Smart 8T8R ( 8 branch transmit and 8 branch receive ) antennas adopt multiple-antenna 8-array technology. In combination with adaptive algorithms executed in the (Radio Access Network) RAN base station equipment, these antennas can achieve good beamforming performance.

The dual-band 8T8R RRU (Radio Remote Unit) uses the integrated wideband power amplifier that supports both FDD (Frequency Division  Duplex) 1.8 GHz and 2.1 GHz, saving the tower space and rental costs. Power sharing is also supported among the bands of different Radio Access Technologies (RATs). This provides extraordinary capabilities for operators to improve experience for cell-edge subscribers. 8T8R needs 8x Antennas at the Base Station Cell, and this is typically delivered using four X-Polar columns about half wavelength apart. China Mobile and Huawei have claimed to be the first ones to deploy these four X- pol column 8T8R antennas and USA is the another network that has been actively deploying these 8T8R antennas.

BEAMFORMING FIELD TEST:

Field  tests on base stations equipped with beamforming and 8T8R technologies makes the sustainability  of the solution. Operators can make the most of transmission (Tx) and receiving (Rx) diversity by adding Tx and Rx paths at the eNodeB level, and beamforming delivers a impact on uplink and downlink performance at the cell edge. This help to send more energy to users at the cell edge and hence provide better and more reliable coverage. By using 8 receiver paths instead of 2, cell range is increased by a factor of 1.5 . Using the beamforming techniques in transmission mode, generates a specific beam per user that improves the quality of the signal received by the end – user’s device or user equipment (UE). The orientation of the beam is decided by shifting the phases of the Tx paths based on the signal feedback given by the UE.

APPLICATIONS OF 8T8R ANTENNA:

  • An increasing number of operators are deploying 8T8R on these bands to quickly launch 5G services in C- band or 2300 MHz or 2600 MHz and thus improving the network speed and user experience.
  • Smart 8T8R solutions allow for one – time SDA ( Software Defined Antennas ) and 8T8R RRU deployment across 2G, 3G, 4G and supporting smooth evolution to 5G through software  based configurations.
  •  Baseband weighting of multiple antennas transmitting signals is used to form high gain, narrow beams where the beams target user devices,  improving signal strength and reducing interference.
  • 8T8R antenna at  3300-4200 MHz is used to  support mobile operators rolling out 5G coverage.
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