Abstract:
5G smartphones will offer multi Gbps data rates with msec latency, enabling seamless 4K HDR video, virtual/augmented reality, real time multiplayer gaming and a host of yet to be envisioned services. Supporting this with the fragmented worldwide spectrum and maintaining battery life is an ongoing major challenge for RF suppliers into consumer electronic markets.
The first phase of “5G” will be an explosion of complexity based on spectrum allocation and aggregation below 6GHz. Both transmit and receive paths will migrate from single channel, to carrier aggregation to diversity paths and finally up to 4x4 MIMO with carrier aggregation. Additional bandwidth from lightly licensed and unlicensed bands and upgrades to the protocol stack will result in Gbps uplink and downlink speeds with <5msec latency. Managing up to a 10 fold increase in RF content while preserving battery life and size will drive major upgrades to RF efficiency, RF filtering and co-existence and 3D IC stacking.
In the 2020 timeframe, a true “5G” platform will utilize new spectrum with new OFDM based modulation and channel bandwidths up to 300MHz. Based on current trials and spectrum availability, the region around 28GHz is getting the most attention, which will require entirely new classes of RF components – filters, amplifiers and packages with integrated antennas – to deliver the cost and performance demanded by consumer electronics. The RF industry has a promising roadmap to deliver these components. Products based on a network with >10Gbps, sub 1msec latency will enable a fully-immersive augmented reality experience.