5G Antennas

There is no doubt about the hype surrounding 5G antennas. The enthusiasm for a faster, connected future is exciting, but for many product designers, the exact definition of the term 5G is not entirely clear. 5G has little to do with the classic mobile radio as we know it. Unlike previous technologies like 4G, there is no unified 5G network. It is more than an evolution of the previous technology; it is an entire set of new networks for various applications. This makes the whole topic somewhat complex, but the promises of the 5G standard are significant. Maximum speeds of up to 20 Gb/s, minimized signal latency, and multiple mobile devices simultaneously per zone make all wireless experiences instant and open the door to new applications. For some of us, nothing will change except faster video streams and a more realistic gaming experience, but in the meantime, unknown use cases are being developed.

So, what is 5G? And what do designers and engineers need to consider to benefit from this technology?
 

The 5G Standardization Process

5G is an umbrella term for various networks, technologies, and applications. This is standardization for mobile communication. The name 5G was coined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the "fifth-generation mobile communication system." For this purpose, the standardization committee of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is advancing its 5G implementation with the International Mobile Telecommunication Initiative (IMT-2020). At the same time, other standardization bodies, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the ITU, are working on a 5G specification. The standardization process was completed at the end of 2019, and we now see more and more released applications.
 

Different Applications Require Different 5G Antennas

Many applications are being handled with the new communication standard, and multiple frequency ranges for 5G mobile communication must be considered. In general, 5G mobile networks can operate in different frequencies, requiring different antennas for various frequency bands. It becomes clearer when selecting 5G frequency bands in the so-called multilayer spectrum and matching them with an app. The coverage area: Below 2 GHz (e.g., 700 MHz), this is suitable for indoor use as electromagnetic waves propagate through objects at this wavelength. The C: 2 to 6 GHz band combines coverage, capacity, and the "Super Data Layer." Frequencies above 6 GHz (e.g., 24-29 GHz and 37-43 GHz) offer high bandwidth but require a direct line of sight, as even leaves on trees can block the connection. Since different frequencies are used to transmit a signal for different applications, special 5G antennas and antenna designs are required. The variation in the frequency bands used for communication is one of the reasons why we see more antennas.
 

5G Operates Differently Than 4G

As the demand for frequencies continues to grow, national communication authorities allocate new or repurposed frequency ranges. Reframing grants operating permits to already allocated frequencies for 5G. Therefore, network operators can freely decide which mobile technology they want to use. With the expiration of UMTS frequencies in the 2 GHz band at the end of 2020 and 2025, these frequencies can be allocated for 5G from 2021 to 2026 (total of 60 MHz). Worldwide, the unused 3.5 GHz band from WiMax technology remains. This will provide a bandwidth of 300 MHz in the 3.6 GHz band in 2022, with frequencies between 3.7 and 3.8 GHz. The NR uses the mmWave (millimeter wave) range, starting at 24 GHz and extending up to 52.6 GHz. Parts of the 64-86 GHz range could be added in the future. However, most frequencies intended for 5G (3.5 GHz, 26 GHz, and higher) are suitable for short ranges due to the physical conditions of radio signal propagation. These frequency ranges, however, have high bandwidth potential. With low-power base stations, known as femtocells, mobile hotspots with very high data rates can be operated. This means that street lamps could eventually offer not only light but also mobile gigabit internet access by hosting femtocell base stations.

5G Antennas Enable Better Beamforming

Beamforming is an active antenna technology that supplies individual mobile devices simultaneously and selectively with high-bandwidth power via directional radio connections. The use of higher frequency ranges necessitates multi-antenna systems. The higher the frequency, the worse the conditions under which electromagnetic waves propagate. Multi-antenna systems and beamforming can partially counteract this. Beamforming enables the spatially targeted transmission and reception of radio signals. The more dipoles (antenna elements) available, the better beamforming works.
 

Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) - 5G Mobile Radio Transmission Technology

Unlike previous mobile radio generations with GSM, UMTS, and 4G/LTE, 5G does not need to change fundamentally from a technical standpoint. In addition to the existing LTE technology, other systems and infrastructures are added to achieve higher data throughput and lower latency, for example. The key elements of the 5G NR infrastructure are active antenna arrays enabling multi-user MIMO technologies. These antenna modules use beamforming for targeted radio contact with the receiver. Extremely small antenna arrays with high directivity can provide individual mobile devices with high transmission rates. The latest 3D-MIMO and Massive-MIMO devices contain multiple transmitter and receiver units in a single device.
 

Deployment of the 5G Channel and 5G Network

The antenna patterns of mobile radio and base stations can be simulated and then used for an overarching system analysis of 5G radio network coverage and to determine channel statistics for urban, rural, and indoor scenarios. However, the use cases for 5G networks become even more relevant, mainly due to the different factors occurring in the millimeter band. These include higher path losses due to atmospheric absorption and precipitation, minimal penetration through walls, and greater effects due to surface roughness. In addition to calculating angle spread and delay, WinProp also provides a platform for analyzing and comparing the performance of different MIMO setups considering beamforming.
 

Conclusion: Applications and Perspectives of 5G Mobile Radio and 5G Antennas

5G is a crucial mobile platform for the connected society that must meet different broadband requirements. Many expect that 5G will lead to an industrial revolution. Much is expected from 5G mobile technology, and it is assumed that 5G will be the foundation for a large number of future applications.