Anritsu Corporation has extended its 6G research activities to incorporate new innovative research with Aalborg University in Denmark.

This new 6G research programme will devise novel techniques for channel sounding and communication channel sensing in new 6G frequency bands, including the millimetre-wave and sub-terahertz bands. Vector Network Analyzers will facilitate this from Anritsu, which has distinctive features to improve the measurement methods, and antenna and measurement systems technology from Aalborg University.

As industry and standards organisations discuss and plan the frequencies and waveforms to be employed in next-generation mobile communications (such as 6G, IMT-2030), a detailed understanding of radio channel characteristics is a main piece of information. This research programme will facilitate new high-resolution and wide bandwidth radio channel characterisation techniques, contributing to system modelling and performance evaluation for 6G technologies. Furthermore, for candidate 6G technologies, the work will support the evaluation of ‘Joint Communications and Sensing’ techniques and waveforms that are currently being researched.

Head of Global Market Technology at Anritsu, Jonathan Borrill stated: “We are very pleased to further extend our 6G research activities and to collaborate with Aalborg University. The university has a proven world-class capability and knowledge for channel sounding and OTA measurements, and we believe that this research programme will contribute world-leading results and test capabilities to the industry.”

Professor and leader of the ‘Wireless Propagation and Over the Air testing’ research group with Aalborg University, Wei Fan stated: “Radio channel modelling is essential for design and development of 6G system and interfaces, which starts with reliable measurements of channels by using high-fidelity channel sounders. We are very happy to work with Anritsu, a world-leading radio frequency test instrument manufacturer, to develop state-of-the-art channel sounders for 6G communication and sensing systems in this project.”