Advanced Antenna Systems (AAS) For 5G Networks

- Advanced Antenna Systems (AASs)

As the demand for throughput, improved user experience and ubiquitous coverage from consumers and corporations continues to grow, operators are quickly improving and expanding coverage and capacity in their wireless network in a cost-effective way. Recent technology developments have made advanced antenna systems (AASs) a viable option for large scale deployments in existing 4G and 5G mobile networks. AASs enable state-of-the-art beamforming and multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) techniques that are powerful tools for improving end-user experience, capacity and coverage. These advances have brought mmWave communications, untenable almost two decades ago, to manageable today.

In addition to high-band spectrum, existing low- and mid-band spectrum will be essential to supporting 5G NR deployments. Initially, 5G NR will be deployed primarily in Time Division Duplex (TDD) bands, as well as in mmWave and sub-3 GHz Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) bands, based on network operator spectrum portfolios. When optimally deployed, 5G peak throughput speeds could provide up to eight concurrent streams at 20 Gbits/sec downlinks and four concurrent streams of 10 Gbits/sec uplinks. 

Advanced antenna systems are essential for many 5G services and use cases. Over the past five years, the improvements in coverage and capacity using AAS have been significant and this will only continue with 5G wireless networks in the future in a wide variety of environments.

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