This is how 5G networks will follow their users

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5G massive broadband will offer enough capacity to perform every function users desire – wherever they go, without a drop in speed or connection, and no matter how many people are connected at the same time. Basically, it will be network nirvana for the “I want it now” generation. For example, subscribers will be able to enjoy 8K films in 3D, which is 16 times the pixel count of full HD, while they are on the move. And they’ll be able to download a full movie in a matter of seconds over the mobile network.
Whether deployed in ‘traditional’ frequencies below 6 GHz or in higher frequency bands, new technology will be needed to achieve the necessary peak rates in the range of 10 Gbps and data rates of 100 Mbps anywhere, even under high-load conditions or at the cell edge.

Massive broadband requires massive MIMO
Nokia Networks’ new 5G radio systems therefore feature advanced antennas and operate in the bands up to 100 GHz for extreme throughput and virtual zero latency. This year’s Brooklyn 5G Summit showed great advances in 5G radio by already demonstrating 10 Gbps over the air. Active antenna technology that uses a large number of antenna elements is a key technology for 5G massive broadband. Adaptive MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) and beamforming technologies are expected to form a central part of 5G as they greatly enhance coverage and user experience across the whole range of frequency bands.

Focused power
Beamforming will be an important feature for 5G base stations because high data rates require sufficient signal strength. In particular for higher frequencies, beamforming is considered to be essential in overcoming the high path loss associated with the high frequency. The energy must therefore be concentrated and continuously steered to where user demand is. This means the transmitting power is used much more effectively, and also causes less interference to neighboring cells.

Serving moving targets
With beamforming, the base station transmits its signal into the direction of the receiving terminal instead of into the whole cell. In order to cope with moving terminals, the base station must be able to track the terminal and adaptively steer its beam into the direction of the terminal. Such adaptive beamforming can be implemented with phased array antennas.
A phased array antenna consists of various interconnected individual transmitters. With a variable and intelligent arrangement of the individual transmitters, the resulting antenna pattern achieves high directivity and the resulting beam can be flexibly adjusted to moving users and varying capacity needs.

From: blog.networks.nokia.com