MBSFN leaves part of the LTE subframe empty
• NR transmissions of any numerology in this region
• No rate-matching pattern needed since no collision with LTE

frequency
time 9
DL DSS: NR PDSCH
DSS TECHNIQUES
LTE PDCCH/PCFICH/PHICH LTE PDCCH/PCFICH/PHICH

LTE CRS LTE CRS

• LTE PDSCH and NR PDSCH can coexist by LTE PDSCH LTE PDSCH

NR PDSCH Data NR PDSCH Data

using different set of PRBs NR PDCCH CORESET NR PDCCH CORESET

• NR at 15 kHz
• Multiplexing can be done using appropriate rate-

LTE + NR (15 kHz)

LTE + NR (15 kHz)
matching patterns
• NR at 30 kHz
• Multiplexing can be done with rate-matching in
LTE-CRS symbols
• Guard-band needed between NR and LTE to avoid
interference between different numerologies

LTE + NR (30 kHz)

LTE + NR (30 kHz)
• Coexistence in MBSFN subframes is cleaner
• No rate-matching patterns needed in NR guard-band
guard-band

• NR at 30 kHz still needs a guard-band to reduce

interference between different numerologies non-MBSFN
MBSFN region
region
10
DL DSS: NR SSB
DSS TECHNIQUES

• NR SSBs at 15 kHz
LTE PDCCH + LTE CRS

LTE CRS

• Normal LTE subframes 1 ms

• All SSB candidates overlap with LTE CRS

15 kHz
• Not possible to transmit NR SSBs at 15 kHz
in normal LTE subframes 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Normal LTE Subframe

• MBSFN subframes
• Some of the SSB candidates do not overlap Non-MBSFN Region MBSFN Region

with LTE-CRS

15 kHz
• Can transmit some of the NR SSB 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

candidates at 15 kHz on MBSFN subframes MBSFN LTE Subframe

• NR SSBs at 30 kHz
1 ms
• Collision with LTE-CRS can be avoided 0.5 m s

for certain SSB candidates 30 kHz

• SSBs which collide with LTE CRS are 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

disabled by network

11
UL DSS – Reserved Resources, Half Subcarrier Shift
DSS TECHNIQUES
LTE PUCCH Region

• UL DSS must be backward compatible such that LTE PUSCH

LTE SRS
legacy LTE devices are unaffected
• Basic principle is to avoid overlap of NR UL
PRACH/SRS/PUCCH/PUSCH with LTE UL

LTE
PRACH/SRS/PUCCH/PUSCH time and frequency
domain resources
• Uplink LTE and NR at 15 kHz are only orthogonal if
subcarriers are aligned in frequency, so, in addition 1 subframe (14 symbols)

to mutually exclusive PRBs, NR has provision to

configure enable/disable of 7.5 kHz frequency shift
in NR Uplink
• 15 kHz NR UL (typically) does not have frequency shift
unless coexisting in DSS with LTE UL
• 30 kHz NR UL is not orthogonal with LTE. and so,
additional guard PRBs are needed to avoid interference
12
Rel-16 “Enhanced DSS”
DSS TECHNIQUES

• NR PDSCH Type B extended to 9 and 10 symbol length for DSS (from maximum of 7)
• Positions of the DMRS are defined not to collide with symbols containing LTE-CRS
• Extend configuration of LTE-CRS rate matching patterns
• Support multiple LTE carriers within an NR carrier

3GPP Rel-15: Mapping B with Maximum of 7 symbols 3GPP Rel-16: Mapping B with 9 and 10 symbols

13
DSS Signalling

14
LTE MBSFN Broadcast Subframes Signalled in LTE SIB2
DSS SIGNALLING

MBSFN
Subframe
Allocation
Bitmap

PSS/SSS/ Paging PSS/SSS/ Paging

PBCH Occasion PBCH Occasion
& &
Paging Paging
Occasion Occasion

15
Rate Matching for LTE CRS Signalled in NR
DSS SIGNALLING

carrierBandwidthDL
Bandwidth of the LTE carrier in number of PRBs
carrierFreqDL
Center of the LTE carrier in units of 15 kHz subcarriers (REs)
mbsfn-SubframeConfigList
LTE MBSFN subframe configuration (Configuration from LTE SIB2) - Note this is optional
nrofCRS-Ports
Number of LTE CRS antenna port to rate-match around
v-Shift
v-shift derived from LTE Physical Cell ID to rate match around LTE CRS

