Honolulu HI, 7 June 2017:  5G is coming. This new form of wireless connection will help us keep up with the explosion of smart devices requiring the internet.

Cars, appliances, security cameras, virtual reality platforms and many other traditionally “inactive” devices – are beginning to require mobile internet connections to help us stay connected, and not just with other people via mobile devices and computers, but with the things we depend on every day.

With predictions of more than 20 billion internet-connected devices by 2020 requiring lightning-quick connections, 5G will redefine our world.

Anokiwave, Inc. and Ball Aerospace announced a collaboration on May 9, 2017, that will enable the 5G wireless revolution.

The collaboration accelerates mmW 5G phased array developments with the introduction of a family of commercial, active phased array Innovator Kits. Included are kit offerings like the 64-element, 28GHz AWMF-0129 (named Microwave Journal’s April MVP) enable improved mmW 5G network efficiency and ease of developing commercial phased array antennas.

“A major obstacle to the implementation of 5G connectivity and use cases in the marketplace is the learning curve commercial companies are navigating to build phased array active antennas,” says Robert Donahue, Anokiwave CEO. “We collaborated with industry leader, Ball Aerospace, a company with decades of active antenna expertise. The AWMF-0129 highlights the unique performance of our AWMF-0108 28 GHZ 5G IC. The compact and rugged hardware design and user friendly interface is typical of the high standards we have enjoyed working with Ball over the years.”

The AWMF-0129 is a 64–element, single polarization 5G phased array antenna designed to cover the 27.5–30 GHz frequency band. It is a planar antenna that can be used either as a stand-alone component, or combined and synchronized with other arrays to support hybrid beamforming and MIMO functionality as part of a larger array. With 50 dBmi of EIRP, the array supports multiple beam widths with functions for remote telemetry and low-latency steering™.

The arrays, which will allow us to live better, smarter, and more connected to our world, are available now for fast prototyping and evaluation of millimeter wave environments for 5G applications.

Anokiwave and Ball Aerospace have worked together on many different projects for more than a decade, including using Anokiwave integrated circuits in several Ball phased arrays for other markets and at a range of mmW frequencies.

“We are pleased to add our expertise in design, development and manufacturing of phased array antennas for commercial space, aerospace and defense to this collaboration,” said Bill Nevius, Ball Aerospace business development director. “Together, our combined innovations accelerate the path toward 5G and literally take the benefits of it to a whole new frequency.”