Pioneering 6G D-Band Trials

…with Hybrid Dual-Analog Beamforming for Multi-Users and Blockage Avoidance.

In December 2024, the institutes Fraunhofer IAF and HHI as well as LG Electronics, building on their successes from 2022, have once again demonstrated their global leadership in sub-THz 6G wireless network technology: They have successfully executed the world’s first trial of D-band hybrid beamforming with dual-channel analog beamforming radio heads, showcasing a milestone in broadband data transmission at 160 GHz. This technological breakthrough presents advancements in maintaining robust links to cope with blockages while efficiently serving multiple users.

In close cooperation, the Fraunhofer Institutes for Applied Solid State Physics IAF and for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute, HHI, and LG Electronics, Inc. have developed a state-of-the-art radio head prototype capable of delivering more than 50 dBm (100 watts) of EIRP output power.

The researchers have developed a state-of-the-art radio head prototype capable of delivering more than 50 dBm (100 watts) of EIRP output power. © Fraunhofer HHI

These radio heads employ MIMO hybrid beamforming to provide concurrent dual-beam functionality, increasing link robustness and communication reliability. They also support multi-user (dual-user) functionalities and are capable of 3D beamforming enabled by a planar antenna structure and integrated hybrid beamforming features. The modules include advanced InGaAs mHEMT power amplifiers (PA), low-noise amplifiers (LNA), up-/down-converters, and RF-switch circuits designed and fabricated at Fraunhofer IAF. Additionally, the analog RF beamforming circuitry, along with integrated antenna and beamforming dielectric lens, were designed by Fraunhofer HHI and LG Electronics.

Groundbreaking transmission experiments

Through a comprehensive top-down system approach, from silicon-based architectures to RF components and modules, digital signal algorithms, and OTA data transmission, the researchers from Fraunhofer and LG Electronics have conducted groundbreaking transmission experiments. These experiments used a 160 GHz carrier frequency and a 5G-NR compliant OFDM waveform, highlighting dual-user operations and dual-beam capabilities to overcome environmental blockage challenges. In these experiments, the researchers successfully demonstrated high data rate transmissions, over 2 GHz of bandwidth, effective link/RF-beam adaptation to blockages, and robust dual-user support.

These accomplishments mark a significant milestone in wireless communication research, contributing to the development of next-generation mobile networks based on 6G technology, promising unprecedented data speed enhancements and increased network capacity.

Weitere Informationen:

https://www.iaf.fraunhofer.de/en/media-library/press-releases/d-band-demo-6g.htm…