5G mmWave Technology: What you need to know? (2023)

5Gnetworks are expanding even further around the world. Thisnext-generation wireless communication is partially enhanced by a newtechnology called mmWave.US airlines are particularly interested in this technology and it isalso an important part of their rollout in China and Japan.Eventually, mmWave technology has started to spread around the world.

Evolutionof 5G mmWave coverage

Theevolution of 5G has progressed smoothly since 3GPP standardized thefirst release, Release 15, in the middle of 2018. Release 16 wascompleted in early July 2020. Also, 3GPP 5G spanning Releases 15 and16 was endorsed as an ITU IMT-2020 5G standard in July 2020. Inaddition to sub 6GHz spectrum’s effective utilization, Releases 15and 16 also provide the core functionalities for supporting mmWavetechnology.

Previously,the use of frequency bands well above 6 GHz has been consideredunsuitable for mobile communications due to high propagation loss andthe ease with which signals are blocked by the human body as well asbuilding materials and leaves. While these challenges limit mmWavedeployment, new antenna technology allows us to explore differentdeployment scenarios and better understand channel characteristicsand signal propagation.

5Gbands

Characteristicsof 5G mmWave

Beloware the characteristics of 5GmmWave technology.

Benefitsof 5G mmWave

Beloware the advantages of 5GmmWaves.These benefits make mmWave 5G one of the strongest candidates forfuture mobile wireless communications domains.

• Providesmore bandwidth to accommodate more subscribers.
• Thenarrow bandwidth in the millimeter range makes it suitable for usewith small cells.
• Coverageis not limited to the line of sight because the primary scatter pathis feasible.
• Thechannel probing feature is used to consider different types ofmmWave frequency loss in order for 5G networks to work well. Channelprobing is the measurement or estimation of channel characteristicsthat helps you successfully design, develop, and deploy a 5G networkwith the required quality requirements.
• Manyantennas are packaged in smaller sizes due to the physically smallersize of their antennas.
• The5G mmWave network supports multi-Gigabit backhaul up to 400 metersand cellular access up to 200-300 meters.

5GmmWave: Facts and fiction you should definitely know

• mmWavedoesn’t penetrate walls – High frequency 5G signals cannot travelfar, and the transition from indoors to outdoors doesn’t work verywell. However, large-scale MIMO and beamforming do not require astrict line of sight to take advantage of millimeterwaves.Millimeter-wave signals may not penetrate deep into the building butbounce around the building to ensure a proper signal.
• 5Gwon’t work in rains – When it rains, the millimeter-wave signalstrength drops slightly, first at a slightly slower speed, and thenconnection problems can occur. How bad it gets depends on how hardit rains and other factors, such as the distance from the celltower. Rain causes most problems when connecting at the edge of amillimeter-wave base station range.

Applicationsfor 5G mmWave

Fastand reliable broadband has become very important since the outbreakof the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many people work from home. Fixedwireless access (FWA) delivered over 4G or 5G is a cost-effectivebroadband alternative in areas where fixed line services such asdigital subscriber line (DSL), cable, and fiber are limitedlyavailable. Most of the FWA networks currently deployed operate atfrequencies below 6 GHz. 5G millimeter-wave technology uses FWA towirelessly provide gigabit speeds, eliminating the need for fiberoptics. Given the large amount of spectrum available, addingmillimeter-wave carriers to existing FWA networks increases networkcapacity and provides the excellent end-user experience needed forhigh-quality video streaming and more.

