6. 5G Hardware Test Evaluation Platform

Co-simulation of software and hardware provides a more realistic testing and evaluation environment to some extent, improving the efficiency of test and evaluation. But it is still different from the real test environment. Therefore, a real hardware test platform and the environment are essential to the process of developing new technology. On July 15, 2016, the US government announced that 400 million US dollars will be invested to the Advanced Wireless Research Initiative (AWRI) led by National Science Foundation (NSF), which will build four city-scale experimental test platforms and deploy advanced future wireless research projects. The program will use two models: (1) 85 million US dollars will be invested through public-private partnership to deploy and establish an advanced wireless experimental test platform. Each platform will deploy software defined wireless networks in the urban area, allowing academics, entrepreneurs and wireless companies to test, evaluate and improve their technology and software algorithms in real-world environment. (2) The NSF will invest US$ 350 million to support advanced wireless communications theory and technology research. These wireless experimental test platforms and fundamental researches will support academic and business to develop and test advanced wireless communication technologies.