World's first transparent 5G antennas turn windows into base stations

A partnership has developed transparent 5G antennas that turn windows into base stations, enhancing 5G connectivity without disrupting urban aesthetics.

: AGC, NTT Docomo, and JTower have collaborated to create transparent 5G antennas named WAVEANTENNA. These antennas use conductive material between glass panes to turn windows into base stations. They address the spacing issue for 5G infrastructure and are optimized for 5G Sub6 frequencies. The technology, now used in various applications, aims to improve signal penetration and reduce dropped connections.

AGC, in collaboration with NTT Docomo and JTower, has developed the world's first transparent 5G antennas named WAVEANTENNA. These innovative antennas utilize a special conductive material sandwiched between glass panes, allowing ordinary windows to function as 5G base stations without altering the building's exterior appearance.

Designed to work within the 5G Sub6 band, these antennas offer enhanced range for indoor signal penetration compared to higher frequency mmWave bands. They also solve the issue of gaining permissions for installing base stations on mid to lower building floors by using stealthy, low-profile designs.

This technology isn't limited to buildings; AGC has adapted it for vehicles to minimize dropped connections. Originally launched in 2020 and further refined to support multiple carriers, its deployment includes prominent locations like Tokyo’s Shinjuku district and the remote-controlled Halo car-sharing platform in Las Vegas.

5G antennastransparent technologynetworking