What is mm wave and is it possible to use for 5G communication in INDIA with 4G?
- LAMBDA INDIA
- Jun 14, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 15, 2019
‘Extremely high frequency’ means extremely fast 5G speeds
Millimeter wave spectrum is the band of spectrum between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. Wedged between microwave and infrared waves, this spectrum can be used for high-speed wireless communications as seen with the latest 802.11ad Wi-Fi standard (operating at 60 GHz).
It is being considered by standards organization, the Federal Communications Commission and researchers as the way to bring “5G” into the future by allocating more bandwidth to deliver faster, higher-quality video, and multimedia content and services.
Today, mm wave frequencies are being utilized for applications such as streaming high-resolution video indoors. Traditionally, these higher frequencies were not strong enough for outdoor broadband applications due to high propagation loss and susceptibility to blockage from buildings as well as absorption from rain drops. These problems made mm wave difficult for mobile broadband.
WHY?
High frequency means narrow wavelengths, and for mm waves that sits in the range of 1 millimeter to 10 millimeters.
It’s strength can be reduced due to vulnerabilities against gases, rain and humidity absorption.
And to make matters even less appealing, due to those factors millimeter wavelengths only reach out to a few kilometers.
Just a few years ago mm wave was not being put to use because few electronic components could receive millimeter waves. Now, thanks to new technologies, it is on the brink of being an integral part of the next-generation network.
Solutions for mmWave Communication:
Thankfully, the same characteristics that make mmWave so difficult to implement can be used to combat its shortcomings.
Short transmission paths and high propagation losses allows for spectrum reuse by limiting the amount of interference between adjacent cells, according to Robert Heath, professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.
In addition, where longer paths are desired, the extremely short wavelengths of mm wave signals make it feasible for very small antennas to concentrate signals into highly focused beams with enough gain to overcome propagation losses. The short wavelengths of mm wave signals also make it possible to build multi-element, dynamic beam forming antennas that will be small enough to fit into handsets.
How mm wave spectrum is being handled
The FCC proposed new rules for wireless broadband in wireless frequencies above 24 GHz. According to the government organization, these proposed rules “are an opportunity to move forward on creating a regulatory environment in which these emerging next-generation mobile technologies – such as so-called 5G mobile service – can potentially take hold and deliver benefits to consumers, businesses and the U.S. economy.”
According to the FCC, the organization is “taking steps to unlock the mobile broadband and unlicensed potential of spectrum at the frontier above 24 GHz.”
In an report titled “Millimeter wave for 5G: Unifying Communication and Sensing,” Xinyu Zhang, assistant professor of the electrical and computer engineering at the University of Wisconsin, detailed the mm wave bands being considered:
57 GHz to 64 GHz unlicensed.
Seven gigahertz in total 28 GHz/38 GHz licensed but underutilized.
Three gigahertz in total 71 GHz/81 GHz/92 GHz Light-licensed band: 12.9 gigahertz in total.
The ITU released a list of proposed globally viable frequencies between 24 GHz and 86 GHz after the most recent World Radiocommunications Conference:
24.25–27.5 GHz 31.8–33.4 GHz
37–40.5 GHz 40.5–42.5 GHz
45.5–50.2 GHz 50.4–52.6 GHz
66–76 GHz 81–86 GHz
For India,
Manoj Sinha, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Communications and Minister of State for Railways, Government of India, was the chief guest of the conference. Addressing the delegates he said, “We cannot afford to miss the 5G bus for India. The significance of 5G for India cannot be overlooked. 5G will help us leapfrog infrastructure challenges and bridge the digital divide.”
The minister added, “5G is not an incremental technology but an integration of systems. Its economic impact alone will have about $1 trillion by 2035.”
Author -
LAMBDA INDIA
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