Nextivity 5G Strategy: Targeting Low and Mid-Bands to Effectively and Affordably Boost 5G Cellular Signals Indoors

5G is not a specific technology. It is a collection of services that can be enabled by a set of technologies. These include Enhanced Mobile Broadband, Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communication, and Massive Machine Type Communications.

To deliver these services, core areas of existing 4G technology needed to be addressed. One of these areas is the bandwidth available to deliver the services. There is a limit to the amount of data that can be sent in every MHz of spectrum called the Shannon limit. Therefore, even with the best technology, extremely high data speeds (in excess of 1 Gbps) require access to large amounts of spectrum. These large amounts of spectrum can only be found at very high frequencies – above 24 GHz (e.g., mmWave frequencies). Therefore, 5G introduces the concept of two frequency ranges. FR1 describes frequency ranges below 6 GHz and FR2 describes frequency ranges above 6 GHz (typically around 30 GHz).

FR2 has lots of bandwidth available, but the reach of these high frequency signals is very short. Therefore, we have seen them used for specific applications more than for general coverage. As our company focuses on providing excellent general coverage, our product line is focused on FR1 or sub 6 GHz operation. This does not mean we can’t support high data rates – in fact we have shown, with a number of operators, how we can break 1 Gbps. It means that we focus on delivering high speed general coverage and not ultra-fast spot coverage.