Designing wireless equipment simply gets more complex each year. That statement is more accurate than ever as we enter the design phase for the forthcoming 5G equipment. 5G radio equipment must operate in the traditional cellular bands as well as other microwave and millimeter-wave bands, handle complex modulation schemes, demonstrate low power consumption, and implement new technologies like MIMO and antenna beamforming. A tough combination to achieve.
Nonetheless, those goals are being met as some semiconductor manufacturers have stepped up to make it easier to implement such advanced hardware. These new semiconductor devices are paving the path to 5G as well as meeting other demanding radio needs.
Applications
Probably the biggest challenge is implementing the next generation of cellular base stations that must cover the older 2G/3G/4G standards as well as those for 5G. Any new ICs addressing this need must also be able to support new features like massive-MIMO systems, active antennas, and point-to-point backhaul. Furthermore, these ICs must also help reduce chip count to minimize PCB space and reduce overall power consumption, plus significantly cut time-to-market.