Both low-band and high-band spectrum expected to fuel gigabit LTE antennas’ development
AUSTIN, Tex.—Cost, complexity and physical footprint are three of the main challenges for antenna development to support gigabit LTE and future “5G” systems, according to participants in antenna-focused sessions at 5G North America.
Earl Lum, president of EJL Wireless Research, said that it won’t just be millimeter-wave spectrum driving 5G antenna development: the low-band, such as T-Mobile US’ intent to utilize its new 600 MHz spectrum for 5G, will also be a driver.
Physical design of 5G antennas will also face major challenges. For one, Lum pointed out, massive multiple-input-multiple-output antennas “don’t really camouflage well.” While traditional macro sites might be able to pose as palm trees, small cell installations have posed a new aesthetic challenge – particularly in markets such as New York City where local regulations have put siginificant restrictions on antenna height and diameter.
There are similar challenges for gigabit LTE speeds, which Lum said will likely be boosted later this year by the emergence of wider handset support for 4K video. He expects to see three component-carrier carrier aggregation implementations that are likely to need one low-band carrier – which will pose issues for how much can be
Meanwhile, Grif Griffin, technical operators manager for fixed wireless operator West Central Wireless, pointed out some of the very practical considerations that operators must deal with in considering network upgrades and new antenna types. Chief among them are cost and return on investment, as well as whether new antennas can reduce – or at least, fit into – existing antenna footprints.
“Antenna real estate is very important to us,” Griffin said.
Watch an excerpt from the panel discussion on antenna evolution below:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTTgZL5oNqw[/embedyt]
Image copyright: madmaxer / 123RF Stock Photo
