From terrestrial 5G to NTN direct-to-device and defence: how mmWave is shaping global connectivity
By Paul Clowes, Director of Business Development, Filtronic
The radio frequency (RF) bands used to transmit data are becoming increasingly congested. Crowded microwave bands now offer limited scope for expansion, meaning data traffic must move into higher frequency millimetre wave (mmWave) bands to meet rapidly growing demand.
There are significant benefits of shifting into higher mmWave bands, which span wavelengths between 10mm (30GHz) and 1mm (300GHz). These bands offer vastly increased data capacity, ultra-fast data speeds and low-latency transmission.
Higher mmWave frequencies offer wide-open areas of uninterrupted bandwidth. E-band frequencies (71-86GHz) are already being widely used, particularly for 5G Xhaul, and applications are now moving into even higher frequency bands, such as W-band (92-114GHz) and D-band (130-174GHz).
While mmWave offers the scope to support current and next-generation communications across many sectors, moving up the frequency spectrum presents new challenges. Designing and manufacturing products becomes more complex at higher frequencies – the manufacturing tolerances are more stringent and components become smaller, requiring intricate machining and part placement.
Having developed proven systems at E-band, Filtronic is now working with clients to take mmWave technology into exciting new areas.
Defence: next-generation electronic warfare and secure communications
The improvements in power, data capacity and speed offered by mmWave provide considerable benefits for critical military communications. In an area of conflict unreliable or interrupted signals could cost lives. Moving up to higher frequencies not only offers higher data rates but also provides more directional signals that are harder to intercept. High-power mmWave technologies are now being used across radar, electronic warfare and secure communication systems.
Innovations in this sector include replacing gallium arsenide (GaAs) MMICs with gallium nitride (GaN) to boost power and efficiency. For military radar, jammers and electronic countermeasure systems, greater power means greater range, enabling a wider area to be covered by a single asset and allowing operatives to be located further away from danger.
By exchanging GaAs for GaN MMICs within existing devices, power and efficiency can be enhanced, with limited re-engineering of the device housing or structure. That is especially important for RF systems housed in fixed locations, such as the nose cones of aircraft, inside radar stations, or on-board military vehicles and ships.
Satellite communications: powering connectivity beyond Earth
Filtronic has developed E-band transmit and receive technologies for satellite communications, providing vital components for ambitious low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite programmes, as well as supporting communications with and between medium Earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites.
As satellite traffic continues to grow, leading satellite operators are eyeing up other under-utilised mmWave bands, such as Q, V and E or W-band depending on which naming standard you are using. These offer significantly greater bandwidth than the C, Ku and Ka bands traditionally used in space, enabling higher date rates and interference-free transmission. By moving into new mmWave bands, satellite communications have the potential to support emerging applications across healthcare, transport, commerce and agriculture – from direct to device, (D2D) to remote surgery to driverless vehicles.
Filtronic is now working with the European Space Agency (ESA) under its Advanced Research and Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme to develop mmWave products for satellite applications. Exploring the use of multi-band uplinks and downlinks, harnessing up to four separate frequency bands to increase data capacity and reduce congestion. We are also developing Ka, Q and V-band Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs) to complement our existing range of E-Band SSPA’s to help ESA lead the way in this sector.
Telecommunications: accelerating 5G proliferation
The telecommunications backhaul market has spearheaded the shift from microwave to mmWave frequencies. Filtronic has a rich heritage in this sector, having developed mmWave solutions to support the transition to 5G.
The propagation characteristics of mmWave makes it ideally suited for deployment in dense urban areas with high volumes of data traffic. One of the biggest challenges in 5G is managing traffic between the core network and the radio access network. Our E-band transceivers and amplifiers have become the technology of choice across XHaul (fronthaul, midhaul and backhaul) markets where high-frequency, low-latency communication is essential to achieve 5G performance.
We have led other innovations in the telecommunications sector, supporting the development of low-latency private wireless networks. Wireless point-to-point mmWave links can transmit signals milliseconds faster than fibre-optic cables, delivering benefits to a range of applications, where low latency is the real differentiator.
Face-paced progress powered by collaboration
In the fast-moving communications market, requirements are constantly changing – and companies need suppliers to keep pace. We have developed processes and systems that enable us to adapt quickly and to drive continuous improvement through all stages of product development.
Collaboration is key. This is a complex marketplace and innovation requires the combined efforts of the best minds in the sector. We are frequently commended for our collaborative approach and willingness to share expertise to develop leading-edge solutions. Our engineering teams become embedded within our clients’ operations and work hand-in-glove with their engineers to solve complex challenges.
Collaboration is supported by our vertical integration, which enables design, process, manufacturing, operations and testing teams to work freely together to solve problems. It means designs are developed with the manufacturing process in mind, and everyone understands the implications of decisions made, ensuring designs are deliverable in practice.
At higher frequencies, it becomes increasingly difficult to manufacture devices consistently at scale. Very few companies can produce large volumes of these complex systems at high yields with minimal wastage. Our manufacturing capabilities allow us to develop such products from early prototypes through to high-volume production in the same facility – supporting our clients to deploy new mmWave technologies at speed.
Trusted partner for multi-industry mmWave innovation
When it comes to enabling advances in communications capabilities, mmWave frequency bands are set to play a central role in providing higher data capacity, lower latency and higher speeds. Filtronic is firmly established as a trusted and innovative partner to deliver advanced solutions for multiple industries and applications – from base stations and battlefields to laboratories and space Filtronic delivers high-performance mmWave solutions.
Explore our full range of mmWave solutions – contact Filtronic now to learn more.