《2023年微波技术展望报告》-英-16页_1mb

E-band spectrum plays a crucial role in meeting future 5G and beyond backhaul capacity demands, with Ericsson forecasting that it can support up to 44 Gbps per link in urban environments. By 2030, microwave solutions are expected to provide 50% of macro site backhaul globally, with a 50/50 split in mobile backhaul, excluding North East Asia. The roll-out of 5G has expanded E-band usage to most countries, driven by high spectrum availability and capacity needs.

Antenna innovations, such as dual-polarized antennas and ETSI Class 4 designs, enhance capacity, hopping distance, and spectral efficiency. For instance, sway compensation antennas extend hop lengths by up to 80% compared to regular antennas, while water-repellent radome coatings reduce fade losses and improve reliability in harsh weather conditions.

AI-driven network automation reduces operational costs (OPEX) by automating troubleshooting, predictive maintenance, and radio deep sleep scheduling. This led to a 40% reduction in site visits, improving network availability and energy efficiency. Examples from operators like Lineox demonstrate cost savings and optimized performance.

Long-haul microwave solutions offer high-capacity alternatives in remote areas where fiber deployment is impractical, using wider channels and adaptive modulation. Case studies like Tusass in Greenland show how these technologies enable 5G-ready services in harsh conditions, supporting connectivity for healthcare, education, and daily life.

Overall, while E-band is central to future evolution, challenges in spectrum availability and deployment timelines persist. Microwave remains a key enabler, with innovations in spectrum reuse, AI, and long-haul applications ensuring it stays relevant to deep-digitalization needs.