Millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies in combination with small Radio Frequency (RF) coverage look to be key technologies for 5G networks. However, mmWave spectrum comes with high path losses and the solution of small RF coverage to reduce signal congestion suffers from distortions of the transmitted signals. This webinar will look at how measurements of RF front ends designed for mmWave can help address whether commercial-off-the-shelf chip-based RF front end technology is ready to be used for 5G networks.

Available on Demand

While millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies for 5G networks will be a key technology for these new mobile networks, these frequencies present some operational challenges. Directional antennas at the transmitter and the receiver will help address these challenges. However, these directional antennas come with their own set of challenges that both industry and academic research is still at an early phase of addressing. For instance, better models are need to needed to address the different environments that will be encountered, such as urban environments. This webinar will examine the work that is being done in addressing these issues and some of the solutions that have been developed.

Available on Demand

As wireless communications have become ever more important, access to wireless spectrum has become increasingly difficult. The so-called “spectrum crunch” describes a situation in which there is not enough spectrum available to support all of the networks and devices desired. As a result, a critical capability of wireless devices is the ability to share the spectrum they use with other devices, be they communications devices or not. For example, one class of critical spectrum user is the radar system for weather forecasting, navigation, and defense.

This ability to share spectrum with other users has both regulatory and non-regulatory aspects. From a regulatory perspective, there are rules designating how a wireless system needs to behave in order to protect critical operations, or fairly share the spectrum with other users. Beyond regulation, however, there is freedom of operation, and some devices will make better choices in the presence of wireless interference than will others. Network operators need a way to test the performance of devices in the presence of interference, both to understand their ability to support regulatory requirements, and to understand what kinds of choices they are designed to make.

We will provide an overview of the spectrum sharing landscape, including DFS/radar requirements, new regulatory regimes such as CBRS in the US, and industry-driven activities such as the cellular/Wi-Fi co-existence test plan for LTE-U. In addition, we will discuss how devices that operate under these various conditions can be tested to understand their performance.

Available on Demand

The cutting edge of 5G research includes the use of millimeter waves, new waveform types, new network topologies, and massive MIMO. If technologies such as millimeter waves or massive MIMO are adopted as part of the official 5G standard, mobile-device testing will become substantially more difficult and expensive. Client devices and base stations will require testing in chambers, where previously testing was done using coaxial connectors. This webinar lays out the cost issues related to handsets, CPEs, IoT devices, and network infrastructure to illustrate how innovative manufacturing solutions can bring down the overall cost of a mobile service.