What special features are there in 4G LTE and 5G antenna design?
5G and 4G LTE Antenna Design: Driving Innovation in Wireless Technology
Over the past few decades, the evolution of cellular networks, from 2G and 3G to 4G LTE and now 5G, has significantly driven advancements in antenna technology and design. These developments, initially spurred by the need for improved phone communication, have expanded to encompass smartphones, IoT sensors, wearables, and various other applications.
Multiband 4G LTE and 5G Antennas
Cellular 4G LTE and 5G systems operate within frequency bands licensed by cellular operators, in contrast to other systems that utilize ISM bands. This results in a wide variety of frequency bands used in cellular systems, which vary globally. Designing antennas that cover multiple frequency bands requires 2, 3, 4, or even multiband antennas. These antennas are generally more complex and sensitive to errors and necessitate more space than single-band antennas.
Cellular frequency bands are often grouped as follows:
1. Split in two:
- Low-Band (LB), 699-960 MHz
- High-Band (HB), 1710-2690 MHz
2. Split in three:
- Low-Band (LB), 699-960 MHz
- Mid-Band (MB), 1710-2170 MHz
- High-Band (HB), 2500-2690 MHz
Antenna Performance Requirements
The quality of a cellular network connection is closely tied to the performance of the user equipment (UE), such as smartphones, connecting to the network. A poorly performing antenna can lead to perceived limited coverage, affecting the user experience and, consequently, the reputation of the network operator. This is why many network operators have stringent performance requirements for devices on their network, focusing on metrics such as Total Radiated Power (TRP) and Total Radiated Sensitivity (TRS/TIS).
For devices not bound by operator requirements, benchmarking against market competitors is crucial. Aalborg University has conducted studies on the performance of recent mobile phones, providing valuable insights for antenna design.
| Commonly used cellular bands | Frequency [MHz] | Uplink [MHz] | Downlink [MHz] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2100 | 1920-1980 | 2110-2170 |
| 2 | 1900 | 1850-1910 | 1930-1990 |
| 3 | 1800 | 1710-1785 | 1805-1880 |
| 4 | 1700 | 1710-1755 | 2110-2155 |
| 5 | 850 | 824-849 | 869-894 |
| 7 | 2600 | 2500-2570 | 2620-2690 |
| 8 | 900 | 880-915 | 925-960 |
| 12 | 700 | 699-716 | 729-746 |
| 17 | 700 | 704-716 | 734-746 |
| 18 | 850 | 815-830 | 860-875 |
| 20 | 800 | 832-862 | 791-821 |
| 28 | 700 | 703-748 | 758-803 |
Regulatory Requirements for 4G LTE and 5G Antenna Design
In addition to network operator requirements, government regulators impose performance limits for public safety and interoperability. These limits are not exclusive to cellular systems but, when combined with high-performance requirements, can complicate antenna design. Key criteria include Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP), which necessitate user body shielding and omnidirectional radiation to meet safety standards. These criteria vary by country and device type.
Multiple antennas per band
Modern LTE and 5G standards incorporate diversity and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. Diversity antennas, with different radiation characteristics from the main antenna, enhance connection reliability and enable higher data rates. MIMO systems can include 2, 4, 8, or more reception antennas (Rx-MIMO), and sometimes multiple transmission antennas (Tx-MIMO), to improve reception sensitivity and data rates.
Comprehensive 4G LTE and 5G Antenna Design Services
Radientum offers specialized 4G LTE and 5G antenna design services, from feasibility studies and various design stages to consultancy during mass production. Our antenna simulations provide accurate performance forecasts in early development stages, enabling informed decisions before prototype manufacturing. We leverage our extensive product integration expertise to develop innovative antenna solutions.
We also conduct TRP and TRS measurements for 4G LTE systems in our own anechoic chamber using a communication tester, with a Test-SIM card being the only requirement to commence testing.
Blogs and case studies
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Antenna Integration Challenges: Follow the Instructions or Fail
Boosting R&D Investment: Simulation-Driven Antenna Design
In our previous blog post, we talked about the
How is Your Antenna Doing? An Overview of Antenna Testing
As technology advances, diving into the highly technical world
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