SoftBank Corp. claims it's the first Japanese telecommunications carrier to launch an outdoor trial of 7GHz Band for 6G.

Partnering with Nokia, SoftBank installed three 7GHz-compatible pre-commercial base stations in central Tokyo, using massive multiple-input, multiple-output (mMIMO, or Massive MIMO) technology to evaluate how 6G area coverage can be deployed in urban areas, compared to current 5G capabilities.

With dense urban environments such as Tokyo's posing increasing challenges in signal penetration, the 7GHz band is viewed as a potential 6G solution in such areas for both capacity and coverage.

The use of mMIMO tech better augments both reach and capacity, helping it to overcome concrete obstacles.

The Japanese giant began its outdoor testing in June in Tokyo's Ginza district, comparing the coverage and radio characteristics of the 7GHz band with commercial 5G Sub-6 (3.9GHz).

This was achieved by co-locating 7GHz pre-commercial base stations from Nokia next to existing rooftop-based 5G base stations, also from Nokia.

Future testing will see both indoor and outdoor measurements within the trial zone, contributing to ongoing R&D for the commercialization of 6G in Japan.

SoftBank has a good pedigree to take on the 6G challenge, with another claim to being the world's first operator to put Pre-5G Massive MIMO into commercial operation.

The company's ongoing Nokia partnership also involves Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network (AI-RAN).

Both technologies aim for better performance and lower operating costs. But, as recently reported by SDxCentral, telecommunication operators are not necessarily in a rush to deploy 6G technology, many still absorbing major 5G network costs, and seeing little return on investment.