How To Help Ensure 5G Networks Stay Fast? By Using Hovering Antennas.

Needless to say, the population of mobile users is continuing to increase in major mobile markets across the globe, and that can only mean one thing -- networks will soon find themselves having to shoulder the ever growing volume of traffic. And when 5G makes its commercial debut a couple of years from now (give or take), networks will probably not get any less crowded than they already are.

But apparently, a team of researchers hailing from the Electro Science Laboratory (ESL) of Ohio State University is proposing a somewhat curious idea -- make the antenna “hover.” Specifically, what the research crew has done is come up with millimeter wave antenna arrays that are nearly separated completely from the substrate one traditionally mounts them on. 

By doing it this way, they can ensure that the substrate is not prone to weakening signals (like normal antennas are). On top of that, hovering antennas will be able to amplify signals, thanks to a new approach to the antenna’s physical design. With the help of the latest 3D printing methods, antennas can be rendered in lens structures that are capable of more efficiency and effectiveness in terms of transmitting and receiving signals from the antenna array.

Suffice it to say that this type of antenna technology is still in its infancy stage. Nobody has any clear idea yet with regards to when or if the hovering antennas will be introduced in the market. But there is no denying that it is an interesting idea, and one that would certainly help bring the full concept of the 5G era into life. 

As more and more mobile users utilize whatever connection is made available in the near future, networks will likely struggle, at least initially, to handle all that traffic volume. The quality of the network could suffer, and even connection speeds could be affected, especially in large metropolitan areas where there are more consumers, not to mention more business establishments and more homes. Sure, fiber optic lines are very effective in making sure towns and neighborhoods are given access to 5G networks, but fiber optics are often costly and even challenging to roll out fast. Hovering antennas, on the other hand, are easier and cheaper to deploy.

Most industry watchers believe that 5G networks will become a reality by 2019. And it appears that every player in the wireless, mobile, and tech industries are excited to see it happen. Various mobile operators have already started testing their respective 5G offerings, while tech companies are making strides of their own. Qualcomm, for instance, has already developed the Snapdragon X50 5G NR Modem, a processor specifically designed for 5G compatible mobile devices.