The evolution of cellular, from 1G to 5G
HetNet Happenings: Staying connected via the quickly emerging hetnet involves the seamless movement between Wi-Fi, DAS, small cell and mobile networks.
Professor Jeff Andrews of the University of Texas-Austin’s Wireless Networking and Communications Group discussed the advancements made in cellular technology over the past three decades with Sean Kinney, an RCR Wireless News editor.
Looking ahead to the next generation 5G mobile networks, Andrews detailed the importance of accessing new spectrum, network densification and spectral efficiency.
As far as new spectrum, Andrews pointed to millimeter wave spectrum, which is in the 30 GHz to 300 GHz bands.
“The only place that spectrum is available is at high frequencies,” he said. “The wave lengths are very small. The antennas are very small so there’s a perception that these waves don’t propagate well. These are major challenges that millimeter wave poses, but, on the flip side, there’s a great deal of spectrum out there. This is the only way we’re going to get significantly more spectrum. 5G will likely include millimeter wave.”
He described millimeter wave as presenting an opportunity to decongest more established mobile broadband services operating in bands below 3 GHz.
Andrews focused on fiber-optic network build-outs and high-capacity backhauls as necessary for network densification.
Spectral efficiency gains, Andrews said, have been achieved through massive MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) and could go further with three-dimensional channel modeling and exploitation of complex scattering patterns.
