5G moved from FDD to TDD to improve spectrum efficiency. That move resulted in new timing issues to keep networks in sync.

First deployed in 2019 for mobile broadband communications, 5G is now ready for 5G-Advanced, which, for the first time, adds features focused on enterprise use cases starting with 3GPP Release 18. First outlined in 3GPP Release 18, 5G-Advanced (5.5G) (Figure 1) significantly improves network efficiency, latency, throughput, and coverage. 5G-Advanced adds evolved multiple input multiple…

Integrating Wi-Fi 7 with private 5G in CPE devices can help ensure reliable, gigabit-level speeds, robust security, and centralized management across diverse deployment scenarios. Delivering high speeds and low latency, private 5G and Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) networks offer efficient spectrum use and robust security for a wide range of demanding applications. What are the…

5G base stations rely on phased arrays to steer signals and increase data rates. Beam steering circuits, however, consume power. Using waveguides could reduce energy consumption in base stations. Waveguides are physical structures that direct electromagnetic waves from one point to another, confining energy within specific boundaries to control propagation, direction, and mode. While waveguide…

5G is much more than cell phones. IoT devices, medical devices, and industrial devices can connect to networks using technologies such as TDD, network slicing, and beamforming. 5G New Radio (NR) made its long-awaited commercial debut in late 2018. Offering significantly faster speeds and greater capacity compared to 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G NR…

Millimeter-wave signals used in 5G networks provide wide bandwidth and high data rates. Signal losses, both over the air and through interconnects, bring design challenges.

Fixed-wireless access is a special use case of enhanced mobile broadband, one of the three use cases specified for 5G. FWA brings different challenges for deployment than eMBB.

Signals in the mmWave range require extra care and more expensive components than at sub-6 GHz frequencies.

5G brought passive intermodulation problems into the spotlight. Now it’s up to engineers and technicians to identify and mitigate signal degradation to minimize dropped calls and other issues. A loose connection; a metal roof; power lines. Even a rusty bolt. It’s estimated that mobile operators will spend $1.1 trillion on capital expenditure between 2020 and…

MediaTek’s Dimensity 7200 modem chipset offers much for consumers, but what of the engineers who design with it?