Dual Polarization Beamforming Coverage Demonstrated with 5G NR SSB

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antennas are increasingly used within cellular systems. They provide flexible beamforming and spatial multiplexing improving coverage and capacity. One drawback with large array antennas is the challenge to provide wide beams utilizing the full power of the MIMO antenna grid. A promising solution is to use dual polarization beamforming. In this paper this technique is demonstrated with a Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) 8x4 MIMO radio. Dual polarized precoders are designed that utilize all 64 power amplifiers creating a wide sector beam. The coverage is measured on the NR Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) in a macro deployment proving range coverage in combination with a wide horizontal angle.