www.newelectronics.co.uk, Oct. 09, 2025 –
In an era where the world is still grappling with the potential of 5G and where 6G remains largely uncharted territory, the experiences garnered from earlier technological advancements provide a strong foundation for overcoming the complexities of this migration.
The next phase of 5G and future 6G include targets of achieving wireless XHaul data rates of 100 gigabits per second. Currently, the highest capacity XHaul links operate at around 25 gigabits per second.
Although mmWave and E-band, 71GHz to 86GHz, have delivered major leaps forward with data rates in excess of 10Gbps, a different approach, involving multiple mmWave channels will be needed to reach future targets. Therefore, we will likely see the aggregation of different frequency bands, with the next target bands - W and D - pushing beyond the 100 GHz mark.
W and D-bands
A clear advantage of W and D band frequencies lies in the significantly wider bandwidths they offer compared to lower frequency bands. This broader spectrum is critical as data demand continues to surge, driven by the proliferation of connected devices and the increasing complexity of applications.
W band frequencies - 92-114.5 GHz - and D band frequencies - 130-175 GHz - provide vast, contiguous blocks of spectrum, which are essential for supporting the high data rates required by modern networks.
These high-frequency bands are particularly well suited for Xhaul networks, which integrate front-haul and back-haul connections to create a more efficient and flexible system architecture. By using these bands, networks can achieve lower latency and higher throughput, ensuring a more reliable user experience.
Specifically, D band offers even greater bandwidth capabilities, potentially up to four times that of lower frequency bands. This expanded capacity is crucial for future-proofing networks against growth in data traffic.
D band's ability to handle such high bandwidths facilitates enhanced performance and capacity, which is vital for supporting data intensive applications such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and the IoT.
These applications demand robust and high-speed connections to function effectively, and D band's superior bandwidth ensures that network performance remains optimal even under heavy load.