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Indian American electrical engineer developing a 5G network solution

Photo of Harish Krishnamoorthy via University of Houston

In a time of remote work and social distancing, more and more people are relying on broadband internet to connect with the outside world. Now just might be the time for a revolution in online technology, and some are hoping one will happen through development of the fifth-generation wireless network, also known as 5G.

The U.S. Department of Defense recently funded a $1.7 million grant for an Indian American electrical engineer to design and build a system to support infrastructure for a 5G future, according to a University of Houston release

Electrical engineer Harish Krishnamoorthy will work on this five-year project in collaboration with New Edge Signal Solutions, a Massachusetts company that builds high-speed broadband radio frequency systems, the release said. 

So what exactly is 5G, and why is the government interested in investing in it? 

Fifth-generation wireless technology provides better resolution and clarity of connection, and carriers say the technology could potentially have applications to driverless cars, robotic surgery and smart buildings. It also reportedly offers download speeds 100 times faster than existing 4G systems, which have lower peak power and bandwidth.

5G signals are sent through new radio frequencies but reach a smaller range. That means carriers who want to build 5G capability need to update their equipment and install many new towers and poles. As a result, rollouts of the technology have been slow and mostly happening in larger metropolitan areas.  

CNN reports that in recent weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has inspired misinformation about 5G, with some believing that the novel coronavirus is spread through the networks – this despite the fact that Iran, one of the hardest-hit countries, does not have the technology. 

“There are no indications from scientific studies that 5G (or any other G) affects the immune system,” Eric van Rongen, chairman of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, wrote in an email to CNN. “If that would be the case, we would have seen effects on the scale and severity of infectious diseases already decades ago. And we don’t.”

Carriers including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile began deploying 5G technology in 2019, CNBC reports. In the same year, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg said half of the US will have access to 5G by the end of 2020. 

But before a successful adoption of 5G is possible, existing software must also be adapted to support the increased demands.

According to Krishnamoorthy, state-of-the-art envelope bandwidth in commercial applications is currently about 20 megahertz for a peak power of above 65 watts. With this grant, he is being asked to develop an envelope tracking power supply that can operate with a bandwidth of at least 100 megahertz.

“Even getting to that point is hard with current technology,” Krishnamoorthy, whose lab focuses on power electronics, said. “We will need to advance power electronics to support that.” 

But this is just a starting point for 5G, Krishnamoorthy said, adding that project work will proceed in steps. Within five years, he aims to exceed 100 megahertz at close to 200 watts peak power. 

In the meantime, the government is continuing to invest in 5G technology elsewhere. CNBC reports that the U.S. is paying around $10 billion to satellite providers to fast-track the auction of 5G C-band spectrum by 2023. The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, announced in December that he will propose allocating $9 billion in funding over the next decade to ensure that rural parts of America aren’t left behind as 5G technology expands.

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