While 5G is still in the process of standardization, the industry agrees that access to new, high-band spectrum, as well as millimeter wave beamforming and steering, will be fundamental aspects of ultra-dense, high-capacity, low-latency next-generation networks.
During this R&D, trial phase of 5G, test and measurement companies are working to support vendor initiatives with new solutions.
Austin, Texas-based National Instruments this week during the Brooklyn 5G Summit highlighted a new software-defined radio transceiver system capable of supporting millimeter wave test needs with up to 2 GHz real-time bandwidth covering spectrum in the 71 GHz to 76 GHz bands.
This allows users to develop millimeter wave prototyping systems, as well as perform channel measurements.
Tod Sizer, head of mobile radio research at Nokia Bell Labs, discussed his experience with the system, calling it a “key research platform for our millimeter wave research. The platform delivers the right combination of hardware and software necessary to expedite our research and has given us confidence that millimeter wave will indeed be a critical technology for 5G.”
During the IEEE Radio Wireless Week earlier this year, NI EVP of Global Sales and Marketing Eric Starkloff discussed millimeter wave and 5G in an interview with RCR Wireless News.
“It’s a huge race right now towards figuring out what exactly is 5G? Which candidate technologies can meet the goals that have been laid out? That requires real time prototyping to prove out these techniques in the real world. Millimeter wave is a really fascinating, emerging space. We have large chunks of unused spectrum. The goal is to have two Gigahertzs of bandwidth for 5G and the only place to get that is at very high frequencies. We’ve created a platform that allows different millimeter wave frontends…so you’re not locked in to any particular frequency.”
Here’s the entire interview with Starkloff:
