Aeroflex Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aeroflex Holding Corporation is actively working on developing technologies towards potential Fifth Generation (5G) wireless systems, and is a founding member of the 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC) program, led by the University of Surrey, UK.

Aeroflex is one of the founding partners in 5GIC, which is conducting research and development into advanced technologies for the 5G network of the future. The project aims to establish a world-leading position in mobile broadband communications, and participants include leading global mobile network operators, infrastructure and tools providers, along with media and communications organizations, in addition to the University itself.

“The 5GIC program gives us an excellent platform for collaboration with world-class researchers and companies in this exciting mobile communications field,” said Li-Ke Huang, Technology Manager of Aeroflex. “As a leading wireless network infrastructure test solution provider, Aeroflex is fully committed to developing and providing solutions to tackle the new test and measurement needs and challenges of the future 5G technologies.”

Aeroflex’s early engagement in 5G research will consolidate its position as a leading innovator in wireless network infrastructure test technologies and systems, providing test and measurement products to enable all stages of the R&D cycle for this new generation of wireless technology. Aeroflex’s involvement includes assuring the testability of the future high-complexity, high-density, intelligent large scale wireless systems by developing advanced wireless network simulation and modelling techniques for effective and efficient test scenario generation.

“Aeroflex has been a key partner in 5G research right from the beginning, just as we have been with LTE-A,” said Li-Ke Huang. “We are playing a pivotal role in test and measurement innovations to enable the core wireless technology research to develop concept-proving system prototypes, towards 5G and beyond.”

In co-operation with 5GIC, Aeroflex is evaluating and developing the use of the industry benchmark TM500 infrastructure test platform for research into new air interface technologies that may be suitable for 5G. A filter band multi-carrier (FBMC) modem architecture with isotropic orthogonal transform algorithm (IOTA) has been selected as the first of the new air interface options to be explored, and Aeroflex is developing a practical IOTA modem on the TM500 test mobile platform. The prototype modem was being demonstrated on the Aeroflex stand at Mobile World Congress.

Combining 5GIC’s core algorithm research and Aeroflex’s wireless system engineering capabilities has already yielded positive initial results in experimental modem design. These include evaluation of physical layer performance gains resulting in potential system design enhancements that could be achieved using FBMC technologies. It has also facilitated the validation of theoretical analysis, and helped both in understanding and solving practical design issues and in identifying recommendations for future areas of research.