Channel sounding – in search of frequencies for wireless communications of the future

Still, no one yet knows with certainty exactly what 5G will be and with which methods and technologies these ambitious goals will eventually be reached. However, two key features clearly stand out. First, 5G will open up entirely new frequency bands into the millimeter-wave range (i. e. above 30 GHz) for commercial wireless communications applications (Fig. 1). Second, the wanted signal bandwidth will be significantly extended. These new channels require comprehensive analysis to ensure their optimal utilization. The most important method for characterizing cellular radio channels is channel sounding.