Microwave Journal

Rewiring the World: Emerging Role of 5G in a Secure, Connected Future

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:43:13 -0400

This article explores the transformative potential of 5G communications across society and national security. Beginning with traditional use cases—smartphones, Internet of Things (IoT), and media streaming—this article highlights how 5G has already proven its technical capabilities across multiple user communities. The discussion then shifts to next-generation applications such as autonomous drone swarms, counter-drone systems, remote emergency response, and global tactical communications. These demonstrate how 5G, when integrated with AI and the cloud, reshape what’s possible.

5G Must be Simpler Than it is Today

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:13:26 -0500

Running IoT Through the Skies

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 11:22:54 -0500

The Development Trends of Massive MIMO (mMIMO)

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 13:06:27 -0500

How 5G Precision Timing Could Change Our Automated World

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

5G Americas explores the future opportunity of precision timing in 5G networks and how they are beginning to tackle some of the most challenging basic requirements of time-critical services. Compared with satellite-based precision that forms the basis for so many timing systems, 5G networks offer a unique capability: providing indoor coverage at micro-second level precision and wireless timing delivery.

Why is the O-RAN Approach Critical for Flexible 5G?

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0400

In contrast, a 5G New Radio (NR) network based on an O-RAN structure is constructed with hardware and software from many different vendors. For the hardware and software to work together, networks require a set of standards for all vendors to meet, including component performance requirements for the network's electrical, mechanical, and environmental operating limits, such as amplifier gain stability with temperature for specified frequency, temperature, and humidity ranges.

High-band economics: Can mmWave spectrum make 5G networks more cost effective?

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0500

With 5G rollouts and adoption progressing quickly, and with the mmWave ecosystem showing signs of readiness, the main question that the mobile industry faces today is whether and where mmWave solutions can be cost effective.

How the Nature of the RAN is Fundamentally Changing

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Over the decades, the RAN has been subject to ongoing technological progression (to improve the quality of service, raise data rates, support new applications, etc.) through enhancements being made at regular intervals. The majority of these have (relatively speaking at least) been fairly subtle. Looking ahead, these kind of incremental alterations are no longer going to be enough. What is called for, instead, is dramatic and decisive disruption of the RAN at its very foundations.

Horns Will Help to Make 5G Millimeter Waves a Reality

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:10:00 -0500

Horn antennas and the waveguide transmission lines to which they are typically attached may seem like things of the past, or technologies that have long since seen their primes. But in an age in which the world is readying for the 5G cellular wireless communications, horn antennas provide real solutions for communications links operating at millimeter-wave frequencies. Learn about the advantages of using horn antennas in your design.

The Importance of Cabling in Probe Stations for High Frequency 5G Applications

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Probe stations allow a user to position electrical, optical or RF probes on a silicon wafer and connect them to a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) so that the device can be tested. Using high-end cabling in a probe station is crucial: cables must be low loss, lightweight and both phase and amplitude stable against temperature, flexure and vibration. Learn how cable manufacturers are optimizing for high frequency 5G applications.

Propelling 5G forward: A closer look at 3GPP Release 16

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Just last week, 3GPP completed 5G NR Release 16 — the second 5G standard that will greatly expand the reach of 5G to new services, spectrum, and deployments. This is a major milestone for the entire mobile and broader vertical ecosystem, as this new set of 5G specifications unlocks many new 5G opportunities beyond the traditional mobile broadband services.

Characterizing Integrated RF Hardware for 5G Applications

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

In order to deal with both data access through an SoC and with the potential of an evolving standard, an ideal characterization environment would need flexible signal generation and analysis capabilities capable of producing waveforms compliant not only with the current 5G standard but could also generate new waveforms as the standard evolves. This signal generation and analysis capability also needs to be able to extract RF data from new SoC hardware without requiring the RF engineer to be an expert in programming SoCs. Read how this can be accomplished.

Comparison of US and UK Regulatory Approaches for Access to >100 GHz Spectrum

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0500

The past year has been a busy one for opening access to spectrum above 100 GHz. On March 15, 2019 the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to allow access to spectrum above 100 GHz for the first time. Read this summary of where we are today with US and UK standards for over 100 GHz communications.

Progress in Opening Access to Spectrum above 100 GHz

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0400

While the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Table of International Allocations and most national allocations tables have listed spectrum allocations up to 275 GHz, in reality specific policies for technologies above 100 GHz have been very rare until recently.

GSA 5G Devices Ecosystem – August 2019 Update

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

The GSA Research team have identified 100 announced 5G devices in total, excluding regional variants and prototypes not expected to be commercialised. This is a major milestone for the 5G device ecosystem.

Why 5G Wireless Technology Will Place a Greater Demand on Cables

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

The 5G revolution promises astonishing gigabit-per-second data rates and near-instantaneous connectivity. It is projected to have a mass impact across many industries and change the lives of billions of both consumers and suppliers worldwide. Like every generation of new wireless technology, 5G will dramatically increase the speed and volume of data transfer, but this will have more profound consequences than ever before.

5G is coming: What to expect and why

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -0400

th-Generation Wireless Systems (5G), says the optimist, will revolutionize our life as the 3G/4G systems did. While the majority are still waiting to link to the 4G network, the top telecoms have started the war for the next generation of mobile communication. 5G is expected to finally bring the autonomous car, VR and internet of things to reality and make science fiction come true.

How to Reap 5G Rewards Without Industry Standards

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0400

With all the hype around 5G solutions recently, you would think that we were on the cusp of rolling out next generation mobile networks en masse. The truth is that the standards process is far from over, and wholesale deployment is even further away.

Mobile World Congress 2018 Highlights via Mobile Experts

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Joe Madden of Mobile Experts provides a rundown of key announcements and surprising news from MWC 2018.

How 5G Wireless Communication Will Transform Robotics

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -0400

5G promises to transform the art of the possible when it comes to robotics, particularly with the opportunity for robots to take advantage of the enormous compute power and storage available in the cloud, without being tethered by physical wires. This blog examines the vision of being able to accurately control future robots in near-real-time, from virtually anywhere in the world and the possibilities that opens up for so many applications including the medical sector with telesurgery, for example, building the factory of the future and delivering robots in the field – literally – for agricultural work.

Microwave Advancements Meet 5G Backhaul Requirements

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Skeptics ponder if microwave has the ability to adequately meet 5G backhaul requirements in terms of capacity, complexity, and stringent latency requirements. Based on what microwave vendors have already demonstrated, Sky Light Research believes that it does and here is why.

First Wireless Emulator Suitable for 5G Massive MIMO Systems

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Researchers at CATT and NYU WIRELESS have built the world’s first wireless emulator suitable for 5G systems that feature massive bandwidths and hundreds of antenna elements. In this unique patented design, the Emulator emulates not only the wireless channel, but also the beamformers (or phased-arrays) on both the transmitter and receiver devices under test.

Is millimeter wave technology future of wireless communications?

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400

In the age of digitalization, high-speed communication is on higher priority for all (consumers and enterprises). What if the wireless carriers impose caps on the rapidly growing data traffic and raise prices? What if we run out of airwaves for our striking increase in wireless data usage on our gadgets? So, how are these basic realities – high-speed communication needs, bandwidth shortage, and exploding data on several devices are addressed?