With 5G still not deployed in many markets across the globe and coverage far from complete in countries that have deployed the technology, it may seem premature to be considering 6G. However, some technologies need to be prepared in advance of reaching deployment, and antennas for the 6G market are no exception.  Today, we’re at the mid-point of 5G development and advances such as mmWave technology have demonstrated that the foundation for a significant array of use cases is now in place.

The ultra-resilient low latency communication (URLLC), massive device density, and sheer throughput of 5G are now supporting use cases that rely on high-definition video, artificial intelligence, and assisted and automated machines. These deployments are fuelling anticipation of the 6G era and the use cases that it will bring. 6G will be far from isolated with antennas needing to offer fallback to 5G and 4G alongside satellite communication.

There are substantial technological innovations for designers to take account of. These include antennas that support capabilities such as reflect/transmit array (RIS), low earth orbit (LEO) satellite antennas, and dash antennas which support point-to-point connectivity.

These issues were explored in a recent Quectel Masterclass which profiled antenna innovations and explained how new innovations are impacting antenna design and selection. The speakers, Colin Newman, Director of Antenna Business Development at Quectel, and Andy Wang, Antenna FAE at Quectel, provided an overview of OTA and desense and also explained RIS. The Masterclass also featured analysis of the satellite communication technologies that will be adjacent to 6G.

The Masterclass can be viewed at https://www.quectel.com/masterclass-library/6g-antennas/