Is managing spectrum for 5G fundamentally different? If that is so, then why? Shouldn’t 5G follow the same principles for spectrum management as did the earlier versions of technologies? What makes 5G so different? The following note is an attempt to answer these questions (simply as possible) without sacrificing the technical details (important in supporting the rationale). Before I dwell on explaining the nuances it is important to understand the fundamentals of RF system (Radio Frequency)- used for carrying information from one point to another.
How RF System Works?
A typical Radio Frequency System is made up of a set of transmitters and receivers talking to each other using wireless spectrum. The transmitter encodes the information and sends it over the air towards the receiver located some distance away. The receiver decodes it for further consumptions. Both “transmitter” and “receiver” are embedded in every wireless equipment. However, in an FDD system (Frequency Division Duplex), they are always on, as both transmitters and receivers use different blocks of spectrum – separated out by a guard band. Whereas in case of a TDD system (Time Division Duplex), they change roles depending on which one is transmitting and use the same block of spectrum. See figure under.
