Integrating the Front End: A Highly Integrated RF Front End for High-SHF Wide-Band Massive MIMO in 5G

Fifth-generation (5G) mobile communications will need to accommodate huge traffic demands in the near future. Massive multipleinput/multiple-output (MIMO) technology utilizing hundreds of antenna elements has drawn attention as a key antenna configuration for envisioned 5G applications. Realizing the massive MIMO concept of active phased-array antennas (APAAs) for 5G will require small-size, low-power-consumption, and highly accurate phase control over the wide-band frequency range, which poses significant challenges for the RF front end. This article describes prototyped highly integrated RF front ends for high super-high-frequency (SHF) wide-band massive MIMO in 5G.