Antennas are crucial to global 5G utilisation: Experts

Antennae technology is still the future of connectivity. According to Kin-Lu Wong, a professor at National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, technological advancements in the connectivity segment can’t go further without antennae.

During his talk at the 7th Indian Antenna Week (IAW 2016), he encouraged engineers and scientists to treat research on antennas as an “essential branch of study,” as the world’s 5G utilisation goal depends heavily on this technology.

Surely, antennae research lies at the centre of the globalised world’s attempt at commercialising the next level network connectivity. It will play a very crucial role in understanding the possibility of seeing Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality and artificial intelligence as real-life technologies.

The works of innovative firms like 5BARz International (OTCQB: BARZ) is key to unlocking the antennae technology fit for 5G. The San Diego-based company uses a revolutionary antennae technology for its network extender, making it the first cable-less, plug-and-play device in the niche. 5BARz’s own patented integrated antennae technology received favourable response among engineers and radio frequency experts in the United States. With this, the company successfully created a never-before-seen network extender technology. It can be used not only in enclosed spaces but also in crowded, open areas and on moving vehicles.

“This is truly a revolutionary device. The radiation pattern of the antennae is like the Ellipsoid, which will try to hug the environment that they are in. So that is how you get very good performance no matter where you are,” Naresh Soni, the company’s chief technology officer, explained.

Because of this, leading Tier One telcos in India decided to tap its services to help them alleviate the local telco sector’s growing problem on call drop and sluggish mobile Internet. In 2015, the year when the partnership between Indian telcos and 5BARz started, the country’s dismal mobile network service had already reached global attention, reported Economic Times.

The success of 5BARz’ Indian expansion opened many doors for the company. It is now in talks with various Asian companies to introduce its radio-frequency powered device. In the months to come, the firm also plans make its services known to South Africa, Europe and the United States.

In a report published by research firm Allied Business Intelligence (ABI) Research, it revealed that the next-generation antennae will become a central technology for 5G utilisation. Smarter antenna systems will enhance network performance and capacity beyond 4g LTE, which has a standard 2x2 and 4x4 MIMO deployment capacity.

“The physics of 5G spectrum changes the economics for antenna solutions, as the higher frequencies equate to packing more antennae into a smaller space and remaining cost effective,” said Joe Hoffman, report author and also managing director and vice president at Strategic Technology.

Hoffman added that companies and governments should put more effort in understanding and in developing smart antennae. It is highly needed since the world’s growing demand for faster and more reliable connection will highly depend on it, regardless it’s for tiny antennae for beaming signals or for tiny ones essential in mobile connections.

On the market aspect, Wong sees Asia as an ideal market for the growing antennae industry due to the wide availability of research and development facilities on communication and wireless technologies in the area, reports the Hindu.