Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/17933-plextek-expands-v-band-and-e-band-design-services-

Plextek expands V-Band and E-Band design services

July 23, 2012

In response to the growing requirement for high data rate wireless applications, Plextek Ltd. has extended its test and measurement facilities to 75 GHz capability. This includes increasing development activity at V-Band (50 to 75 GHz) and E-Band (60 to 90 GHz).

Plextek has been providing design services to address these frequency bands for a number of years and has recently seen a surge in demand for them. Typical applications include high data rate line of sight links and short-range high data rate wireless links for WLAN and WPAN applications.

Liam Devlin, Director of RFIC & MMIC at Plextek said: “The price of test equipment operating at E-Band is currently much higher than the more conventional microwave line of sight bands below 40 GHz and therefore can add significant cost to development activity. As frequency increases the associated test equipment costs increase.

“However, the attraction of the wide spectrum allocation at E-Band, which allows for very high data rates, and a ‘light license’ approach will help to drive on development activities and process will fall over time. The new equipment we have purchased is the start of our move to extend our test capability to higher frequencies at V-Band and E-Band.”

Plextek already has test equipment extending to 50 GHz. E-band spectrum at 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz offers worldwide availability of a large amount of spectrum under a ‘light license’ basis. This scheme currently operates in the US, the UK and many other countries and allows licences to be obtained quickly and cheaply while retaining the benefits of interference protection.