Oppo unveils upgraded communication lab to accelerate 5G innovation

Chinese technology giant Oppo has officially unveiled its upgraded lab to accelerate 5G innovation around the world.

Officially dubbed Oppo Communication Lab, the facility will help Oppo realize the end-to-end 5G research and development, from the underlying RF front-end to software protocol updates and regional tuning and testing.

It has been upgraded in partnership with telecom equipment maker Ericsson and technology provider Keysight and will be critical in ensuring that Oppo smartphones are among the first to implement many of the latest 5G technologies.

"The upgraded Oppo Communication Lab is a new milestone in Oppo’s endeavour in 5G and represents a new level of close cooperation with leading global technology companies,” Chris Shu, vice president and general manager of product strategy, planning and cooperation center at Oppo, said in a statement.

“With the rapid evolution of global 5G technology, we are pleased to join hands with Ericsson and Keysight to leverage our experience in 5G standards, products and applications to enhance the 5G ecosystem worldwide,” he added.

The facility, Oppo said, has three key modules -- Network Simulation Lab, Radio Frequency Lab and the Protocol Lab.

The Network Simulation Lab closely simulates the 4G/5G networks of different operators to provide communication services for up to 10,000 devices and allows pre-testing for any area around the world right within the lab.

The RF lab ensures devices can achieve stable connections under these varied conditions such as a crowded space or a fast-moving train.

Meanwhile, the Protocol Lab supports technicians in conducting research related to power consumption, regression testing, and joint new feature testing, helping drive innovation from different approaches.

Currently, Oppo said, researchers in this segment are exploring the first evolution of the 5G standard, Release 16, which is more environmentally friendly and capable of reducing the power consumption of smartphones and base stations.

Oppo has been at the centre of 5G innovation for quite a while.

In 2018, Oppo had successfully demoed the world's first 5G video call using 3D structured light technology, and a year later, the company’s Reno 5G edition became the first commercially available 5G smartphone in Europe.

A few months ago, Oppo also achieved the commercialisation of Europe’s first 5G standalone (SA) network in partnership with Vodafone, Qualcomm and Ericsson.