Usecases for 5G mmWave

• Fixedwireless internet access: 5GmmWavegigabit data rates can completely replace a variety of Internetaccess technologies with hybrid fiber and wireless networks thatconnect subscribers.
• Outdoorsmall cell for urban/suburban environment: A promising deploymentscenario for 5G mmWaves is to increase capacity in demanding publicspaces and venues.
• Mission-criticalcontrol application: Self-driving cars, vehicle-to-vehiclecommunications, and drone communications provide similar deploymentscenarios for 5G mmWave with less than 1-millisecond predictivenetwork delays.
• Indoorhotspot cells: Offices, shopping malls, and other indoor areasrequire high-density 5G mmWave microcells. These small cells cansupport download speeds up to 20 Gbps, providing seamless access tocloud data and the ability to support multiple applications andvarious forms of entertainment and multimedia.
• Internetof Things: Potentially, it covers smart home applications, security,energy management, logistics and tracking, healthcare, etc.

FAQs

1. What is5G mmWave technology?

5GmmWave is an innovative cellular technology that provides access tothe large bandwidth and capacity available in the frequency bandabove 24GHz. Thought to be impossible by skeptics, 5G millimeterwavesare now being used in wireless ecosystems and continue to gainmomentum worldwide. For example, in the United States, all majorcarriers offer the full range of the latest and best-selling 5Gflagship millimeter-wave phones and 5G millimeter-wave services. InEurope, nearly half of the European Union and UK countries haveassigned or plan to allocate millimeter-wave spectra to 5G.

2. What is the benefit of5G mmWave technology?

The5G mmWave offers the most economical way to enable nationwide 5Gcoverage. Low bandwidth also helps other Time Division Duplex (TDD)bands improve coverage through carrier aggregation. It combineshigher system capacity capabilities with Massive MIMO (multipleinputs, multiple outputs), good coverage, and is already globallyavailable for easy scaling. High bandwidth above 24 GHz providesservice providers with the greatest opportunity to offerunprecedented peak rates, low latency, and high capacity. 5Ghigh-bandwidth or mmWave spectra are a valuable resource for sportsarenas, dense urban areas with numerous mobile devices, andmission-critical services.

3. What is the difference between 5G and5G mmWave?

Witha mobile that supports both mmWave and sub 6GHz 5G, you can takeadvantage of very fast 5G speeds when mmWave technology is available,but the traditional 5G coverage is similar to modern LTE networks.Below 6GHz, you can use the most popular 5G networks, but they areblocked by the faster millimeter waves that may be available in thecity. Sub 6GHz 5G is more rapid than 4G. However, it doesn’t offerthe ultra-fast speeds you get with mmWaves. Carriers are much cheaperto implement as they have a longer range and a better ability topenetrate objects.

4. Why is 5G calledmmWave?

Thehigh-frequency band in the spectrum above 24 GHz has the potential tosupport wide bandwidth and high data rates, making it ideal forincreasing the capacity of wireless networks. These high-frequencybands are often referred to as “millimeter waves” becauseof the short wavelengths that can be measured in millimeters. Themillimeter wave band extends to 300 GHz, but 5G is expected to usethe 24 GHz to 100 GHz band. Millimeter-wave bands up to 100GHz cansupport bandwidths up to 2GHz without combining bands to improve datathroughput.

5. What is the distinguishingfeature of mmWave 5G?

The5G high band (millimeterwave,also known as FR2) ranges from 24 GHz to 40 GHz. They provide a largeamount of spectrum and capacitance at the shortest distance. It alsouses Massive MIMO to increase capacity and increase coverage. Inaddition, it includes wide spectrum segments and low latencyavailable in 5G. The introduction of the new 5G frequency band willbe combined with the existing band currently used by serviceproviders. The combined effect of mixing low, medium, and highbandwidth is important to improve capacity and coverage.

6. What is the range of5G mmWave?

Millimeterwaves(high band 5G) are frequencies above 24 GHz. The higher the frequencyof the radio waves, the shorter the length of each wave. Due to thehigh frequency of millimeter waves, the range is limited to 300-500feet, making it difficult to penetrate buildings. In contrast, 3G and4G networks can move further and penetrate better into buildingmaterials. Until recently, millimeter waves were used only insatellite and radar systems and were typically operated in themilitary and aerospace industries. However, as data consumptionexploded, the industry recognized the need to use mmWaves innext-generation cellular networks.