16
Rate Matching for LTE Synch and PDSCH Signalled in NR
DSS SIGNALLING

Frequency Domain
RB bitmap in Frequency

Time Domain
Symbol bitmap within slot
Slot bitmap within frame

Example RateMatchPattern:
Resource Blocks:- 47-52 (Centre 6 Resource Blocks)
SymbolsinResourceBlock: 00000111111000 (Symbols 5,6,7,8,9,10 to avoid collision with LTE PSS,SSS,PBCH)
PeriodicityandPattern:- 1000010000 (Subframe 0 and 5 for LTE PSS, SSS, PBCH)
17
UL DSS Configuration Signalled in NR
DSS SIGNALLING

frequencyShift7p5khz
Enable the NR UL transmission with a 7.5 kHz shift to the LTE raster. If the field is absent, the frequency shift is disabled.

18
DSS Challenges

19
Design Challenges for eNodeB/gNodeB and UE
DSS CHALLENGES

• eNodeB/gNodeB:
• Scheduler complexity
• Sharing UL and DL resources with LTE
• Avoiding collisions between NR and LTE control signals
• Managing the differences in LTE and NR controls signals and channels
• Efficient management of spectrum
• Resource allocation algorithm between LTE and NR has to be efficient so that it does not lead to wastage of resources
and thereby, degrade spectral efficiency.
• Handling of different numerologies in DSS transmission and reception deployments must be backwards
compatible with existing LTE devices
• UE:
• Reception of different numerologies
• Sharing RF chains between NR and LTE

20
Scheduling: Ref Signals and Control Channel Resources
DSS CHALLENGES NR:
140 Mbps =>
View from Nemo Analyze 80 Mbps
Resources for always-on & periodic/scheduled
channels/signals have to be efficiently managed by NR device NR PDSCH tput (Mbps)
the scheduler to keep the overhead impact at a
reasonable level on LTE capacity and even more on
NR capacity
• LTE LTE device PDSCH tput (Mbps)
• PSS/SSS/PBCH (periodic: 5ms), CRS (always-on)
• PDCCH (at least 1 symbol), due to 2/4Tx support
• PRACH and corresponding Msg 2/3/4 resources LTE:
• Paging 80 Mbps
• PUCCH (CSI feedback)
• NR NR + LTE PDSCH tput (Mbps)

• SSB (periodic)
• PRACH and corresponding Msg2/3/4 resources NR only NR+LTE
• Paging (SA)
• PUCCH (CSI feedback)
• SRS Total throughput LTE+NR changes from
140Mbps of NR-only to 160Mbps of LTE+NR
21
Baseband/RF Design for LTE & NR Co-existence with DSS
DSS CHALLENGES

Measurement:
NR Modulation
analysis Slots not used by NR are empty
Can be used by LTE

Measurement: NR LTE
LTE Modulation
analysis

NR SSBs NR PDSCH LTE MBSFN

“RateMatchPatternLTE-CRS” +
parameters Rate Matching

22
Protocol Stack (L1/L2/L3) for DSS
DSS CHALLENGES
Flaws in implementation can lead
LTE MBSFN Configuration potential performance degradation

NR Configuration for LTE CRS

Rate Matching

23
Summary

24
Summary
5G NR DYNAMIC SPECTRUM SHARING

• DSS is a powerful feature for network operators

• Allows deploying NR using already available spectrum
• Allows progressive deployment of NR services with limited impact to existing LTE users
• Allows dynamically controlling the amount of radio resources dedicated to LTE or NR
• DSS is backwards compatible with existing LTE devices
• Specific features introduced in NR to avoid interference without affecting current devices in the market
• Further improvements in Rel-16 to remove some inefficiencies present in NR Rel-15
• DSS presents challenges to UEs and network
• Design complexity in baseband/RF & Protocol stack verification
• Network scheduling of radio resources is more complex
• Keysight provides a comprehensive set of DSS measurement solutions covering Signal
Generation, Signal Analysis, UE Emulation, Network Emulation and Outdoor Drive Test solutions
25
Resources
5G NR DYNAMIC SPECTRUM SHARING

• 3GPP 38.331
https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/38_series/38.331/

• 3GPP 38.214
https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/38_series/38.214/

• Understanding 5G NR Physical Layer

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/2057309/B9D2488170B972C033A5133B43B26D8F?partnerref=weblinkreferral
KEE394

• 5G Dynamic Spectrum Sharing Solutions

https://www.keysight.com/us/en/cmp/2020/5g-dynamic-spectrum-sharing.html

26