Accurate and Efficient Radiation Test Solutions for 5G and Millimeter Wave Devices

Abstract

The promise of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) is a future in which an inconceivable number of everyday devices are connected with incredible speeds. 4G was the first mobile system actually designed with global standardization. This was one of the key factors in the success of 4G and the speed of its deployment. Today, the main objective of the communication community is to realize common standards for 5G and build a global system. A first 5G systems have been tested at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea. The deployment of other 5G pilot systems will follow at various prestigious events such as the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan. Finally, users will have 5G devices and will enjoy the full performance of this new technology.We know that test and measurements of 5G enabled devices and base-stations will differ widely from what we are doing today. 5G implies higher and widely available spectrum in the millimeter range, which can accommodate the implementation of Massive-MIMO involving multiple small antennas and in-device processing. This will move the emphasis from the antenna towards system testing. Important parameters, determined from conducted testing for 4G, will likely be performed in Over-The-Air (OTA) setups in tomorrow’s 5G. This puts a strong requirement on the measurement industry to provide effective testing solutions to developers, industries and regulators.In this paper/presentation we will give an introduction to existing measurement technology and a vision on the evolution of testing technology for 5G enabled devices at millimeter wave frequencies.