Tunable Filters for Agile 5G New Radio Base Transceiver Stations [Application Notes]

Driven by spectrum scarcity and pressures to reduce costs, the complexity of the wireless environment is continuously growing. The need for flexible radio systems that enable efficient spectrum utilization is becoming increasingly urgent to optimize the use of spectrum and telecommunication infrastructure [1] – [9] . In cellular systems, the requirement for agile RF front ends is driven by the evolution of standardization and associated spectrum and channel allocations. The evolution from 4G to 5G and beyond is marked by increased spectrum allocation to these systems both in the sub-6-GHz (FR1) and millimeter-wave (FR2) ranges and a multiplicity of frequency bands of operation. Underpinning cellular infrastructure that can serve a number of frequency bands utilizing common hardware therefore delivers operational and commercial advantages.