Intelligent Auto-focus Antenna Enhances Network Coverage Flexibility in All Scenarios

PRESS RELEASE: At MWC Shanghai 2024, China Mobile Research Institute and Huawei showcased a new digital Auto-focus Antenna at China Mobile’s exhibition booth. With an innovative architecture and form factor, this digital antenna improves network O&M and optimization efficiency and can be flexibly deployed in any scenario.

As 5G and 5.5G technologies are developing rapidly, network sites continue to increase and traffic requirements are soaring. In scenarios where foot traffic shows a tidal effect, user mobility is high. This requires networks to dynamically guarantee high capacity in high-user-density areas while preventing wasted coverage energy in low-user-density areas. However, this is impossible with traditional antennas, as they are dumb devices. Their engineering parameters cannot be obtained remotely and their beam adjustment capability is limited. As a result, network O&M and optimization are dependent on site visits, which are costly and inefficient. So, to achieve refined network optimization and improve user experience in all scenarios, operators need innovative antennas that support simplified network O&M and service-based flexible network coverage and optimization.

That is why China Mobile Research Institute and Huawei rolled out the Auto-focus Antenna. It allows remote access to site engineering parameters and flexible beam coverage configuration based on user distribution, improving network O&M and optimization efficiency and slashing OPEX. The antenna integrates a Remote Azimuth Steering (RAS) function, expanding the beam adjustment capability from one-dimensional (vertical) to two-dimensional (both vertical and horizontal). In tidal foot traffic scenarios such as high-speed railways, this function supports real-time intelligent adjustment of antenna beams based on user distribution, improving user-level network coverage precision and network energy utilization, to provide a better network experience for users. In addition, the Auto-focus Antenna also integrates a high-precision and fast-response engineering parameter self-sensing unit. By remotely and automatically obtaining antenna engineering parameters, the unit eliminates the need for site survey as well as manual measurement errors, facilitating site engineering parameter management and reducing O&M costs. Designed with a compact array architecture and cylindrical appearance, the Auto-focus Antenna has a smaller size and wind load, making its deployment more efficient and reliable.

Sun Youwei, President of Huawei Antenna Business Unit, said, “As mobile networks are becoming comprehensively intelligent, antennas need to be continuously innovated in every aspect from form factor, architecture, energy efficiency, to digital capabilities that help operators accelerate network evolution and sustain business success.”