Hardware Architecture

Summary

Chapter 5 examines the timeline, spectral aspects, basic architecture, and important technologies of 5G from the hardware perspective. It begins with the development timeline of 5G, highlighting the role of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in setting the standards. The chapter details the 5G spectrum, divided into Frequency Range 1 (FR1) and Frequency Range 2 (FR2), and discusses the characteristics and applications of these frequency ranges. Key technologies such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), massive MIMO, and beamforming are explored for their roles in enhancing data rates and reducing latency. Additionally, the chapter delves into 5G New Radio (NR), network architecture, and the benefits of carrier aggregation. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the convergence of computing and network technologies, emphasizing the need for innovative architectures to meet the demands of emerging 5G applications.