Comparison of Propagation Characteristics Between 5G Bands in a Reflective Industrial Environment

New frequency bands, such as the upper mid-band from 7 to 24 GHz, are currently heavily discussed for 5G and beyond, not least for industrial use cases. This study examines the propagation characteristics within a reflective industrial environment, with a specific focus on parts of this novel frequency band (10–12 GHz). Through a dedicated measurement campaign, we compare signal attenuation and delay spread in different settings using channel-sounding equipment in the 5G bands FR1, FR2, and upper mid-band. We give particular attention to both, the impact of reflective industrial environments and the effect of different blockage scenarios, for example, from metal plates or human blockage. In addition, we compare the propagation characteristics using functional measurements for FR1, providing insights into the performance using realistic hardware.