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fr1 and fr2 in 5g

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"FR1" and "FR2" refer to different frequency ranges where 5G operates.

Let's delve into the technical aspects of FR1 and FR2:

FR1 (Frequency Range 1):

  1. Frequency Band: FR1 encompasses the sub-6 GHz frequency bands. This includes bands traditionally used for mobile communications such as:
    • 450 MHz
    • 700 MHz
    • 800 MHz
    • 1.8 GHz
    • 2.1 GHz
    • 2.3 GHz
    • 2.6 GHz
    • 3.5 GHz, etc.
  2. Characteristics:
    • Coverage: The wavelengths in FR1 are longer, allowing for wider coverage areas and better penetration through buildings and other obstacles.
    • Deployment: These frequencies are often used for wider-area coverage, including both urban and rural environments.
    • Infrastructure: Existing 4G LTE networks predominantly use the sub-6 GHz spectrum, so many initial 5G deployments are also leveraging these frequencies to enhance coverage and offer initial 5G services.
  3. Benefits and Limitations:
    • Benefits: Good coverage, compatibility with existing infrastructure, and wider deployment scenarios.
    • Limitations: Lower peak data rates compared to FR2, more susceptible to congestion due to existing network usage, and may require more spectrum to achieve higher speeds.

FR2 (Frequency Range 2):

  1. Frequency Band: FR2 is the mmWave (millimeter wave) frequency range, typically covering frequencies above 24 GHz. This includes bands like:
    • 24 GHz
    • 28 GHz
    • 37 GHz
    • 39 GHz
    • 47 GHz, etc.
  2. Characteristics:
    • Frequency and Wavelength: The frequencies in FR2 have much shorter wavelengths compared to FR1. This enables much higher data transfer rates due to the large available bandwidth.
    • Propagation: Due to their shorter wavelengths, mmWave signals have limited propagation characteristics. They can be easily blocked by obstacles like buildings, trees, and even atmospheric conditions.
    • Deployment: Best suited for dense urban areas where high data capacity is required. The small cell deployments become more critical in FR2 to compensate for the reduced coverage area per cell.
  3. Benefits and Limitations:
    • Benefits: Extremely high data rates (multi-gigabit speeds), and the potential to support numerous connected devices simultaneously.
    • Limitations: Limited coverage range, requires dense infrastructure deployment (small cells), and challenges related to signal propagation due to obstacles.

Conclusion:

  • Usage Scenarios: While FR1 is more suitable for broader coverage areas and existing 4G enhancements, FR2 is targeted at ultra-high-speed applications in dense urban environments.
  • Coexistence: Many 5G deployments plan to use a combination of FR1 and FR2. FR1 can provide broad coverage and basic 5G services, while FR2 can offer super-fast speeds in specific high-demand areas.
  • Challenges: Deploying 5G across both FR1 and FR2 presents technical challenges, such as managing interference, optimizing cell deployments, and integrating with existing network infrastructure.