CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM) announced that it is ready to support the next generation of wireless networks in Europe and the US with base station antennas upgraded for the latest spectrum. The company is introducing new Ultra-Wideband antennas that support the 1400 MHz and 600 MHz frequency bands, the latest spectrum being released for cellular network use. CommScope says it has already delivered the Ultra-Wideband antenna for 1400 MHz to a major European operator.
“Speed to market is a critical success factor for network operators in today’s competitive wireless industry,” said Upendra Pingle, vice president, Base Station Antennas, CommScope. “CommScope prides itself on responding to real market demand quickly, ready to help our wireless customers deploy their valuable spectrum holdings as rapidly as possible.”
To keep up with ever-growing data demand, CommScope notes that wireless operators are adding new spectrum to their networks to increase capacity. One recent report cited by the company suggests that streaming audio and video content will account for 80 percent of network traffic by 2020. More than 20 billion Internet of Things devices could also be connected by then.
Many European network operators recently received licenses to operate in the 1400 MHz bands, which will help supplement downlink speeds and improve the user experience. CommScope’s Ultra-Wideband antenna covers the full spectrum of 1427 to 2690 MHz. Uniquely, the new antenna has separate inputs for the 1400 MHz band, enabling downtilt for just that band, while still offering 4x2 and 4x4 MIMO capability on the 1800, 2100, 2300 and 2600 MHz bands without increasing the size of the antenna.
For the US market, CommScope has an Ultra-Wideband antenna ready for the 600 MHz bands currently being auctioned, which could serve as a "wide-area 5G coverage layer.” CommScope’s 600 MHz Ultra-Wideband antenna offers superior narrow beamwidth performance, giving it excellent pattern containment, roll off and sector overlap control. These pattern characteristics reduce interference, boost network capacity and enable operators to get the most from their spectral investments. CommScope expects to begin trials of the 600 MHz Ultra-Wideband antennas this year.
In addition to supporting new spectrum, CommScope’s Ultra-Wideband antennas carry the major frequency bands used globally, enabling operators to provide a variety of services from the same antennas. Network operators typically need such multi-faceted network equipment in order to support the numerous wireless technologies and devices in use today.
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