NIST measures trees’ impact on 5G networks

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As cities roll out 5G networks, researchers are helping calculate signal loss caused by foliage.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is working to measure the effect trees and foliage have on the millimeter waves 5G transmissions are expected to use.

5G promises lower latencies and increased data flow, but new cell network designers must reckon with the technology's shortcomings. 5G uses millimeter waves that have limited ability to penetrate obstacles, such as buildings, trees and even inclement weather like rain or snow.

As wireless communication evolves from primarily a person-to-person exchange to cover a rapidly expanding network of connected devices, cities and carriers that are building out their 5G networks are looking for guidance on how to tackle the issue of interference caused by trees.

NIST researchers are conducting tests on seven different types of trees, during different seasons of the year. The leafier the tree, the more the waves lose their strength, according to NIST Wireless Networks Division Chief Nada Golmie.

“The tree study is one of the few out there that looks at the same tree’s effect on a particular signal frequency through different seasons,” Golmie said. “We couldn’t only do the survey in the winter, because things would have changed by summer. It turns out that even the shape of leaves affects whether a signal will reflect or get through.”

The researchers hope to give carriers a better way to calculate exact signal loss so they can fine tune their network models.

"By providing measurements, and methods to measure, we're enabling others to more accurately, precisely assess the loss so that it can be overcome," Golmie said. "We believe it can be overcome."

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