NEC : develops compact and lightweight massive-element active antenna system for 5G communications

Massive-element active antenna system developed by NEC

The newly developed AAS, which supports the 100MHz bandwidth, adopts a fully digital control system that enables the forming of precise directional signals (beams) in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems for devices such as smartphones and tablets, through the use of 64 antenna elements. These features enable high spectral efficiency, at more than 15 times the throughput of LTE per cell (**), even in environments where terminals are unevenly distributed and moving.

Also, NEC integrated the antenna and wireless processing components into one unit through the use of highly integrated circuits and highly dense printed circuit boards, in order to develop a practical system that is compact and lightweight (26 cm ×34cm, 6kg).

'Massive-element active antenna systems that utilize the low-SHF band are an important component in realizing high-speed and high-capacity communications needed for 5G,' said Katsumi Tanoue, Deputy General Manager, Mobile Radio Access Network Division, NEC Corporation. 'Through verification trials using the newly developed AAS, we will evaluate the usefulness of technologies for increasing spectral efficiency and contribute to the commercialization of 5G.'

This announcement includes results from the project on '5G R&D Activities for High Data Rate and Low-Power Consumption Radio Access Technologies with Higher-Frequency-Band and Wider-Bandwidth Massive MIMO' sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

NEC will exhibit the above product and its other efforts in 5G systems at Mobile World Congress 2017 to be held in Barcelona, Spain from February 27 to March 2, 2017.

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