The 5G rollout is steadily progressing with sub-6 GHz 5G steadily expanding around the world and millimeter-wave 5G emerging in dense urban pockets in major metropolitan areas. Fairview Microwave has launched a video highlighting current 5G applications and trends and the interconnect and antenna hardware associated with those trends.
Major areas of 5G application growth are:
- MIMO antennas
- Millimeter-wave technology
- Small cells
- In-building solutions
- Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications
MIMO technology makes use of spatial multiplexing to allow for additional communication streams. Effectively, this enhances the throughput of a communication technology without having to use additional spectrum. The basis of MIMO technology is a MIMO capable advanced/active antenna system (AAS) and a MIMO processor. For 5G applications, a MIMO antenna consists of an antenna array, typically with some phase and amplitude control for beamstearing features, and additional MIMO processors. MIMO is one of the main methods being used to handle the growing data demand and the need to deliver service to a large number of users in the same vicinity, a technology known as Massive MIMO (mMIMO). Due to the increased amount of sensitive electronics in these advanced antennas, it is even more imperative to ensure their protection using technologies like RF Coaxial Surge Protectors/Lightning Arrestors.
The wider the spectrum, the greater maximum theoretical throughput. This is as true for 5G applications as any other communication. This is why many high throughput use cases are being deployed in the millimeter-wave spectrum, where there is an increasing amount of spectrum available for short-range and high-throughput applications. Millimeter-wave technology requires components, devices, and interconnects that can operate at millimeter-wave frequencies, as well as millimeter-wave compatible spectrum tools that aid in the planning and deployment of millimeter-wave technologies.
In order to provide 5G high-throughput access using MIMO and millimeter-wave technology, it is necessary to provide additional small-cell coverage amongst the macro-cell coverage in high traffic areas. This requires compact antenna systems and interconnects that can be placed strategically throughout venues, public spaces, mass transit areas, and on urban streets. The same goes for within large buildings and structures where typical small-cell or macro-cell deployments aren’t well suited to providing coverage. This is where in-building solutions, such as distributed antenna system (DAS) antennas and interconnect come into play. The main difference between small-cells and DAS installations now are location and some legacy approaches to routing cellular/Wi-Fi signals within structures.
Even with the advent of work-from-home, urban congestion and vehicle traffic is still on the rise. The number of trucks and small freight operations have skyrocketed recently. These new 5G applications, as well as vehicle telematics, are being developed to better provide logistical intelligence and support with advanced tracking, predictions, and automation. A common interconnect option for 5G V2X applications and others are FAKRA RF Connectors and cable assemblies.