Efficient testing of antennas for 5G mm-wave applications

The development of 5G focus on the creation of a network with a much larger role than previous cellular generations: connecting new industries, enabling new services, and empowering new user experiences. 5G also introduces new higher frequencies in the mm-wave range, quite different from what was used for 3G and 4G. This has a significant impact on the design, developments, and testing of antennas embedded in 5G wireless devices. Fast and accurate antenna measurement systems are needed to satisfy the short developments and testing cycles to which today's antenna engineer are operating. Fast multi-probe systems is an established technology employed in fast and accurate measurement systems from 70MHz up to 18GHz. This paper describes a new multi-probe, near-field measurement system, in spherical geometry. The StarLab 50GHz is ideal for demanding antenna measurements for 5G applications in the 18 to 50GHz frequency range. Results from validation campaigns are also presented.