Breaking Down mmWave Barriers with Holographic Beam Forming®
Posted on February 18, 2020 | Pivotal Commware
Editor’s Note: As 5G mmWave applications are being implemented, the issues of propagation distance and blocking have limited the success of initial deployments. However, new array beam forming technologies have been developed to help overcome these limitations by enabling higher power/gain, higher efficiency and improved scanning angles. Our cover feature introduces two array beam forming technologies that promise to improve mmWave systems: the first is Holographic Beam Forming from Pivotal Commware, and the other is dielectric resonator antenna technology from Antenna Company. So stay tuned as we address semiconductor technology improvements for 5G mmWave applications in our April issue.
mmWave wireless services have been traditionally used in short range wireless transport applications such as fronthaul/backhaul, point-to-point links and SATCOM. 5G in the U.S. will push the role of mmWave beyond simple transport to become a capacity layer for fixed wireless access (FWA) and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB). Taking mmWave from its fixed beam roots to a dynamic, reconfigurable access layer will depend critically on beam forming techniques to assure link margins without requiring massive capital outlays.