Resource Management in Advanced Wireless Networks

7Interference Problem in 5G with Radio Access Network

S. T. Deepa* and Vinitha Kumari

School of Computational Science, Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women, Chennai, India

Abstract

As network operators navigate a multi-pronged transformation that encompasses 5G, fiber proliferation, increasingly cloud-based and virtualized networks, one of the challenges that they face is that of radio frequency interference. RF interference is not a new issue in wireless networks, and in fact, some of the same sources of RF interference that affect 4G networks will also impact 5G networks. Here are some of the most important things to know about RF interference in 5G networks. 5G can be affected by the same RF interference as 4G because it may operate in the same frequency bands as 4G. These bands, whether they be the low, the mid or the high-frequency bands, they can be affected by sources of interference—and these sources of interferences are increasing everywhere, and have really become a huge headache for network operations teams. In the low and mid-bands where 3G, 4G and 5G may all be currently operating, he added, EXFO’s customers are seeing tens of thousands of sites impacted by RF interference and specifically, passive inter-modulation or PIM. 5G Non-Standalone networks depend on 4G, so the same RF interference that impacts 4G will affect 5G. While it may be tempting to think that 4G issues wouldn’t affect new 5G networks, Lipari points out that when it comes to ...