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E-band deployment grew to 6% of the total globally installed base in 2022, and this is only set to increase further. The frequency is already established as an appealing and cost-effective solution for mmWave XHaul applications. With the constant demand for data, however, higher capacity is needed.
Moving up the frequency spectrum to W-band (92-114.5 GHz) and D-band (130-175 GHz) will enable 5G wireless backhaul link capacity up to 100Gbps. W-band exhibits comparable atmospheric attenuation to the E-band, with the rain attenuation in the D-band slightly elevated by approximately 2 dB and maintaining a relatively flat response throughout the frequency spectrum.
While W-band offers the potential for increased capacity and data rates, like all transitions up the frequency bands, it also introduces various technical limitations and hurdles. For example, W-Band parabolic antennas may have about 2dB more gain than an E-Band antenna of the same size. The downside is that this increase in gain comes at the cost of decreased beam width. Reductions of 0.1 to 0.2 degrees can be expected. This doesn’t sound like a lot, but when the beam width was only 0.5 degrees for a 2-foot antenna, this reduction makes alignment much more complex.
W-band signals are also highly directional and a little more susceptible to obstruction by physical objects like buildings, trees and foliage. Achieving and maintaining a clear line-of-sight between W-band backhaul nodes becomes crucial, often requiring additional measures, such as careful site selection, taller tower installations and frequency planning.
D-band frequencies also have challenges as they are highly sensitive to blockages and obstructions. They have an even smaller wavelength than W-band, resulting in limited diffraction and low penetration capabilities through physical objects.
Maintaining a clear line-of-sight between the transmitter and receiver becomes critical for reliable communication, along with careful planning of the network deployment and consideration of signal reflection, refraction and diffraction to optimize signal propagation.
As D-band technology is still in the early stages of development, the associated equipment and infrastructure will be more expensive for a time compared to lower frequency bands. Additionally, the maturity of technologies, such as amplifiers, transceivers and signal processing algorithms, may need further advancement for efficient operation in this frequency range.
To handle the projected increase in data traffic, it will be necessary to obtain licenses for the use of high frequency mmWave bands. The development of semiconductors and RF technologies for W-band is already in an advanced stage and will be prepared by the time licenses are granted.
Efforts are currently underway to address the fundamental challenges associated with D-band.
This frequency range offers higher data rates but necessitates significant modifications to device architecture and the implementation of advanced device packaging techniques. The aim is to overcome these challenges and ensure the successful integration of D-band technology into the existing infrastructure.
Addressing these challenges requires a combination of technological advancements, careful network planning and regulatory considerations.
While both D-band and W-band offer potential benefits, they require careful evaluation and consideration of the specific deployment scenarios and the trade-offs involved. Overcoming these hurdles can lead to increased capacity, higher data rates and improved network performance in future communication systems.
—Richard Gibbs is the CEO of Filtronic.
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