GaAs ICs drive breakthrough 5G technology

Pivotal Commware says its Holographic beam forming (HBF) enables it to create software defined antennas that can harness, shape and direct radio waves. It overcomes the obstacle already confronted by 5G suppliers of signals from their base stations being blocked by multi-pane windows and walls.

The company’s flagship product is the Echo 5G beamforming repeater which can boost mmWave signals through double-glazed windows at angles of up to 80 degrees. The device has already been successfully demonstrated in field trials, and Pivotal Commware has applied for an operational licence from the US Federal Communications Commission.

CEO Brian Deutsch anticipates commercial roll-out by July this year.

Besides saving on installation costs, service providers can reach more subscribers using fewer base stations. This includes 5G mmWave mobile subscriber indoors. Echo 5G enables 5G service providers to close the mmWave business case for serving fixed and mobile subscribers with higher performance.

MACOM is supplying devices based on its Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) and Aluminium Gallium Arsenide (AlGaAs) process technology.

Said Deutsch, “Power handling, efficiency, insertion loss and channel isolation are major challenges for RF components at mmWave frequencies.”

“MACOM have been all in on overcoming these challenges. They took the time to understand the market place and made the decision to lead on developing the appropriate products,” added Deutsch.

Deutsch also indicated MACOM’s global reach which includes manufacturing facilities or foundry alliances in the major geographic markets will enable a more easily managed supply chain.

Live demonstrations will be staged at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (February 25-28).

The Echo 5G Subscriber products use Pivotal’s patented Holographic Beam Forming (HBF) to counteract window penetration and reflection loss so consumers and enterprises can enjoy Gigabit speeds beyond the reach of cable and DSL. HBF offers the lowest available size, weight and power consumption beamformer profile so subscribers can install Echo 5G themselves.

Besides saving on installation costs, service providers can reach more subscribers using fewer base stations. This includes 5G mmWave mobile subscriber indoors. Echo 5G enables 5G service providers to close the mmWave business case for serving fixed and mobile subscribers with higher performance.

The Echo 5G Network products comprise two back-to-back Echo 5Gs cooperating to route and shape RF energy around obstacles like buildings and boost coverage to extend the range of the 5G base station. This way, service providers can organically grow the 5G-coverage footprint while avoiding costly base station deployment.

“During live 5G field trials with a major U.S. mobile operator, the Echo 5G Subscriber successfully demonstrated 1.3Gbps of throughput indoors at 28GHz where no connectivity had existed without the Echo 5G. This proves that the Echo 5G Subscriber overcomes the last obstacle to delivering 5G broadband access to homes and businesses with mmWave – in-building penetration,” said Deutsch.

“Meanwhile, we expect our Echo 5G Network product to minimise base station deployment CAPEX and with it ongoing OPEX,” added Deutsch. “Pivotal is excited to demonstrate the Echo 5G live for our industry peers at Mobile World Congress, as well as other breakthroughs we have made with our HBF technology, including our new Fasthaul product for wireless transport.”