CommScope has come out with a new line of antennas supporting 3.5 GHz for macro cell and outdoor small cell deployments.

CommScope says the new antennas enable customers to increase capacity in existing LTE networks and be prepared for 5G.

“There are limited number of RF products, including base station antennas, combiners, and tower mounted amplifiers, available to the market for 3.5 GHz bands,” said Iain Gillott, president of iG, in a statement. “3.5 GHz-capable base station antennas and RF path equipment for macro cell upgrades and outdoor small cell deployments will be critical for operators that are strained on network capacity.” 

The antennas feature carrier aggregation, higher-order MIMO, interference management and beamtilt capabilities to enable spectral efficiencies, according to CommScope.

Some of the new products in the line include, sector antennas for macro cells with 2.3 GHz beamforming; multiband antennas and combiners for macro cells with 1400 MHz support; and combiners and tower mounted amplifiers supporting 3.5 GHz macro cell and small cell deployments.

“Network capacity is pushed to its limits, particularly in densely populated urban areas where additional sites are difficult or impossible to secure,” said Farid Firouzbakht, senior vice president for Mobility Solutions at CommScope. “Supporting 3.5 GHz spectrum with antenna designs that additionally offer spectral efficiency are two ways CommScope’s 3.5 GHz-capable antennas open up new avenues of capacity to these overburdened networks.” 

The FCC finalized rules for Priority Access Licenses in the 3.5 GHz band last fall and numerous parties have been working toward commercial deployments, which are expected to occur later this year.

In December, the CBRS Alliance and the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) announced a partnership to tackle technical challenges and address business opportunities in order to advance commercialization of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band.