The Need for High Frequency Connectors in 5G Communications

5G is almost here, with many operators announcing plans to trial or even launch service in late 2018 and full 5G network roll-outs scheduled to begin in 2020. The industry is gearing up for this launch with device manufacturers such as Qualcomm releasing 5G modems, (Snapdragon), test equipment manufacturers updating their portfolios and a number of companies such as Huawei, Nokia and Ericsson working on antenna and the beam-forming technology that will be required to enable the MIMO functionality of 5G. Within the various areas of 5G technology, RF connectors are omnipresent and the demands of mmWave frequencies place critical requirements on the precision of their manufacture.
The ubiquitous nature of cellular networks is also placing downward pressure on the cost of these connectors, whose use was historically limited to military and aerospace applications. Johnson connectors have been at the forefront of RF applications for over 50 years and have supported previous generations of wireless networks. In this article, we look at 5G, the demands it is placing on connector technology and how Johnson is responding with new product launches.