Huawei announces CableFree, a new breakthrough in 5G Antenna technology

Earlier this week, Huawei announced a new breakthrough in its 5G networking field. The company unveiled CableFree, which is a new antenna design for its 5G base stations.
 
The new development has improved various aspects regarding the 5G base station antennas. Its radiation efficiency, integration, and power capacity have been upgraded, marking a new stage of antenna technology standards as the world shifts into the 5G era. With the broader adoption of the newer and faster bandwidth, the latest network standard also saw an increase in bands and other internal complexities. Thus, the new antenna technology is better suited to take on the “vast challenges” it may face.
 
Briefly touching up on a few of the key implications, CableFree will have an overall improvement in 5G network coverage. This is crucial since one of 5G’s major flaw is its much narrower network cover over previous generations. With the introduction of high frequency bands in 5G, antenna gains are required to be increased for wider coverage. This is where the new technology helps, with CableFree arriving with a 20 percent higher radiation efficiency.
 
The power capacity of the new antenna design brings a significant jump of 80 percent, which is necessary due to the higher power output of 5G networking. Notably, CableFree also seeks to trim down physical aspects as well, with a six-band antenna being 10kgs lighter. The new breakthrough also arrives with an improved PIM (passive intermodulation) performance.
 
In layman’s terms, it basically means better interaction between two different mechanical components, which translates to lesser joints, screws, and soldering that should make the design of the new antennas much more streamlined than current standards. Thus, the new improvements would prove to be a boon in the new 5G world, although its implications have yet to be seen in real life.

---